iPhone 14 Pro Max Scratched Screen - What are my options?

[iMatt.]

I’ve managed to scratch my iPhone 14PM screen somehow, and annoyingly it seems to be a fairly deep one (can hear it if I scrape my nail across it). What are my options in terms of repair? A new screen is £400(!) these days so that’s out of the question, but I refresh to the latest device every year so want to make sure I get full value for this.

Are there companies that specialise in repairing these kind of scratches to a point that it would pass a physical inspection for trade in?

I usually always use the Spigen Glass protector but for some reason I had removed it and typically this happens, first time ever!

 

[Jackbequickly]

If you do not want to pay to fix, applying another screen protector will aid in hiding it.

 

[floral]

I’ve managed to scratch my iPhone 14PM screen somehow, and annoyingly it seems to be a fairly deep one (can hear it if I scrape my nail across it). What are my options in terms of repair? A new screen is £400(!) these days so that’s out of the question, but I refresh to the latest device every year so want to make sure I get full value for this.

Are there companies that specialise in repairing these kind of scratches to a point that it would pass a physical inspection for trade in?

I usually always use the Spigen Glass protector but for some reason I had removed it and typically this happens, first time ever!

You could just ignore it.

 

[Fred Zed]

Definitely as what the above poster mentioned, a tempered glass screen protector should hide that very well. Make sure to clean the screen with an alcohol wipe first paying attention to the edges.

 

[MajorFubar]

Your options are 1) mask it with a screen protector, 2) ignore it, 3) pay £400 to change the screen. But you knew those options before asking the question, so I'm not sure what answer you were hoping for? Apple Care I believe covers for accidental damage, but I'm guessing you didn't opt-in to that at purchase (otherwise you wouldn't have asked).

Though if you've got the financial wherewithal to change your phone every year (and I'm not judging you for that: your choice), it seems to me the £400 to change the screen is probably chicken feed for you anyway.

 

[RRC]

As suggested; a screen protector will help hide it.

 

[msackey]

I think the OP is asking if there is an option to replace the screen (3rd party repair) for cheaper than £400 and still pass trade-in when time comes to trade in the phone.

I'm pretty sure there would be cheaper repair alternatives but I have no idea if they would pass the quality control needed for trade in at Apple.

 

[Jackbequickly]

I would avoid 3rd party screen replacement like the plague.

 

[Lee_Bo]

Where I live, there are “approved 3rd party repair facilities”, but the reviews are all 50/50. Either “they were great” or “they completely destroyed my phone”.

I say either ignore it or apply another screen protector. The 15 will drop (no pun intended) this fall so I’d probably just live with it.

 

[Canubis]

Not sure if you have Apple Care+? If you do it's always worth a try to check by your local Apple Store and see if they'd be willing to take care of it for a small amount (as an accidental damage case for a small fee).

I had a similar case with an iPad Pro with a 2-3cm scratch when it was close to the end of its 2 year Apple Care term.
Apple Support on the phone told me if it's a purely cosmetical issue, they won't cover it under Apple Care. I was then joking with the support agent what would happen if a hammer fell on the iPad or I dropped it accidentially resulting in the screen to get completely broken and unusable…

Either way, I didn't do anything like that and just stopped by an Apple Store the next day to show them the scratch. Now knowing that purely cosmetical scratches are not covered by Apple Care, I just told them that it also harms the functionality of the iPad – as I'd constantly get stuck with the Pencil on it while writing & drawing (which wasn't a lie, but I wouldn't have thought about it firsthand). They immediately gave me a replacement unit with a perfectly new looking screen (plus as a bonus it had a fresh new battery).

So possibly you're lucky as well if you can carefully explain to the Apple Genius why the scratch harms the functionality of your iPhone and not just its looks. Fingers crossed!

 

[saber32au]

I'm pretty sure there would be cheaper repair alternatives but I have no idea if they would pass the quality control needed for trade in at Apple.

Unlikely. Off the top of my head, for late model iphones you'll get a warning message stating a non-genuine screen has been installed (unless you replace the screen via Apples repair program, which includes re-programming the screen...the only downside is that repairs via Apple cost £400).

Cheapest option for the OP will be to install a tempered glass screen protector, and hope the protector hides the scratch. If that doesn't work, try loca glue and a tempered glass screen protector...

My XR (purchased second hand) had a fair few scratches on the screen.
A screen protector hides light superficial scratches, but not the deeper scratches.

I ended up using a Whitestone screen protector, which came with loca glue. The glue conceals the scratches (it works really well to the point where the scratches are essentially invisible), but the screen protector was quite "soft" and didn't have high scratch resistance...so the screen protector picked up scratches rather easily.

So...I removed the Whitestone protector, and applied the loca glue and a normal tempered glass screen protector. I've now got the best of both worlds; a nice scratch free screen (thanks to the loca glue hiding the scratches) and a much higher scratch resistant screen protector (thanks to the tempered glass screen protector).

 

[Andeddu]

Pay for an official Apple replacement screen and immediately apply a screen protector or just live with it and sell it later this year with the cosmetic damage.

 

[DaveS86]

There are a couple of companies that have a machine that finely polish scratches out if you can find one of them, might make it less noticeable if it deep

 

[The.Glorious.Son]

It seems like most are misinterpreting the true ask of your post. You’re not asking how to unsee it (ignore, screen protector, etc), you’re wanting a solution to get max value come trade-in I believe.

If this is the case, I think you’ll have to take it on the chin. You won’t fully recover the cost of a screen replacement. There isn't a product that will mask the scratch to pass inspection. I believe your best bet will be to take whatever hit it has on trade in value.

 

[Brooke795]

It seems like most are misinterpreting the true ask of your post. You’re not asking how to unsee it (ignore, screen protector, etc), you’re wanting a solution to get max value come trade-in I believe.

If this is the case, I think you’ll have to take it on the chin. You won’t fully recover the cost of a screen replacement. There isn't a product that will mask the scratch to pass inspection. I believe your best bet will be to take whatever hit it has on trade in value.

+1 on this. It’s the ugly truth to not keeping a phone in a case or screen protector 100% of the time. I see so many people take either off for a brief time (or are too late to start protecting said device).. it’s just unfortunate that’s when stuff like this happens.
even Apple care won’t do anything for cosmetic. That’s my understanding anyway. My suggestion is what you suggested.. take this on the chin and moving forward make sure there’s adequate protection at ALL times as best as one could muster.. if cosmetics are of utmost importance