Original vs Compatible Screens For iPhone


We offer several options for replacement iPhone screens.


View: Apple iPhone Repairs

Screen Options

  • Original: For older models - iPhone 8 and below, iPhone 11, and iPhone SE - we use original displays which have been refurbished with premium quality glass and touch screen panel. For newer models - iPhone 12 series and above - we prefer to use Grade A reclaimed screens when they are available. These are 100% original screens which have been removed from iPhones but are still in perfect condition.
    This is the highest quality, most reliable, most expensive option.

  • High Quality Compatible OLED: Newer models - iPhone 11 Pro, 12 series and above - use OLED screens. This is a premium aftermarket screen, which has been designed and manufactured to work with your device. 
    The middle option is only available for devices that use an OLED screen.
    We use Soft OLED screens, which are significantly better than Hard OLED versions because they fit into the frame properly, don't have obstructive bezels, and are far more durable. 

  • Compatible LCD: This is a premium aftermarket screen, which has been designed and manufactured to work with your device. Older models - iPhone 8 and below, iPhone 11, and iPhone SE - use an LCD screen as standard and work very well with an aftermarket LCD screen. Newer models - iPhone 11 Pro, 12 series and above - use OLED screens. These models are not designed to use LCD screens, so using one may have implications on performance and battery life. 
    This is the cheapest option.

    We prudently source our compatible parts, which can be a little more expensive, but better quality than the many cheap copies on the market.
  • Used Original: Sometimes we have reclaimed screens available. These are fully functional screens which have been removed from dead or refurbished devices. These are graded and priced based on cosmetic condition, with Grade A being like-new, Grade C being heavily scratched, and Grade B somewhere in between. 
    Perfect quality touch and display and excellent reliability at a discounted price. If you don't mind a few scratches, take advantage of one of these. 


What You Need To Know

  • Premium screens have a sharper display and better overall quality than cheaper alternatives. 
  • You will not lose or compromise any functions by opting for a compatible screen.
  • All screen options come with a 12-month warranty on manufacturing defects and touch faults. Cracked glass or display, or any indication of physical damage, liquid damage, accidental damage, or third-party tampering will void the warranty.
  • We try to keep all options in stock, but availability can vary - particularly for newer models. 
  • We cannot transfer True Tone to compatible screens in some cases.
  • We cannot guarantee full liquid-damage protection with any screen replacement.
  • Screens are serialised on some models, meaning it will register as an "Unknown Part" in service history, regardless of which screen we fit. More info here.
  • We only fit compatible screens for older models: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5S, 5C, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6S & 6S Plus. Compatible screens on these models are very similar to original screens, but much cheaper. Supply and demand for original displays is very low for older models.

If you're not happy with the compatible screen, you can pay the difference to upgrade to an original screen at no additional labour cost. 


Why We Offer Both Options

It'd be nice to just fit OEM and original parts. Unfortunately, replacement OEM screens can be expensive to buy, and not within everyone's budget. By having various options, we can compete with Apple and other repair centres that only offer cheap screens.  

Whilst most repair centres will only offer copy screens (and perhaps tell you that they're original); and Apple only fit their own screens (at a hefty price); we like to give our customers more choice and better value.

How To Pick
We recommend that you base your choice on the following criteria:

  • Your budget - if you can afford the extra, go for OEM.
  • How much you use your device/how important it is to you - if you don't use it much, go for Non-OEM.
  • What you use your device for - gaming, media and creative uses are better suited to an OEM screen.
  • How long you plan on keeping your device for - if you're due an upgrade next month, perhaps opt for the Non-OEM option.
  • How likely you are to break it again - if you're generally careful, and you use a protective case, we'd recommend OEM.

LCD vs OLED Specifics

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. OLED is a newer, more advanced technology which offers superior quality and performance to LCD. OLED screens have better contrast, higher brightness, fuller viewing angle, wider colour range and faster refresh rates. They also consume slightly less battery power. LCD screens utilise a backlight. OLED screens do not need a backlight because the pixels are self-emitting.

We recommend reading this: 

Important Information - Apple iPhone Screen Replacement

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