My first cracked screen - what now?

[kat.hayes]

I have never dealt with a cracked screen before, though I dropped my 16 PM and it now has some hairline cracks on the screen. It still seems to function normally, though I am not sure if the cracks will get worst? My plan was to trade it in when the new ones come out in the fall, though now I am here looking for advice on what makes the most sense for moving forward.

1. If I replace the screen, I am guessing Apple will know it was replaced whether it is with a 3rd party screen or with an official iPhone one? If so, does replacing a screen drop the trade in value?

2. Should I just add a screen protector to prevent the screen from getting damaged more and try to sell it rather than trading it in when the new ones come out? OR is this something that I should just deal with now rather than waiting?

3. If I get a screen protector, any suggestions on which to get?

Thanks

 

[Cuesca]

Are you sure the actual screen is cracked and not the screen protector? My mom literally drove her SUV over her iPhone 14 Pro Max and initially I thought the phone was cooked. But I took off the screen protector and case only to find out the phone is still in pristine condition.

 

[kat.hayes]

Are you sure the actual screen is cracked and not the screen protector? My mom literally drove her SUV over her iPhone 14 Pro Max and initially I thought the phone was cooked. But I took off the screen protector and case only to find out the phone is still in pristine condition.

I did not have a screen protector on the phone, just a case…

 

[Plutonius]

If it works and you were planning on getting a new one this fall, I would just live with it.

 

[Cuesca]

I've seen both scenarios:

I know someone who started off with a hairline crack(Samsung S22U) which eventually turned into half the screen going green/non-responsive a few months later.

I also know someone who had a cracked iPhone 7 Plus(IDK what its called back then) with a crack where the screen still works. Craziest part about that is he still uses the phone to this day. That phone is so beat up that he had to make calls using the speaker only. This floors me that you would keep a phone around that old and that broken especially when the guy has millions of dollars in the bank.

Me personally it would probably drive me crazy but we're also pretty close to the next refresh cycle. If you do get a screen protector, I suggest a privacy type since they tend to hide cracks better than a clear one.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

You're not going to get much (if anything) in the way of trade value, unless you have Apple replace the display. That's US$379 plus tax (price varies elsewhere).

So your choices are:

1. Leave it, buy a new phone with zero trade when the time comes
2. Put a protector on it to prevent further damage, cost probably ~$20, buy a new phone with zero trade when the time comes
3. Have Apple fix it for $379, trade it in for a new phone at full value when the time comes (Currently trade value is $685 so PROBABLY worth it??)
4. Have somebody else fix it for ???, buy a new phone with zero trade when the time comes

And - consider getting AppleCare+ with the new one 😉

 

[BSDnostalgia]

You're not going to get much (if anything) in the way of trade value, unless you have Apple replace the display. That's US$379 plus tax (price varies elsewhere).

I'm not arguing, just ignorantly wondering? "screen protector" or "display" , and, I had to replace the front glass on an iPhone a while ago and it was $80 IIRC. At an Apple Store. It was within the original Applecare. Rules on AppleCare and AppleCare+ etc have changed since, though.

 

[jerryjohnson]

If it still works normally, I’d add a quality tempered glass protector now to stop the cracks spreading. Hairline cracks can worsen over time. For trade-in, Apple usually values condition first, so unrepaired cracks may hurt more than an official repair. Third-party screens can also be flagged.

 

[BugeyeSTI]

I have never dealt with a cracked screen before, though I dropped my 16 PM and it now has some hairline cracks on the screen. It still seems to function normally, though I am not sure if the cracks will get worst? My plan was to trade it in when the new ones come out in the fall, though now I am here looking for advice on what makes the most sense for moving forward.

1. If I replace the screen, I am guessing Apple will know it was replaced whether it is with a 3rd party screen or with an official iPhone one? If so, does replacing a screen drop the trade in value?

2. Should I just add a screen protector to prevent the screen from getting damaged more and try to sell it rather than trading it in when the new ones come out? OR is this something that I should just deal with now rather than waiting?

3. If I get a screen protector, any suggestions on which to get?

Thanks

Trading in with a cracked screen is going to effect value considerably..

 

[XboxEvolved]

Just curious, how was it dropped when it cracked? What kind of surface? Did you have a case on it? Just wondering for my own personal reference.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

I'm not arguing, just ignorantly wondering? "screen protector" or "display" , and, I had to replace the front glass on an iPhone a while ago and it was $80 IIRC. At an Apple Store. It was within the original Applecare. Rules on AppleCare and AppleCare+ etc have changed since, though.

If you have AppleCare+, it’s $29.

And a no-brainer. Which is why I’m assuming “no” AC+ on the OP’s phone.

Current OOW cost depends on phone model; US $379 is for the 16PM. For those curious, you can look up the prices here.

 

[JCCL]

If you are in the US, get AppleCare One. Wait a few days. Get it repaired. I would not use a third party service at all, you don’t even know what you’re getting, and a third party screen will make your iPhone’s trade in value zero.

 

[Lounge vibes 05]

If you are in the US, get AppleCare One. Wait a few days. Get it repaired. I would not use a third party service at all, you don’t even know what you’re getting, and a third party screen will make your iPhone’s trade in value zero.

That’s actually brilliant.

 

[kat.hayes]

Just curious, how was it dropped when it cracked? What kind of surface? Did you have a case on it? Just wondering for my own personal reference.

Dropped from about 4-5 feet while getting out of a car on asphalt. It has a case with a built in stand; it is not a heavy duty one and I have always used cases like this though now I guess I need something more stable….

 

[kat.hayes]

If you are in the US, get AppleCare One. Wait a few days. Get it repaired. I would not use a third party service at all, you don’t even know what you’re getting, and a third party screen will make your iPhone’s trade in value zero.

Isn’t AppleCare only available for devices within a period of time? I have had this phone for roughly a year and a half….

I just bought a new MacBook Air, so I was looking into coverage for that.

 

[Apple_Robert]

Unless you want to keep the phone for several more years, it doesn't make sense to spend a lot of money getting the screen replaced. Put a screen protector on it and if the new phones interest you in September, get a new phone. If the new phones don't interest you, keep what you have unless it gets much worse, which can happen.

 

[JCCL]

Isn’t AppleCare only available for devices within a period of time? I have had this phone for roughly a year and a half….

I just bought a new MacBook Air, so I was looking into coverage for that.

With AppleCare One, you can buy it after the fact and add multiple devices. You could add your MacBook and the iPhone, it doesn’t matter how long ago you bought it.

 

[TracerAnalog]

Another viewpoint: if there is a crack be very careful with hair fine splinters. If they get on your fingers you might not notice, and it might end up in your eye. Not making this up, a friend of mine had exactly that, and he needed to go to the hospital to have it removed!

With that experience and the potential resale value in mind, I would definitely have it repaired. And put a screensaver on there.

Just my 2 cents worth of wisdom 😊

 

[BigBlur]

With AppleCare One, you can buy it after the fact and add multiple devices. You could add your MacBook and the iPhone, it doesn’t matter how long ago you bought it.

Yes, a device can be added at any time, but it also usually requires completing a device check to ensure it's in good condition first.

Add or remove a device from your AppleCare One plan - Apple Support

After you start your AppleCare One plan, you can choose which products you want to cover.

support.apple.com

 

[JCCL]

Yes, a device can be added at any time, but it also usually requires completing a device check to ensure it's in good condition first.

Add or remove a device from your AppleCare One plan - Apple Support

After you start your AppleCare One plan, you can choose which products you want to cover.

support.apple.com

It’s a system diagnostic, that would not detect if the device has a broken screen or not (unless it was catastrophic failure that took out something else like camera or FaceID). It doesn’t require an in person physical inspection.

 

[ayephoner]

1. Leave it, buy a new phone with zero trade when the time comes

I just checked. A 16PM with a cracked screen traded to apple gets you $172. That's not much, but also not nothing. It might drop some when the 18 lineup comes out, but probably not a tremendous amount. And typically a cracked screen won't prevent the big carrier trade deals. I bet OP can get a great trade to carrier (if he's on one) in the fall.

I'd recommend doing nothing, waiting, and trading with a carrier promotion. Or do the apple care thing others are posting about above.

 

[goldmac2006]

I just checked. A 16PM with a cracked screen traded to apple gets you $172. That's not much, but also not nothing. It might drop some when the 18 lineup comes out, but probably not a tremendous amount. And typically a cracked screen won't prevent the big carrier trade deals. I bet OP can get a great trade to carrier (if he's on one) in the fall.

I'd recommend doing nothing, waiting, and trading with a carrier promotion. Or do the apple care thing others are posting about above.

Great answer and sometimes like last summer Apple does bump ups on trade in values of iPhones to prep folks for the next iPhone upgrade season.

It’s a system diagnostic, that would not detect if the device has a broken screen or not (unless it was catastrophic failure that took out something else like camera or FaceID). It doesn’t require an in person physical inspection.

AppleCare One is fantastic because it allows you to add it to your plan and switch out the three other available spots that come with the plan, along with the first iPhone or device that initiated the plan.

However, if you don’t have AppleCare One and no device is eligible to add it via settings, unfortunately, you’ll have to get one of the devices checked out in person at an Apple Store or authorized retailer. You can then start an AppleCare One plan on the first device and add your iPhone 16 Pro to it independently, as well as other devices as needed.

This is the only situation where you can’t do it yourself is if all your devices are beyond the two-month AppleCare sign-up eligibility period, but you still want to start an AppleCare One plan.