Cracked iPhone — Should You Repair or Replace It?

Published 20 April 2026 · Lux Phone Auburn · 7 min read

You have just dropped your iPhone. The screen is cracked. Now the question is simple on the surface and messy underneath: do you pay to fix it, or is this finally the excuse to upgrade?

We see this exact decision a dozen times a day at our Auburn repair shop. Some customers come in ready to repair and we talk them out of it. Other customers come in ready to buy a new phone and we save them $800. This guide is the same decision framework we use in the shop — no upsell, just the numbers.

The 30-second rule

Before you read anything else: repair it if the iPhone is 5 years old or newer, has no other major damage, and the battery still holds a decent charge. Replace it only if you would have upgraded anyway in the next six months. That covers about 80% of cases.

The repair vs replace decision, model by model

iPhones lose value in a predictable curve, and repair costs rise with newer OLED displays. Here is how the maths works across the models we see in the shop.

iPhone 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max / 15 / 15 Plus

Repair. Always. These phones still sell for $1,200 to $2,000 second-hand in Sydney. A $349 to $549 screen replacement is a rounding error next to that. You will also keep your Face ID, Pro ProMotion display, and Apple warranty on unrelated components.

iPhone 14 / 14 Plus / 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max

Repair. Used value sits between $900 and $1,600, repair cost is $299 to $449, and the iPhone 14 series will receive at least two more years of iOS updates. You save 70% compared with buying new.

iPhone 13 / 13 Pro / 13 Mini

Repair, unless you were already planning to upgrade. $229 to $349 to fix, resells for $700 to $1,100 in good condition. Still a very capable phone with at least 3 more years of iOS support.

iPhone 12 / 12 Pro / 12 Mini

Borderline. Repair if the battery health is above 85% and the phone is otherwise clean. If the battery is worn or the back glass is also cracked, the maths moves toward replacement. A 12 Pro in good shape with a new screen still sells for $600 to $800.

iPhone 11 / 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max / XR / XS

Last year where repair is usually still the right call. Screen costs $149 to $249, and these iPhones still command $350 to $550 second-hand. Face ID still works, iOS 18 still supported. If you can live with a slightly smaller battery, repair and keep another 18 months of life.

iPhone X / 8 / 8 Plus / SE (1st/2nd gen)

This is where the decision flips. Screen cost ($99 to $159) is a bigger fraction of the phone's value ($150 to $300). iOS support is ending for the oldest of these. If the battery is worn and the screen is cracked, an iPhone 11 refurb for $400 to $500 is often the smarter move.

iPhone 7 and older

Replace. These no longer receive iOS updates, parts quality for screens is declining, and resale values are below repair cost. Use the cracked phone as a backup and upgrade.

The four questions that change the answer

1. What is the battery health percentage?

Check it in Settings > Battery > Battery Health. If it is above 85%, repair. Between 80% and 85%, repair and budget a battery replacement within 12 months. Below 80%, quote both a screen and battery together — often a $50 to $80 upcharge — or consider replacement.

2. Is there any other damage?

Cracked rear glass, dented frame, faulty camera, dead speaker, broken Face ID — any of these flip the maths. A cracked screen alone is a clean repair. A cracked screen plus another fault means you are paying twice and the resale value is still hurt. If the repair total is over 40% of a second-hand replacement's price, upgrade.

3. How much would the phone sell for right now, cracked?

Jump on Gumtree or eBay for 2 minutes and find the asking price for your exact model with a cracked screen. Compare that to "good condition" listings. The gap is how much the repair is actually worth to you. If that gap is bigger than the repair quote, you make money by repairing first.

4. How long do you plan to keep this phone?

If you plan to sell within 3 months, repair only if you can recoup the cost in sale price. If you plan to keep the phone 12+ months, any repair at or below 40% of replacement cost pays for itself easily.

The environmental angle

A repaired iPhone is almost always the greener choice. Manufacturing a new iPhone produces about 65kg of CO₂. A screen replacement adds less than 1kg to the footprint of your existing device. Australia also recycles less than 10% of retired smartphones. Extending the life of the one in your hand is the single biggest thing you can do.

Getting it repaired in Sydney

If you have decided to repair, Sydney has three tiers of options: Apple or authorised providers (highest cost, genuine parts), established independents (mid-cost, quality aftermarket parts, faster), or budget pop-ups (cheap on paper, risky on quality). For most customers we see at Lux Phone in Auburn, the middle tier is the best value — a 30 to 60 minute repair, a 6-month written warranty, and a price 30 to 40% below Apple's rate.

Walk-ins welcome Monday to Saturday. Free quote, no obligation, and if we think you should replace rather than repair, we will tell you that too.