Is Screen Replacement Really Worth It?

Did you know that an estimate of 90% of people drops their phones at least once a month? Smartphone has become our best friend, it knows so much about us. It makes life easier and better for us.

For most people, it’s not a matter of if but when, and though the materials used on the outside of our “best friend” have somewhat improved over the past few years, nothing is infallible. Let us dive into discussing, Is Screen Replacement Really Worth It?

Dangers of Using a Phone With Cracked Screen

Malfunction Touch Screen: It is obvious smartphones with broken screens with time will not get any better. One of the first things to get compromised when it comes to function is the touch screen of your phone. It may take some time for your smartphone to respond to finger gestures, or worse, the screen will stop responding.

A damaged phone screen is also susceptible to finger oils, dust and debris that will work their way inside the screen cracks, with time this can further damage the phone. A screen replacement is recommended.

Loss of Protection: One of the objectives of a screen is to protect the inner parts of the device from outside elements that could damage the phone.

As an example, you would occasionally clean your smartphone’s screen with a damp cloth, but with a cracked screen, that is no longer advisable. Reason being the liquid can seep through the cracks and might cause the smartphone to short circuit.

As a by the way, if you own one of the newer smartphones models that are water-resistant, a cracked screen will definitely invalidate this functionality.

Splinter Your Finger: With a cracked phone screen, you are putting your fingers at risk from cuts when you try to swipe through the screen. If your screen has severe cracks, there is a higher chance you could possibly hurt yourself with small glass splinters.

Eye Straining: Smartphones boast of high-definition display gives users great viewing experience. When this high definition screen cracks or breaks, you will be left with an eyesore. It will become more difficult to look at your phone screen and also view the content.

You will spend more time squinting your eyes to interpret the articles you are reading or the latest videos you are watching on social media. A cracked screen will make checking your phone a task than what it should be.

Road Hazard: For years smartphones are equipped with GPS to help users navigate through unfamiliar roads. Often, they steal glances on their phone’s maps while driving. A cracked screen will make this a more difficult task. This would force drivers to lose focus on the road ahead.

Broken phone screen forces drivers to take their eyes off the road when using the phone’s GPS, which could be a major hazard and also a safety risk.

Factors To Consider Before You Go Ahead With Screen Replacement:

Price Of The Phone VS Screen Price

The price of the phone is a huge factor in determining the screen replacement price. Flagship phones for the likes of iPhone X, Samsung S10 and Huawei P30 Pro to name a few tend to be extremely expensive and its replacement cannot be done with any technician.

I kid you not. A flagship phone screen replacement tends to be considered. For example, iPhone X costs slightly above Ksh 100,000 and the screen replacement costs about Ksh 40,000. You have to look at the price of the phone vs the price of screen replacement. If the margin is huge then you can consider.

LCD Vs AMOLED Screen

Smartphones using LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) technology tends to be relatively cheap, unlike the AMOLED display. Chinese LCD manufacturers can easily replicate and copy the screen technology and distribute them cheaply.

The “copy” LCD screen comes with different grades, are of low quality, easily breakable. LCD screen replacement tends to be cheaper because the screens have varying degrees of copy displays.

AMOLED technology mostly used by Samsung is a piece of art. According to Samsung AMOLED is a display technology and stands for Active Matrix Organic Light-Emitting Diodes.

Here is a list of AMOLED phones. The AMOLED screen replacement is expensive to replace, unlike LCD. There are no many manufacturers of the AMOLED screen and they come from a very small number of factories.

Phone Release Time

New smartphone releases take some time before the screen replacement parts are readily available. As soon as the get into the market, they start off at insanely high prices and slowly with time trickle down. The reason is not enough supply at the start. Except with Samsung, that supply never changes.

Phone History & Lifespan

When a smartphone is opened, there is a greater risk of damage. It is highly recommended if a smartphone has been opened more than 3 times, or screen replaced more than once. Avoid screen replacement and just buy a new phone. There is a higher chance of more complications and cost if this mistake is not avoided.

If your phone has served you a good 2+ years and has had an issue, its time for a farewell. Every smartphone comes with a battery, and they degrade over time with steady use. That is why we recommend if you have had it for a long time, upgrade rather than replacing the screen.

 

How To Protect Your Phone & Avoid Screen Replacement

• After purchasing a new smartphone it is highly recommended you shield your phone from cracks, scratches, and dust by using a screen protector. A screen protector is easy to install and is truly a must-have for every phone owner. Once your screen protector cracks it’s advisable you replace with a new one for the safety and protection of your smartphone.   

• Spend some money on a sturdy case — like an affordable silicone case or pricier case. It is vital to protect every corner of your phone from the shock of drops.

• It is advisable to clean your phone screen with a microfiber cloth instead of harsh chemicals or rough cloths like paper towels and napkins.

• While in your car driving, It is good to keep your phone from sliding around or falling to the floor with a dashboard phone holder.

•  Be very cautious when using third-party chargers, because they can often damage your phone’s ports or cause your device to overheat. For Samsung phones, it is advisable to use a genuine Samsung travel adapter charger. It has fast charging technology and works best for Samsung smartphones. For Infinix it is best you use the Infinix fast charger.

Note you should not use an Infinix charger for charging any other phone brand. It can lead to damaging your charging port and affect your battery life.

• Use a phone case with an elastic finger loop for additional phone security while holding your phone.

• Or you can attach your desired pop socket on the back of your phone with an affordable Go-strap.

• Choose a bumper case — instead of a simple snap-on case. Bumper cases are an amazing choice. They offer more protection for your screen and highly reduce the shock of phone drops.

• And finally, be vigilant about not placing your phone on your lap while sitting, placing your phone on the edge of tables and other surfaces. This is an extreme step that will help you avoid costly phone drops.

Conclusion

By using a cracked phone screen is not only unsightly. It can also highly affect your productivity plus your overall well-being. You should make sure you take necessary precautions like the ones stated above.

Do you know of any other risks that come with using broken/cracked phone screens? Kindly share them in the comments below!