How To Use Old Phone While New One Getting Repaired

Flagship mobiles are getting pricier, which means you could be forced to pay a hefty fee if you nail the display or damage the battery. Before yous contact the manufacturer, it's worth looking at tertiary-party alternatives to see if you could save some money. Nosotros'll help you lot piece of work out the cost.

In our snapshot study on smartphone repair, we've compared prices from both the mobile manufacturers and third-political party repair websites. Our featured brands include Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Google and Xiaomi. Go on scrolling for screen and bombardment repair costs.

How much does it price to set up a broken screen on a mobile phone?

New features on premium smartphones are driving prices (and therefore repair costs) higher. In contempo years, nosotros've seen a surge of phones with under-display fingerprint sensors and mechanical, popular-up forepart-facing cameras – these are intricate components that can exist a hurting to fix.

Screen replacement costs compared

Based on the selection of smartphones nosotros've featured above, the average repair cost for a cleaved screen is around £170. If your device is covered by warranty, y'all'll either end upwardly paying far less or aught at all.

Merely if you've dug deep into your wallet for a smartphone with a high retail price, y'all'll desire to be extra careful. Smash the brandish on Apple tree's iPhone 12 Pro Max, for example, and you tin can await to pay £316.44 to go it fixed by Apple if information technology'due south out of warranty. You could buy a new Which? Best Buy smartphone for the aforementioned price.

From the results above, you'll notice that official repair costs for smashed displays usually piece of work out cheaper compared to third-party alternatives. This isn't the case 100% of the fourth dimension, though – Apple tree charges £196 to gear up a broken iPhone eleven screen, while Phones Rescue charges less than £100.

Why aren't some screen replacement repair costs listed?

In some instances, nosotros were unable to confirm a repair cost through the official road because the brand needs more information about the phone. This might even require sending the device to them to exist analysed.

If you're considering using third-party repair, you may exist out of luck here also. Nosotros weren't able to confirm that screens were repairable for five pop phones across whatsoever of the seven reputable third-party repair services we checked.

If repair costs are something that might factor into your buying decision – or even if they but plant 'nice to know' when yous're choosing a handset — information technology's important to do your research in advance.

How much does it cost to replace a mobile telephone bombardment?

Fortunately, replacing a battery is commonly a lot cheaper, although in some instances – such equally with official costs for Samsung'south recent flagships – it can still be extremely expensive.

Battery replacement costs compared

Batteries are far cheaper to ready than smartphone displays. In fact, our table above shows that the average repair cost for a cleaved bombardment (if you go straight through the manufacturer) is around £85. OnePlus is the cheapest of the bunch, charging just £13 to replace a dodgy battery.

That'due south reassuring if you desire to give your smartphone a new charter of life, merely you also need to consider support periods if a telephone is more than a couple of years old.

Use our mobile back up calculator to observe out if the telephone y'all own is notwithstanding getting important updates.

How tin I get my mobile telephone repaired?

The process for initiating the repair varies by brand. Discover out how much hassle is involved past checking your make in the list below.

Samsung repair

If the unthinkable happens and you damage your Samsung smartphone, you accept three options if you don't desire to use a third political party: doorstep repair, option-up repair or in-shop repair.

Choosing Samsung's doorstep service means a mobile repair van volition come up to yous and repair your product. Repairs can exist completed on the day of the appointment, although Samsung notes that this depends on the 'realistic repair time for the result and parts available.'

Pick-up repair means a courier volition option upwardly your device and accept it abroad to exist stock-still. This can take 'up to 10 days' from the date of collection.

Alternatively, you lot tin effort in-store repair. You'll need to book a slot with a Samsung Adept via the brand'south website.

Screen and battery repairs for Samsung gadgets are arranged together. In other words, if you nail your screen, both the brandish and the battery volition exist replaced.

Run across likewise: Samsung support page

iPhone repair

Earlier you can bring a cleaved iPhone in-store, yous'll demand to brand an appointment online or telephone call and so a technician is assigned to your example. It'southward a good idea to back up your important files before you go simply in case. Apple also says you should go along a record of your Apple tree ID and password.

If you'd rather send in your iPhone, you tin arrange for a box to exist shipped to you by visiting the Apple website.

An AppleCare+ plan can be used to cover screen repair costs. The scheme includes 2 incidents of accidental damage cover (excess of £25). If you don't have AppleCare+, y'all'll have to pay the out-of-warranty fee.

See as well: Apple tree back up page

Huawei repair

Break a Huawei smartphone that'due south withal under warranty and you lot obviously won't have to pay upwards to go it fixed. Meanwhile, out-of-warranty repairs are calculated by adding the spare part cost, labour fee (£34) and VAT.

Before you lot brand an appointment online, Huawei advises phone owners to support and relieve personal data, so perform a manufacturing plant reset. It's important you call back to remove your Sim carte, SD card and any protective example.

Once yous accept an appointment, you'll need to take your device and proof of purchase to a Huawei service centre at the confirmed appointment and time.

Google repair

Google manages cleaved phones through the Repair Center page on its website.

We reached out to Google for estimated repair costs and weren't able to obtain figures for the Pixel smartphone range. This is because Google requires an IMEI number (plant in your phone settings) earlier information technology volition escalate a case and discuss pricing.

See likewise: Google back up page

Xiaomi repair

Xiaomi lists repair costs for each individual smartphone component on its website. The price you pay varies depending on model.

Simply regardless of the model you own, you'll demand to pay a £26.45 'Inspection cost' and £eighteen for shipping.

Motorola repair

If y'all send off your Motorola smartphone, the visitor volition send it dorsum or swap it out for a like-new replacement. A repaired device or replacement is usually sent 'inside vii days after receiving the original device'.

Broken screens or 'other physical damage' are non covered by Motorola'south standard warranty, then yous'll have to pay for the repair separately. The make says that phones suffering from liquid harm can't be repaired, although they are covered nether the Moto Care Accident Protection Programme.

OnePlus repair

To set up your OnePlus telephone, make full in an application on the website and ship out your device then information technology can be inspected. If a specific office of your OnePlus phone is damaged, at that place's a chance you can get that individual piece replaced on its own.

OnePlus has a total list of out-of-warranty prices on its website, listing both cheap models like the OnePlus Nord and pricier alternatives such as the OnePlus 9 Pro.

Interestingly, each type of photographic camera lens has a different repair cost. For example, break the rear mono camera on a OnePlus 9 Pro and you'll pay just £1 for a new 1. Meanwhile, the rear main camera is £60 to replace.

Run into likewise: OnePlus support folio

Third-party repair

About third-party repair websites will ask you to ship in your damaged smartphone by post and some even provide a free shipping label. When sending your telephone, ensure the device is well protected. Ship it out in the original packaging if possible.

Larger companies are likely to have physical stores dotted effectually, which might be the more convenient option in some cases. Timpson, for example, says it has more 1,200 locations nationwide that can take a expect at your telephone. Meanwhile, iSmash customers can visit one of 32 locations.

Turnaround times will vary depending on the company you trust with your mobile. Pay close attention to what the make is promising before you outset the procedure. Also, support your important data earlier you lot hand over your smartphone just in case your device gets wiped.

How to find a reputable repair service

Assuming you lot opt for a tertiary-party repair service, you'll need to decide whether or not to hit the high street or use a post-in service. The high street is convenient, simply costs can be high depending on where you become. A mail-in service is easy to adapt online, but you lot could exist waiting weeks for the return of your mobile.

When picking a visitor to handle your smartphone, recollect the following:

Do your researchCheck customer reviews to make sure your mobile is in good hands.
Exist prepared to waitIf you're using a mail service-in repair service, ask the company how long you'll be without your phone. Yous might need to arrange for a temporary back-up phone while you wait.
Check your softwarePoor battery life could be improved by downloading the latest software update to your smartphone. See if those changes take an effect before going alee.

Should you repair a broken smartphone yourself?

Probably non. The process of repairing a smartphone yourself can exist frustratingly fiddly, particularly now that very few phones have easily removable rear covers. If you don't know exactly what you're doing, at that place are clear safety concerns, and you could do more than harm to your mobile than proficient.

Ownership a second mitt or refurbished telephone

If you're faced with a large out-of-warranty repair fee, buying a replacement refurbished smartphone is also an option. Phones that have been officially refurbished past the manufacturer or retailer should come up with a warranty, typically for one yr, so you may find yourself in a amend position than yous were with your existing phone.

Be wary of ownership phones that claim they are refurbished but don't have a warranty, or ownership second-hand phones from individuals on resell websites like eBay. You could bag yourself a bargain only might find yourself in trouble if y'all have problems.

Our expert guide on How to buy 2nd-hand or refurbished mobile phone has more details.

Insuring your telephone against loss or damage

As nosotros've shown, repairing a mobile phone can exist an expensive business. Making sure you lot're protected confronting loss or damage is a wise move, so consider your options carefully.

Dedicated mobile telephone insurance

With dedicated mobile telephone insurance, you lot're covered for repair and replacement costs if your phone is lost, stolen or damaged. Well-nigh policies also encompass phone accessories and protection abroad, although you should check the policy wording advisedly and make sure y'all don't demand to add this to your holiday insurance.

For more details on what telephone insurance covers and whether it'south worth buying, see our expert guide – mobile phone insurance: how to get the all-time cover .

Existing insurance

If you have contents insurance, this might already cover you for damage to a mobile phone, although check the terms carefully and speak to your insurer if in any doubtfulness.

Accidental harm and encompass away from dwelling are 2 cardinal terms to enquire most, every bit well as whatever excess you have to pay, which may be unlike for each. Too, check whether cover away from home includes holidays abroad; in some cases this can salvage you having to take out additional protection.

Find out how contents insurance works, what it covers and typical exclusions to sentry out for with our contents insurance explained guide.

Which? calls for improved repair standards for consumers on mobile phones

Which? believes that smartphone manufacturers should arrive easier for consumers to repair mobile phones and offering greater access to competitively priced independent repair options. This would prevent high costs from prematurely ending the lifespan of mobile phones.

This includes:

Consumers being given a legal correct to repair by requiring manufacturers to brand spare parts, repair tools and repair information available to third-party repairers at prices that encourage repair, rather than the buy of a new device.
Consumers being provided with warranties reflective of the typical expected lifetime of the device, which our research has found could be on boilerplate five to half-dozen years.
A labelling scheme clearly indicating how repairable a device is, to increment transparency at betoken of purchase.