A cracked iPad screen is one of the repairs where the price surprises people most. It is often higher than on a phone, and the explanation lies in how an iPad is built.
Glass or display: the difference that decides the price
Most iPads have two layers: the glass you touch, which also contains the touch sensor, and the display underneath, which shows the picture.
- Cracked glass, but the picture is perfectly fine. Only the top layer is broken.
- Black patches, lines or coloured spots. Then the display is hit, and that is the more expensive of the two.
On newer iPad Pro and iPad Air models the two layers are laminated into one unit. That makes the repair more expensive, because the whole module has to be replaced even if only the glass is cracked.
Why it costs more than a phone
The work itself is more involved. An iPad screen is glued down all the way round, and the adhesive has to be heated and cut free without cracking the glass further or catching the flex cables that run close to the edge. It takes longer than a phone, and there is less room for error. On top of that, the part itself is larger and so more expensive to produce.
What it costs with us
You see the price for your model in our price calculator. It includes VAT, travel and the part, and it is fixed before you book.
Is it worth it?
We have to be honest here, because iPad is the device where the answer is most often no.
On an older base-model iPad, the screen price can come close to what an equivalent used iPad costs. If that is the case, we will tell you rather than take the job.
On the other hand: on an iPad Pro or a newer iPad Air the device is worth so much more that a screen is almost always worth it. The same goes if your iPad is used for something specific where it is not easy to swap it out.
Can you use it with cracks in the meantime?
If the glass only has fine cracks and the picture is intact, you can keep using it. Two caveats: splinters can come loose and cut, and once the glass is broken, dust gets in underneath it, which can leave spots on the display over time. A screen protector over the cracks holds the splinters in place until you get it replaced.
If the display is hit and the patches are spreading, do not wait. That kind of damage grows.