How to Replace or Fix an iPhone with a Broken Screen

Just like with any electronic device, one too many awkward drops can lead to a broken iPhone. The most common symptom of a dropped iPhone is a cracked or broken screen. The iPhone isn't necessarily more fragile than other phones, however the screen is glass. After you are done cursing yourself, Apple, and anyone else who happens to be around you are going to have to figure out how you are going fix your broken iPhone. In this "How To" think of each step as different options for fixing the broken screen on your iPhone.

Instructions

1. Your first step is to take your phone into the Apple store. If you can convince them that the phone broke because it is faulty you may be able to get the phone replaced for free. This is very unlikely but it may be worth a shot. If they will not replace it for no charge they will more than likely offer to sell you an "out of warranty replacement" phone. Basically this means they will sell you a refurbished phone for anywhere between $200 - $300. In many cases though Apple can now replace the screen right in the store in about 20 minutes, but the cost to do this however is $199.99.

2. Another option is to upgrade your phone at at&t or the Apple store. This option will give you a brand new iPhone, but you will likely pay a higher price than you did for your broken iPhone. The iPhone has three price points. The iPhone 3Gs 16gb for example is $199.99 when signing up a new line or when you are eligible for upgrade. It is $399.99 if you are in the middle of the contract but agree to reset the contract to 24 months, and it is $599.99 if you buy it outright with no contract extension. If you had your phone for less than a year to year and a half it is likely you are only going to be eligible for the $399.99 or $599.99 price points.

3. If you don't feel like giving anymore of your hard earned money to Apple there are several services on the internet that will replace the screen for you. Most of these sites charge about $100 to fix your iPhone. In this scenario you ship your phone to them, they fix it, and they send it back. Turn around times vary but typically you get your phone back in about a week. In the mean time you can put your sim card into a different phone so you wont be without while your iPhone is being replaced. You must be careful and research the different companies before you send your iPhone off to them. One site that me and a few of my friends have used with success is www.iresq.com. They fixed the broken screen and returned the phone pretty quickly with no problems. Again make sure your comfortable with the site before you send your phone off but this may be the best option for getting your broken iPhone backinto shape.

4. The cheapest, but the most daring, way to fix a broken iPhone screen is to do it yourself. One can usually pickup the parts to fix it on eBay for around $30-$50. The process of replacing the screen yourself however is very difficult and time consuming and will likely void your warranty. There are several videos on youtube such as the link found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3-i5PyYhiQ that will detail how to replace your broken iPhone screen.

Tips & Warnings

• Step one is the safest option

• Step two is the most expensive option

• Step three best bang for your buck

• Step four is the riskiest option, but the cheapest

• Cracking the iPhone open yourself will void the warranty

• Be careful before you send your iPhone off to somebody on the internet