Display broken? Galaxy Note 7/S7/edge, LG G5, HTC 10, iPhone 6s/Plus/SE official screen replacement prices

Broken phone displays are no broken dreams - while the first are repairable, the second might haunt you for life, so let's pray for screen replacement services that won't break your piggy bank, how's that for another shattered thingy in one sentence? Previously, we compared the pricing for the most popular phone insurance plans, but that comparison would not be as helpful, if we don't list the official repair prices for the most expensive part that may break in your phone - its screen - too.

We probed Samsung, LG and HTC to give us the exact quotes for their official screen replacement services, and it turned out that their pricing is pretty much in line or often better than getting one of those display assemblies off, say, eBay, and bringing it to your local repair shop. Not only do such screens sometimes differ from the phone maker's specifications, but, in the case of Samsung's AMOLED panels, the company is the monopolistic provider of those anyway. Thus, there are those curious cases of LCD panels for the Galaxy S7 edge lurking in the eBay shadows that you see below, for instance, that cost almost as much as the official replacement quote from Samsung (insert eyeroll emoji here).

When we probed the phone makers for the panel replacement costs of their spanking new flagships, we also asked about the turn-around-time (TAT), or how long does it usually take for the whole ordeal - shipping or bringing the phone to the designated repair service places, then diagnostics, part replacement(s), and shipping it back to the owner. Those quotes are also included, but, as you see, they are largely the same - a 2-day allowance for travel back and forth, and about a week's time for repair - so you will be without a phone for about 10 days on average if you choose to go the shipping route. Apple can swap your broken screen in a jiffy, though, just make an online appointment for the nearest Apple Store, eat lunch and stroll the mall, then come back in a few hours, and the screen should be replaced already.

 

As you can see, the only eyewatering price for a screen replacement this flagship season is for the Note 7 and Galaxy S7 edge - about $270 - but that's largely what we expected for a Quad HD Super AMOLED Dual edge display with plastic substrate, given our experience with the S6 edge+, S6 edge, or even the Note Edge before them.

The pricing for the HTC 10's screen replacement seems a bit steep in comparison, but let's not forget that the phone is not even shipping yet, then it is with the latest Super-LCD 5 generation, and HTC said this is the maximum quote for a complete swap. Moreover, you have the UH OH Protection that is coming with the phone gratis, and it gives you one screen replacement or water damage repair for free in the first year of ownership, so no biggie.

The iPhone 6s and 6s Plus screen prices are not bad for quality LCD panels with 3D Touch technology, too, yet the nicest surprise is the G5 display replacement quote, which LG said will hover in the $70-$100 range, depending on if they have to do a complete swap. Well, long story short, we know which ones are worth insuring now - looking at you, swanky AMOLED technology. We can only imagine those iPhone screen replacement costs if/when Apple eventually goes the OLED route, too, but at least those aren't likely to be bent like Gumby. 

The silver lining? Samsung said that the official screen replacement service will also restore the Note 7, S7 and S7 edge to their original IP68 specifications, meaning that the phones will again be waterproof. Given how much special adhesive there is inside to keep it all nice and watertight, that's no small matter to consider before you go the local repair shop route instead to try and save a few bucks.