Would you buy an iPhone that had its screen replaced (not by Apple)?

Hoju on 08/06/2016 - 10:33
Last edited 08/06/2016 - 10:35

Curious as to people's experiences.

I'm looking to upgrade and find that some eBay iPhones have had screens replaced. If you're buying used - would you ask the seller if a) the screen is original and b) if apple did it?

I ask because I've bought in the past off eBay and the screen has been flickering due to a recent third party replacement. Luckily the seller took it back.

I've even had issues with Apple screens. On one occasion a battery was being replaced under warranty on a 5 and the screen didn't sit right after the job. So they put a new screen in and then that had backlight issues (at which point they just gave me a whole new phone).

I'm not sure if my issues are rare or, do people as a rule stay away from replaced screen iPhones due to their untrustworthy nature?!

Poll Options

  • 0
    No it doesn't matter
  • 33
    Stay away from 3rd party replaced screens
  • 10
    Stay away from all screen replaced iPhones
Mobile

Comments

  • Allan on 08/06/2016 - 12:57
    +2

    I would avoid anything replaced by a third party. The screen colour tends to be very different to Apple's screen. I've seen old iPhone 4S/5S/6 screens look a bit off. Some of them are very poor quality (I remembered on an iPhone 4 the resolution looks off, it was too "cool" colour) and have issues down the track which aren't picked up when you get it (half the screen goes off/lines).

    • BargainKen on 08/06/2016 - 16:08

      The screen color observation is nonsense as Apple use a variety of suppliers. Some screens were cool white and others warmish yellow. It was pot luck what you got, most preferred the cooler white screens going by macrumors forum comments i was following.

      • supnigs super skids on 08/06/2016 - 16:26

        This is true. My replacement 5s has a different colour screen to my original. Both are from apple store. I prefer the warmer colour but nowadays you can just tinker with night mode anyway to change the colour

        • BargainKen on 08/06/2016 - 18:05

          Yeh it was odd with phones as you could always change it on a regular LCD screen for PC. People just prefer what they're used to. The warmer "yellow" screens actually gave a nicer richer colour IMO

  • scrimshaw on 08/06/2016 - 13:00

    3rd party replaced screens — corner cutting by using cheap / defect displays from Aliexpress

    The same thing with Samsung, a lot of dodgy repairers will 'cheat' by using non-Samsung displays

  • a2swin on 08/06/2016 - 14:11
    +3

    listen to me if you may. I used to work at a phone shop doing a dozen screen replacement a day. DONT EVEN THINK of buying one. nowadays they can't get genuine parts like 4,5 years back, so 99% of the screens they use at third party phone shop/repair is poor quality/ color defect/ not glued in properly / back light issues/ flickering/ may die anytime. the LCD itself may be from the original screen, but the touch screen is not. still you're trying your luck.

  • Hoju on 08/06/2016 - 14:26

    Wow thanks heaps for the advice and experience.

    Sounds like they're a big nono!

    • [Deactivated] on 12/06/2016 - 04:04

      Yap, it is.. Big no no! I had that experience for last 6months with iPhone 6.. It was really bad… Could not feel that smooth touch..:-p Now happy, I have new 6s :)

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2016 - 15:22

    Depends on how much. 3rd party screen replaced Iphone 6 for $50. Why not?

    • Hoju on 08/06/2016 - 16:01

      Seems like those in the know think you get exactly what you pay for?

      • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2016 - 19:28

        Again it depends on how much. You can't beat the market though, so if it is available for all to buy then yea. You're probably right.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2016 - 15:33

    why is there no bikies selection ?

    • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2016 - 15:59

      The OP either is a bikie, or is/was looking to buy said phone off a bikie.

      • Hoju on 08/06/2016 - 16:00

        Shhhhhh

    • Solarlux on 09/06/2016 - 10:18

      Real men don't buy iphones!!!

  • BargainKen on 08/06/2016 - 16:12

    I found where they lacked was in the olephoic layer missing from the screen so the screen gets oily easier. Some get dodgy panels but remember these things are usually sold As an all in one digitizer/lcd/backlight. On newer phones Apple may be able to tell and disable phones with software updates as they did with the home button replacements on the iPhone 5S.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/06/2016 - 16:38

    If the price is right why not, usually the screen would still be the same resolution. The colour/white balance might be different, but that's the same with the original screen as well due to Apple sourcing from different panel manufacturers.

    It would have to be real cheap though..

  • bluedufflecoat on 08/06/2016 - 16:52

    Not sure about iPhones. But I got my iPad screen replaced recently and it really looks fine.

    • voiletmay on 09/06/2016 - 07:19

      yes it will, the problem happens when/if you need to go back to the apple store.

  • voiletmay on 09/06/2016 - 07:17

    No, if it develops another problem later on and you go to the Apple Store, you wont be able to get the phone fixed/replaced.

    I'd pretty much only buy from the Apple Store, but that is me.

  • Hoju on 10/06/2016 - 10:32

    Thanks for the advice folks, I'll definitely make a practice of asking sellers before purchase if the screen has ever been replaced. Stands to reason that if someone is selling, they may have just had a cheap screen put on for the purposes of the sale, and the unwitting buyer then deals with the consequences, which could be far down the line.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join