Original or compatible screen: which should you choose?

When you replace a phone screen, you can usually choose between an original part and a compatible (aftermarket) part. Both can be a good choice. The right one depends on your phone, how long you plan to keep it and your budget.

Original screens

• Made to the manufacturer’s specification, so colour, brightness and touch response match the phone as it left the factory.
• The best choice if you plan to keep the phone for a long time or rely on the camera and display for work.
• Usually the more expensive option.

Compatible screens

• Often a significantly lower price, sometimes around half the cost of an original.
• Quality varies between suppliers, so it matters who fits it and which part they use.
• On models with OLED screens, some compatible parts use LCD technology instead. These can be slightly thicker, less vivid and use a little more battery.

Things to know about iPhones

• On recent iPhones, a message may appear in Settings saying the display could not be verified as genuine. The phone still works normally.
• Some features, such as True Tone, can stop working after a screen replacement unless the repairer transfers data from the original screen. Ask us whether this applies to your model.
• A repair by an independent repairer may affect any remaining Apple warranty.

How we help you choose

Before any work begins, we tell you which screen options are available for your exact model, what each one costs and what warranty applies, so you can choose what suits you. See how our pricing page works.

Cracked screen? Use our Request a Repair form and add a photo of the damage.