Filed under: Hardware, Retail, iPhone
Apple Stores will replace broken iPhone displays
Apple's service options for iPhones have improved since 2007. Back then, long-term repairs meant traveling to an Apple Store and paying the $29US fee for a loaner. Later that month, Apple released the Apple Care Protection Plan for iPhone. Among other things, this plan extends technical support to two years from the date of iPhone purchase, and extends hardware coverage to two years from the same time period.This week, Apple announced that a specific repair, screen replacement, can be performed at Apple Store Genius Bars while the customer waits. The service is free if your phone is under warranty, otherwise it will cost you $199. Yikes. Of course, "Under Warranty" refers to the date purchased as well as other factors like liquid damage* or jailbreaking.
Here's hoping you won't need this service (hold on tight or buy a case), and if you do, you aren't 200 miles from the nearest Apple Store like yours truly.
Speaking of repairs, we've seen iPhones and iPod touches survive some serious knocks, like a run-in with a pickup truck.
*Note that Apple will let iPhone owners swap their liquid-damaged iPhones for replacements, provided that it succumbed to an out-of-warranty encounter with liquid.This post was about screen repair specifically.
Get a WordPress.com Blog
![TUAW [Cafepress]](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.tuaw.com/media/tuaw-cafepress-promo.png)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Jamie S said 11:38AM on 7-06-2009
I did this last weekend on my iPhone 3G. Dust had gotten under the screen so I made a Genius Bar appt. In about 10 minutes they had completely replaced the screen for free, which the tech said was the only way to deal with the dust. Consider me very satisfied with Apple's support!
Reply
zenwheel said 11:51AM on 7-06-2009
My iPhone 3G had dust under the screen, too, which prompted the Genius to replace the display. I had a new screen, and an iPhone that looked like new 5 minutes after walking into the Apple Store. Very nice.
Buran said 3:31PM on 7-06-2009
Nice. I have a piece of dust under the screen which, while it is not causing any issues, is a mild annoyance. (It's got to be under the screen as I can't feel it as being under the screen protector, nor is there an associated air pocket there). It seems like I should take the phone to the Apple Store, show them the dust, and inquire whether it would be covered.
metallikop said 11:39AM on 7-06-2009
Does anyone know if Apple is replacing phones/displays for phones that are having the new magic coating wiping off in areas? I have a small, but noticeable, smudge that is impossible to get off and is not a scratch.
Reply
perral1 said 11:44AM on 7-06-2009
...I had this done at an Apple store back in March. It was actually unsuccessful, or rather, it fixed the screen but the built in speaker was broken too, so I ended up with a new phone for free; but they did do a screen replacement in-store. I left with my new phone about 45 minutes after arriving, including screen replacement, etc.
Reply
ars_workerbee said 11:49AM on 7-06-2009
"This week, Apple announced that a specific repair, screen replacement, can be performed at Apple Store Genius Bars while the customer waits"
Um, no, they didn't announce anything. Someone noticed they were doing it now and wrote about it, and its been getting passed around like its something new.
As perral1 experienced, this has been going on for several months already.
Reply
Unknown said 1:32PM on 7-06-2009
Wow! They never covered this before! I wonder how the thousands of people that paid to have these cracked screens repaired before feel. Does this apply to the 2G phones? Can they replace these in stores too?
John
Rudy said 12:05PM on 7-06-2009
OMG are you serious?! how did i not know about this?! about a month and a half ago i drunkenly dropped my 3G and the screen cracked and i still get so much shit for it. my prayer's have been answered!
Reply
Zach said 2:39PM on 7-06-2009
Unfortunately you will still have to pay $199 for a broken screen to be replaced.
michaelgcohen said 12:07PM on 7-06-2009
Is there no AppleCare for Canadian iPhones?
Reply
jonathan said 12:15PM on 7-06-2009
yea usually if i had an issue with pixels dropped, or missing, they would replace the entire unit.
i tried to do that again the week before 3GS launch, so i would have a nice fresh spanky newly refurbished phone to sell for profit...but alas....they replaced my screen right in the back and gave it back to me like 10 minutes later. new screen, still scratches on the back.
oh well, still sold for 250 and bought the 3gs!
Reply
Josh said 12:17PM on 7-06-2009
I had my screen replaced also due to debris under the screen. I don't think this is dust tho since the screens are sealed up pretty good. I am guessing it is some part of the screen deteriorating but I can't say for sure.
In any case they use the original 3G screen to replace not the new oleophobic coated screen. Much (well slightly) to my dismay. Still I have a brand new screen and that giant scratch is now gone forever. BTW my "warranty" expires in like 2 weeks. He he he.....
Reply
str1f3 said 12:25PM on 7-06-2009
From what I heard you still have to pay $199 for accidental damage even if you're under warranty. Why does it cost so much if it's a 5-10 min. procedure?
Reply
Adam Schoales said 12:30PM on 7-06-2009
wonder if it will also apply for iPod Touches?
Reply
Shawn.Pottorf said 12:47PM on 7-06-2009
I just had my screen replaced last week (July 2) for dust under the display. It took them about 10 minutes. They allowed me to look at the old display. As another reader mentioned, the display unit appears to be tightly sealed, so the dust shouldn't be coming from outside the iphone.
Reply
PeterM11 said 12:49PM on 7-06-2009
Will this apply to iPod Touches???
And what exactly are the rules???
See, I dropped my iPod Touch 2G flat on the ground and it has a spider-web like smash in it. I'm worried even if it applied they wouldn't do anything cause it almost looks like I tried to smash it with a hammer.
Everything still works including the screen but the giant cracks are distracting and I am afraid that the glass might fall out.
Please any help here?
Thanks!!
Reply
M. Walker Wells said 12:48PM on 7-06-2009
I called my local apple store and they said this is not true - just a blog rumor.
Reply
Brandon said 1:18PM on 7-06-2009
This past April I went to the Apple store in Clarendon (the same one that had the shooting) to see if they could clean the dust out from under my screen. I figured they'd open it up and blow out the dust. Instead the genius suggested they replace the screen which he said they "just started doing". I was still within my 1 year warranty so the whole thing was free. About an hour later is was done.
Reply
Elliot said 10:22PM on 7-06-2009
Same exact story, just changed screens for me 5 days ago due to dust under the screen. The genius told me it gets in through Space in the bezel (mine had light leaks from day 1), dock connector, and headphone jack. He said my whole phone was full of dust (mostly pocket lint) and to try to keep dust out of there.
I told him to glue it up extra tight so it stays clear, because even if I get a case that covers the bezel, I still need to use that dock connector and can't really plug it up.
Darrin said 1:32PM on 7-06-2009
This article is misleading...We just called the Apple support line and they said that Apple will only fix something deemed a manufacturer defect. This does not include the display of a phone that has been dropped, ran over or anything as such. It may include dust that many are blogging about here but that would be a mfg defect since dust is not suppose to be in the phones display. Apple says if this where true then there would be an Apple article you could find online at their website. I have found no such thing.
Reply