iPhone Screen Replacement Cost UK 2026: Complete Price Guide

Photo by Logan Voss on Unsplash

We've been repairing phones since May 1999. That's 27 years of cracked screens, water damage, and everything in between. After 24 years running our own shop in Kings Heath, Birmingham, and a couple of years focusing on mail-in repairs across the UK, we've now partnered with Byte at Dovehouse Parade in Solihull to offer expert celltech repairs in-store.

Did You Know?

A bit of history: Byte has a remarkable story. The original Byte Shop, founded in Mountain View, California in December 1975, was the world's first computer retail store. More importantly, it was Apple's very first stockist - Paul Terrell ordered 50 Apple I units from Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976. That order helped transform two hobbyists into entrepreneurs. The Byte brand came to the UK in the late 80s, and by 1996, Byte was Britain's largest computer retailer with stores nationwide, including a superstore in Solihull. We're proud to be partnering with a brand that has such deep roots in technology history.

This guide is everything we've learned about iPhone screen repair, written honestly. No marketing fluff, no inflated success rates - just the reality of what to expect when your screen cracks.

Pro Tip

The short version: iPhone screen repair costs £89-£289 depending on your model, takes about 30 minutes on average, and your data stays completely safe. For most people, it's a no-brainer compared to buying new.

Did You Know?

Our iPhone Screen Repair Track Record (2025)

• • 2,847 iPhone screens repaired - our most common repair by far
• • 98.2% first-time fix rate - industry average is 94%
• • Most common model: iPhone 13/14 series (47% of repairs)
• • Average repair time: 34 minutes (quoted 30-60)
• • True Tone retention: 100% on Soft OLED and Genuine screens
• • Return rate: 0.6% (industry average: 2-4%)

Data from celltech repair logs, January-December 2025

Real Talk: What We Actually See

Screen damage is the most common repair we handle. The majority of our work is bringing cracked iPhones back to life. The most common models right now? iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 - they're at that 2-4 year sweet spot where phones tend to get damaged.

Here's something customers don't realise: screen repair involves removing a surprising number of components and screws. It's not just "pop the old screen off, click the new one on". Our lead technician Oz has been doing this for 10 years, and even he treats each repair with care. There's no rushing it if you want it done right.

Warning

Why we mention this: Some shops cut corners by not replacing all the shields and screws during reassembly. It saves them time, but it can cause problems later - we've seen phones come in with rattling internals or components that work loose over time. We put everything back exactly as it should be.

How Much Does It Cost to Fix an iPhone Screen in the UK?

iPhone screen replacement costs vary quite a bit depending on your model. Here's what we charge in January 2026 - typically 40-60% less than Apple:

Not Sure Which iPhone You Have?

No problem - we get this all the time, especially from students at Birmingham Uni and Aston who've inherited phones from family. Pop into Byte at Dovehouse Parade or get in touch and we'll help you identify your model before you commit to anything.

Which iPhones Are Hardest to Repair?

Not all iPhones are created equal when it comes to repairability. After thousands of repairs, here's what we've learned about each generation:

Easiest to Repair

• iPhone 6/6s/7/8 series: These are workhorses. Simple construction, readily available parts, straightforward process. If your screen cracks, it's a quick fix.
• iPhone SE (all generations): Same internals as the numbered models, easy to work with.
• iPhone 11: LCD screen instead of OLED makes it cheaper and simpler to replace.

Moderate Difficulty

• iPhone X/XS/XR: Introduction of Face ID added complexity. The TrueDepth camera system needs careful handling - damage it and Face ID stops working permanently.
• iPhone 12/13 series: More tightly integrated components. The battery pull tabs are fiddly, and there are more flex cables to disconnect.

Most Complex

• iPhone 14 Pro/Pro Max: Apple changed the internal layout significantly. The back glass is now easier to replace (finally!), but the screen involves more steps.
• iPhone 15 Pro series: Titanium frame and updated display technology. Beautiful phone, but Apple clearly wasn't prioritising repairability.

One thing that surprises people: Samsung phones are actually easier to repair than iPhones in most cases. Apple designs their devices to be difficult to service - it's a deliberate choice. We repair both, but it's worth knowing if you're deciding between brands for your next phone.

Repair vs Replace: The Honest Truth

Should you repair or just buy a new phone? Here's how the numbers actually stack up:

For most people, repair makes obvious sense. But we'll be straight with you - there are times when it doesn't. If your phone has multiple issues, or it's an iPhone 8 or older, we'll tell you honestly whether repair is worth it.

Good News

A story from December: Marcus came into Byte with an iPhone 14 Pro, screen completely shattered. He had a train to catch to Bristol that evening. His Uber waited outside for 15 minutes while we finished up. He made his train and got home just after 9pm with a phone that looked brand new. Total cost: £189. A new iPhone 14 Pro? Over £1,000.

What to Expect During Repair

Here's the process when you visit us at Byte in Solihull or use our mail-in service:

1. Diagnosis (5-10 minutes): We check the phone thoroughly. Sometimes what looks like screen damage is actually something else - we had a Samsung come in recently where the customer thought it was dead, but it just needed a new battery.
2. Repair (usually 30 minutes): The actual screen replacement. This involves carefully disconnecting multiple ribbon cables, removing the old display, and fitting the new one. Every screw and shield goes back exactly where it belongs.
3. Testing: We check touch response across the whole screen, test Face ID or Touch ID, verify the cameras work, and make sure everything's functioning properly.
4. Done: You get your phone back with a 27-month warranty. For mail-in repairs, we ship it back the same day.

Warning

A word on DIY repairs: We see phones every week that have been made worse by attempted DIY fixes. Modern iPhones have delicate flex cables and Face ID components that are easily damaged. What starts as a £150 repair can become a £400+ problem. Unless you genuinely know what you're doing, it's not worth the risk.

The worst damage we've ever seen? An iPhone 15 that had been run over by a 4x4. The customer was convinced it was beyond saving. Surprisingly, with a new screen and some chassis work, we got it working again. Not every repair ends that well, but it shows what's possible when you have the right skills and equipment.

Beyond Screen Repair: What Real Expertise Looks Like

Screen repair is our bread and butter, but it's not where our expertise ends. Over 27 years, we've developed capabilities that most high-street repair shops simply don't have.

Microscope-Level Soldering

Some repairs require working with components smaller than a grain of rice. We use high-powered microscopes and precision soldering equipment for chip-level repairs. This is how we fix charging issues that other shops say are "unfixable" - often it's a single tiny component that's failed, not the whole board.

Our 9-Step Water Damage Process

Water damage is where most repair shops give up. We don't. Our process includes:

1. Immediate disassembly and component separation
2. Ultrasonic cleaning to remove corrosive residue
3. Isopropyl alcohol displacement of remaining moisture
4. Microscope inspection of all connection points
5. Component-level testing to identify failed parts
6. Precision cleaning of corroded contacts
7. Replacement of damaged components
8. Full reassembly and function testing
9. 48-hour monitoring for delayed issues

We've recovered phones that were submerged for hours using this process. Success depends on how quickly you get the phone to us - if you've dropped your phone in water, don't try to charge it or turn it on. Get it to us as fast as possible.

Good News

The "impossible" recovery: A customer brought in a phone that had been written off by two other repair shops. Water damage, wouldn't power on, told it was beyond repair. We ran it through our full process and recovered everything - the phone powered on and all their data was intact. It's not always possible, but when other shops say no, it's often worth a second opinion.

Chip-Level Repair

When a phone has logic board issues, most shops replace the entire board - expensive and often means losing your data. We can remove and replace individual chips, preserving everything else. It's painstaking work that requires specialist equipment, but it saves customers hundreds of pounds and keeps their data safe.

27 Years of Lessons

Starting in May 1999 in Kings Heath, we've seen the entire evolution of mobile phones - from Nokia 3210s to the latest iPhones. Here's what 27 years has taught us:

Phones Have Become Harder to Repair

In the early days, phone repair was relatively simple. Modern smartphones pack more technology into a smaller space than ever before, and manufacturers increasingly design for thinness rather than repairability. The iPhone 15 Pro Max has more computing power than the computers that sent astronauts to the moon, crammed into something you can slip in your pocket. That complexity makes repair more challenging - but not impossible if you have the skills.

Most Repairs Are Preventable

After seeing thousands of broken phones, the patterns are clear:

• Cases matter: A good case with raised edges around the screen prevents the majority of screen damage we see
• Screen protectors help: They won't save you from a hard drop, but they handle everyday scratches and minor impacts
• Pockets and bags: Phones that share pocket space with keys get scratched. Phones at the bottom of overstuffed bags get crushed
• Bathrooms are dangerous: More water damage comes from bathroom incidents than you'd expect

Quality Varies Enormously

The repair industry has no real regulation. Anyone can call themselves a phone repair technician. We've seen repairs from other shops where screens were held on with double-sided tape instead of proper adhesive, where screws were missing, where aftermarket parts were so poor they failed within weeks. There's a reason we offer a 27-month warranty - we stand behind our work because we know it's done properly.

Honesty Builds Trust

Early in our business, we learned that telling customers the truth - even when it means telling them a repair isn't worth it - builds more trust than trying to sell every job. When we say a repair is risky, we mean it. When we say it's straightforward, we mean that too. This approach has kept customers coming back year after year.

How to Spot a Dodgy Repair Shop

After years in this industry, we've seen some things. Here's what to watch out for:

• No warranty or very short warranty: Reputable shops offer 6-12 months minimum
• Claiming 99% success rates: That's marketing, not reality
• Vague about parts quality: Ask specifically about OEM vs aftermarket
• No fixed address: Be wary of mobile-only operations with no shop
• Pressure to decide immediately: Good shops let you consider your options
• Suspiciously low prices: If it's significantly cheaper than everyone else, ask why

The biggest red flag? Shops that rush repairs to get volume. As mentioned earlier, some places don't put all the shields and screws back in - it saves them a few minutes per repair but can cause problems down the line. Ask about their reassembly process if you're unsure.

Pro Tip

Our policy: No-fix-no-fee. If we can't repair your phone, you don't pay. We'd rather turn down a job than take money for something we can't deliver.

Why Listen to Us?

We started in May 1999 in Kings Heath, Birmingham, where we spent 24 years building our reputation. The past couple of years we focused on mail-in repairs across the UK, which let us help customers nationwide. Since September 2025, we've been offering expert celltech repairs in partnership with Byte at Dovehouse Parade, Solihull - with our grand opening planned for February 2026.

The Byte partnership feels right. They share our values around technology and customer service, and there's something fitting about bringing professional repairs to a brand with such deep roots in computer history. When Paul Terrell took that first order from Steve Jobs in 1976, he couldn't have imagined we'd be repairing the descendants of those early Apple computers half a century later.

Our team includes specialists in chip removal, microscope-soldering, and we have our own 9-step water damage treatment process that's recovered phones other shops said were impossible. Our lead technician Oz has 10 years of experience and has seen pretty much every type of damage you can imagine.

Ready to Get Your Screen Fixed?

Whether you're a student at Birmingham Uni, a local business, or anywhere in the UK using our mail-in service - we'll sort your iPhone out.

Visit us: Byte, Dovehouse Parade, Solihull. We're there now for repairs, with our grand opening in February 2026.

Mail-in repairs: Ship your phone to us, we'll fix it same-day and send it back. Free postage both ways on repairs over £100.