Should You Repair Or Replace Your Broken Phone?

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As much as we may try to protect them with cases and screen protectors, phones can occasionally break on us. From accidents like drops and splashes to unavoidable damage such as bugs and wear and tear, there are all kinds of ways in which phones can get damaged.

The big question is do you attempt to repair your phone, or do you get a new one? The former option could be cheaper, while the latter option could be more convenient. Below we’ll explore whether or not you should repair or replace. 

Start by considering the warranty

Is your phone still under warranty? Checking this should be your first step as it may be possible to get your phone fixed for free or at a discount. Many new devices and refurbished devices will come with a warranty for a set amount of time which will cover manufacturer faults. Damage caused by accidents (like dropping your phone) may not be covered by such warranties, but could be protected by insurance if you took this out. Check terms and conditions to see what you are covered for.

Assess how bad the damage is

Some types of damage are relatively easy to repair (and therefore cheaper). For example, a lightly cracked phone screen or a worn out battery can often be an affordable fix. It often depends on the model (some older iPhones like the 8 and 11 had screens that were easily repairable, but the likes of the 12 are known to be much more difficult due to the introduction of ceramic shield glass).

Deep internal damage is often expensive to repair and in these cases you’re better off replacing your device. Most tech experts agree that you should replace once repair quotes exceed 40 to 50% of the cost of a new model. 

Think about the age and the performance

If it’s a very old phone that you’ve already paid off and you were thinking of upgrading anyway, consider whether now might be a good time to get a new phone. Fixing your phone might allow you to keep using a familiar device, but it might be time for a change.

You should particularly consider a replacement if your current phone is experiencing performance issues. Old phones all eventually slow down and you might find that you need to get a new one in a couple years’ time.

Of course, if the phone is relatively new, then you might be more tempted to repair it than replace it – you’ll still have to pay it off if it’s on contract and throwing it away could be a waste. 

Is there someone who can repair it?

You’ll find plenty of repair services out there for most popular devices. More specialist repair services like Spectralink 6020 repair may require venturing beyond your average high street repair service, however you can still find many of these repair services online.

Rare models of phone – which may include custom phones or vintage telephones – may be harder to find a repair service for, and therefore more expensive. You may be able to carry out DIY repairs on some devices and handsets, but make sure you definitely know what you are doing before you start pulling your phone apart.

So, should you repair or replace?

You should generally consider repairing your phone if:

• It’s protected by a warranty
• The damage is minor and cheap to fix
• The device is relatively new
• You can easily find a repair service

You should replace the device if it is likely to be very expensive to repair – especially if you are not covered by a warranty or if the device is old and already experiencing other performance issues.