Everything you need to know about iPhone repairs

Broken phones are the worst. Actually, broken iPhones are the worst. When it comes to Apple iPhone repairs, it’s a minefield out there.

Do you go straight to the source to get your phone fixed? Is it ok to go with a third party repairer? Do you even need to fix your broken screen? Is it easier to just cry a little or will that water ruin your phone if it doesn’t have the best IP rating?

We’re here to answer all these questions about getting your iPhone repaired

• What can you get repaired?
• How much will it cost?
• Where can I get Apple-Certified repairs?
• How long does a repair take?
• Does Apple do free repairs?
• Is it worth going with a third-party repairer?

What can you get repaired?

Technically you can get anything repaired on a broken iPhone, but Apple splits it into three categories:

1. Screen replacement
2. Battery replacement
3. iPhone ‘other’ repairs

Screen replacements and battery replacements are pretty straight forward, they refer to replacing either a screen, or a battery. I know, shocking.

‘Other’ repairs are a bit more vague and refer to pretty much anything else that might be wrong with your phone. This could include broken cameras, shattered back screens, electronic issues, and any other creative way you have figured out to mess with your device.

While screen and battery replacements are somewhat affordable in the scheme of things, ‘other’ repairs come at much higher costs because Apple tends to replace the phone for a refurbished model rather than actually fixing the broken part. When you hear the prices you’ll probably be inclined to look at third-party repairers, but be sure to read about that below.

How much will it cost?

iPhones themselves are expensive, so it should come as no surprise that repairs also come with a hefty price tag. Screen repairs start at $249 and can go as high as $439, while ‘other’ repairs with Apple get as pricey as $859. That’s a moderate sized yike.

There are ways to keep the costs down. One of them is to opt in for Apple Care, while another is to go with a third party repairer - but more on that later.

Here is the pricing for Apple’s iPhone repairs with and without Apple Care for comparison. You can read more about the pros and cons of AppleCare+ in our full guide.

*Examples of other repair include for liquid damage, home button problems, camera replacement or repair for an accessory.

Where can I get Apple-Certified repairs?

The best place to get Apple-Certified repairs is straight from the horse's mouth, or the iPhone’s dock. Just go directly to Apple.

You’ve got the option to go in store, or send in your iPhone for repairs remotely. In order to go in store you’ll need to make an appointment at the Genius Bar using your Apple ID. In my personal experience, these appointments don’t generally run on time but it is still the most convenient way to get your baby into the phone doctor.

There are other repairers that get the Apple-Certified seal of approval, which ultimately means that they use genuine Apple replacement parts. While going straight to Apple you’re all but guaranteed that they will have the parts necessary to fix your iPhone on hand, going to an Apple-Certified repairer might take longer as parts may need to be ordered.

If money is an issue, it may be worth taking a look at our guide on how and when to replace a broken phone screen.

How long does a repair take?

In most cases, Apple repairs only require you to be apart from your precious phone child for a few hours. If on the other hand you need to wait for parts with a third-party repairer, or you choose to mail in your iPhone for repair it can take approximately 10 days until it is ready for pick-up.

Does Apple do free repairs?

You know what they say, “the good things in life are free,” yeah well iPhone repairs aren’t one of them. There are only some circumstances when your Apple will provide free repairs, and that is if the fault falls under Apple Limited Warranty, or if there is an issue with the device as described by Australian Consumer Law.

Apple’s Limited Warranty Coverage is entirely free and applies to everything included in your product’s original packaging, offering repairs or replacement in the event of after-purchase defects. Coverage is included for faults or malfunctions in your phone’s "materials and workmanship", provided you’re using your device normally. Usually this is limited to internal faults, it’s hard to argue that your broken screen is because Apple didn’t make their iPhone durable enough.

Australian Consumer Law states that anything sold within the country must be of good and merchantable quality, regardless of the warranty period. So even if your device is outside of warranty and reasonably new then it is to be expected that it will still work in the way it is supposed to. Meaning that an 18-month old iPhone shouldn’t be experiencing performance issues.

In the case that you are able to prove that your iPhone isn’t living up to this “good and merchantable quality” then Apple may be obliged to fix the problem for free. Usually these kinds of repairs are issued on a case-by-case basis, but it is best to consult the Office of Fair Trading for more information.

Is it worth going with a third-party repairer?

The million dollar, or several hundred dollar question… Is it worth getting your iPhone repaired by a third party? The answer to that all depends on whether your phone is still in warranty, and of course your personal preferences.

First of all, if you are seeking repairs within the first 12 months of owning your iPhone, it is best to go directly to Apple because the faults may be covered by the Limited Warranty. This means not only may you get the repairs done for free, but in some cases Apple will straight up just give you a new phone.

According to the Limited Warranty, you relinquish coverage in the situation that “damage [is] caused by use with a third party component or product that does not meet the Apple Product’s specifications.” In simple terms, if you have non-genuine parts in your iPhone, the warranty is void. Because of this it’s worth going directly to Apple at least within the first year of your purchase.

On the other hand, if your iPhone is out of warranty and you don’t have Apple Care the temptation to go with a third-party retailer isn’t unwarranted. Most of the time the repairs are cheaper, especially if it’s an issue such as a broken camera which may set you back upwards of $800 directly through Apple. Note however that these reduced prices mean that you’re unlikely to be getting genuine Apple replacement parts, so the camera for example may produce lower quality images than you’re used to.

Going directly to the manufacturer is always the better option, but if you’re looking to save some money or you already have an older iPhone it may be a good idea to explore.

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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