Screen Repair or a New Phone?

Short answer: if your phone still turns on, charges, and the frame is straight, repairing the screen is almost always the better deal. At Family Wireless in Dallas, iPhone screen replacements run from about $40 to $140 depending on the model, and a comparable new phone usually costs far more. There are real exceptions, so here is how to judge your own phone before you decide.

Work out what actually broke

A cracked front with a sharp picture and normal touch is the simplest case: the glass is damaged but the display underneath still works. Lines across the picture, black or colored patches, flickering, or taps that register in the wrong place mean the display itself is damaged. On most modern phones the glass, touch layer, and display are one assembly, so the repair is the same either way: we replace the whole screen unit and test it before you leave.

Check the rest of the phone before you spend anything

A screen repair only makes sense if the rest of the phone is healthy. Before you decide, check that it powers on and charges normally, that both cameras and the flash work, that Face ID or the fingerprint sensor still works, and that the frame sits flat on a table without rocking. If the phone has been in water, or the back is also shattered, the picture changes. We run these same checks for free at the counter, so you do not have to guess.

Repair cost vs replacement cost

These are our October 2026 iPhone screen replacement ranges. The lower figure is a standard screen and the higher figure is a better-quality OLED display where one is available for that model.

Samsung screens typically run from about $60 to $130 and Motorola from about $60 to $80. The exact price depends on your model and the screen option you choose, and we confirm it before any work starts. You can see every variant on our iPhone repair prices by model page, or read about the process on the phone screen repair page.

A rough rule of thumb, not a law: if the repair costs well under half of what a comparable replacement phone would cost, repairing is usually the smarter move, and the gap is wider the newer the phone is.

When a new phone makes more sense

Replacing the phone wins in a few situations. A bent frame means a new screen will not sit flat and can crack again. Liquid damage under the glass can keep causing faults after the screen is fixed. A phone that is already failing in several ways, such as a swollen battery, a worn charging port, and a cracked back, can cost more to fix piece by piece than it is worth. And if the phone is old and slow and you were already planning to upgrade, putting money into it is hard to justify. If you do buy, our refurbished iPhone buying guide covers what to check, and our guide to unlocking a phone for any carrier helps if you are switching networks.

What you keep by repairing

A repaired phone keeps your photos, apps, settings, number, and case, and there is nothing to set up again. A cracked phone is also worth much less in a trade-in or resale, so fixing it first can return more than the repair costs if you plan to sell it later.

Can you keep using a cracked screen?

For a short time, if the crack is small and the glass is not shedding. Cracks spread, sharp edges can cut fingers, and dust and moisture can get under the glass, so it rarely stays a small problem. A screen protector or a strip of clear tape over the crack buys a few days. If the back of the phone is cracked too, read whether cracked back glass is worth fixing. The same decision applies to tablets, which we cover in our iPad and tablet screen repair guide.

Frequently asked questions

Will a screen repair erase my phone? No. Replacing the screen does not touch your storage. We still recommend a quick backup before any repair.

How long does a screen repair take? Most iPhone screens are done the same day. If a newer or less common model needs a part ordered, we tell you the timing when we quote.

Do you repair Samsung and Motorola screens too? Yes. Samsung and Motorola screens are on the same price list, quoted by model.

What if my phone has a cracked screen and a cracked back? We can fix both. We check the cameras and wireless charging first so the quote covers everything the phone needs.

Not sure which way to go? Book a repair or walk in at 6102 Samuell Blvd #104, Dallas, Monday to Saturday, 8 AM to 7 PM. We will test the phone, tell you honestly whether a repair is worth it, and quote the price before any work starts.