A cracked iPhone screen is the most common repair we do. It's also the repair where customers get the most confusing quotes, because two shops can quote very different prices for what sounds like the same job.
This guide explains what's actually inside your iPhone screen, which replacement you're really paying for, and the checks you should do before you walk out of any repair shop.
First, check it's really your screen
Before booking anything:
- Is it only the screen protector? Peel back one corner. If the crack lifts off with the protector, you just need a new protector.
- Is it the front or the back? A cracked back glass is a different repair from the front screen, with different pricing.
- Does the phone still work? If it rings, vibrates or connects to your car but the screen is black, the phone itself is usually fine and only the display is damaged.
What's actually broken: glass, display or both?
Your iPhone screen has two main layers fused together:
- The glass and touch layer on top, which you tap and swipe
- The display underneath, which shows the picture
What you're seeing tells you which layer is damaged:
- Cracked glass, but the picture is clear and touch works: the glass is damaged, the display is fine
- Black spots, spreading ink, lines, or a green or pink line down the screen: the display is damaged
- Parts of the screen don't respond to touch, or the phone taps by itself (ghost touch): the touch layer is damaged
- Completely black screen but the phone still makes sounds: usually the display or its connection
Because the layers are fused, most iPhone screen repairs replace the full screen assembly. It's the most reliable repair, and it's what we do in our shop.
LCD or OLED: this is where quotes differ
iPhones use two different types of screen:
- LCD: iPhone 8, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 and iPhone SE
- OLED: iPhone X, XS, 11 Pro, and every iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 model, including the iPhone 16e
For OLED iPhones, replacement screens come in different grades:
- Original quality: closest to factory brightness, colour and battery use. Most expensive.
- High-quality aftermarket OLED (often called "soft OLED"): very close in everyday use at a lower price.
- Budget LCD replacement (often called "incell"): cheapest. On an OLED iPhone, these are usually thicker, dimmer, less sharp and use more battery. Blacks look grey instead of true black.
A budget screen can make sense on an older iPhone you're planning to replace soon. The problem is when a shop quotes the cheapest screen without telling you. Always ask: "Which screen grade is this price for?"
The "genuine display" message
On iPhone 11 and newer, if the new screen isn't a genuine Apple display, you may see a message like "Unable to verify this iPhone has a genuine Apple display." It also appears under Settings → General → About → Parts and Service History.
The phone still works normally. But it matters if you plan to sell the phone later, so a good shop tells you upfront whether this message will appear.
True Tone and Face ID
Two things that often go wrong after a rushed iPhone screen replacement:
- True Tone goes missing. True Tone adjusts your screen colour to the lighting around you, and it depends on data from your original screen. Careful shops transfer it to the new screen. If True Tone disappears from Control Center after a repair, it wasn't transferred.
- Face ID stops working. The Face ID parts sit right next to the screen. A careless repair can damage them, and Face ID can't simply be swapped for a new part.
Why you shouldn't keep using a cracked screen
It's tempting to live with it, but:
- Cracks spread, especially with daily pressure in pockets and cold Calgary winters
- Tiny glass splinters can cut fingers
- Water and dust get in more easily through cracks
- Damage can spread from the glass to the display, which can make the repair more complicated
iPhone models we repair
iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17, iPhone 16 Pro Max, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16, iPhone 16e, iPhone 15 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 Pro Max, iPhone 13 Pro, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 11, iPhone XR, iPhone SE and iPhone 8.
How much does iPhone screen repair cost in Calgary?
At TechFix Craft, iPhone screen repairs start from $89.99. The final price depends on:
- Your iPhone model: newer, Pro and Pro Max screens cost more
- The screen grade you choose
- Whether anything else is damaged
Diagnosis is free for most devices, except in cases of severe damage, and you get the exact price before any work starts. If we can't fix it, you don't pay.
How long does it take?
Most iPhone screen replacements take about 30 minutes. You can wait in the shop or grab a coffee in Inglewood.
Before you bring your iPhone in
- Back it up to iCloud or your computer if the screen still works
- Know your passcode, so the repair can be fully tested
- Take off your case
- Mention anything else that isn't working, like Face ID, the camera or the speaker
8 things to test before you leave any repair shop
Do these checks before you pay, at any shop:
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Swipe across the whole screen, including the corners and edges, to check touch works everywhere.
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Open the keyboard and type across every row.
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Turn brightness all the way up and down. The screen should be evenly lit, with no spots or lines.
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Open Control Center and check that True Tone is there.
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Lock the phone and unlock it with Face ID.
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Open the front camera and take a selfie.
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Make a short call and hold the phone to your ear. The screen should turn off, which shows the proximity sensor works.
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Look along the edges of the phone. The screen should sit flush with the frame, with no gaps or raised corners.
A good shop will be happy to watch you check.
A note on water resistance
Your iPhone's water resistance comes from an adhesive seal between the screen and the frame. After any screen repair, at any shop including Apple, you should treat the phone as less water resistant than new. Keep it away from pools and showers.
iPhone screen repair at TechFix Craft
We're a locally owned repair shop in Inglewood (1420 9 Ave SE #15, Calgary, AB T2G 0T5), inside the plaza beside Tail Blazers, with free parking.
- iPhone screen repairs from $89.99
- Diagnosis is free for most devices, except in cases of severe damage, and you get an exact quote before any work starts
- No fix, no fee: if we can't fix it, you don't pay
- Most screen replacements done in about 30 minutes
- Walk-ins welcome every day, 10am to 7pm
Customers come to us from Inglewood, Ramsay, Forest Lawn, Bridgeland, the Beltline, Downtown and NE Calgary.
Walk in, book online or call 587-585-4032.
More iPhone and phone repairs
- iPhone repair in Calgary, including batteries, charging ports, cameras and back glass
- Screen repair at TechFix Craft for iPhone screens, including LCD and OLED models
- OEM vs aftermarket iPhone screens in Calgary, on what OEM means and where parts come from
- Phone cases and screen protectors to protect your new screen
- Phone and MacBook camera repair
- Samsung repair in Calgary
- Google Pixel repair in Calgary