Are replacement iphone screens as good as original

Are replacement iphone screens as good as original

When customers visit a shop for a screen repair, some shops will give them an option to choose between an original screen and a ‘copy’ screen. Most of the time, the first question that a customer asks is “What’s the difference between the two?” Originals are manufactured for Apple while copy screens are only compatible replacements that are manufactured by third party companies. Most of the time, customers choose the relatively affordable copy rather than the original because of the price distinction, but original iPhone screens are still recommended because of its far higher quality.

In this article, we will be sharing our knowledge of copy screens and how different they are from original iPhone screens.

1. Digitizer and Touch Problems

One of the most noticeable differences between an original and a copy is how the touch sensor also called the digitizer is designed. Original Apple screens manufacture digitizers as part of the LCD while copy screens manufacture it on the glass.

There are some companies that manufacture bare LCDs themselves, but these LCDs are also bought by other companies, who in turn add the other parts to create a complete working screen. Because of this, it is possible that you get a great LCD screen, but the digitizer is poor quality.

For iPhone 6, 6s and 6s+
, iPhones transferred the chips necessary for the digitizer to work directly on the LCD, that means that when you buy a ‘copy screen’ for these models, you are not only getting a copy of the screen but a copy of the chip.

2. Low Quality LCD Panels

When you buy a copy screen you are also buying a low image quality for your phone. This is because the LCD is of poor quality. The problems experienced are weak brightness, contrast and vibrancy, grainy appearance because of low image resolution and lower refresh rate.

3. Mismatched Parts

In most cases, the performance specification of copy screens is not identical to the original ones. As a result, the battery of the phone drains faster and the OS or operating system is misled. This mismatch is also a possible cause of damage to your backlight.

4. Problems with the Fingerprint ID reader

Copy screens can also create damage to your phone’s touch ID fingerprint reader. The home button flexes on the copy screens design which makes it stop working, and we all know the struggle of not having a working ID fingerprint reader.

Some shops offer copy screens to remain competitive in the market since the difference in price ranges to £20-30. Still, you can get the most of your money with the original for having a better performing iPhone screen. Even though there are different qualities of copy screens, from good copies that actually work to cheaply made ones, there are several factors at play to have your iPhone be used seamlessly. Aside from the points above, one of the factors that might affect the use of your phone with a copy is the Apple updates that conflict with the low grade copy screens.

Eventually, it is your decision whether to choose an original one or not. But additional pounds for an original screen is a good investment. You can avoid all the possible damage caused by copy screens which in turn will help you save money in the long run since you won’t need to return to a shop for further repairs.

The Phone Shop, is a family run, proudly independent, smart-device repair shop. We have been mending all kinds of devices from smartphones to tablets since 2009. With over 75,000 happy customers, our technicians are Bristol’s number 1 repair specialists. Our specialists are people that you can trust when it comes to giving a great repair service.

If you have any concerns and questions, don’t hesitate to call us at 01179424400 or send us a message at . Our friendly team will be happy to help you.


We offer our customers two types of replacement screen for Apple iPhones: Original and Compatible.

Are replacement iphone screens as good as original

You can select either option online or in-store.

Apple iPhone Repairs

What You Need To Know

  • Original screens have a sharper display and better overall quality.

  • Both screen options come with a 12-month warranty on manufacturing defects and touch faults. Physical damage and cracked screens void the warranty.

  • We keep both options in stock. 

  • You will not lose any functionality by opting for a compatible screen.

  • We cannot transfer True Tone to compatible screens in some cases.

  • A water resistant seal is not guaranteed with either option - as with any water resistant device that has been physically damaged or repaired.

  • For newer models, you will get a display message after repair, regardless of what screen we fit. This is because screens are serialised. This shows up an an "Unknown Part" in service history. More info here.
  • We only fit compatible screens for older models: iPhone 4, 4S, 5, 5S, 5C, SE, 6, 6 Plus, 6S & 6S Plus. This is because compatible screens are very similar to original, and therefore better value. Also, both supply and demand for old original displays is very low.

We highly recommend reading this: 
Important Information - Apple iPhone Screen Replacement

Why We Offer Both Options
Whilst we'd prefer to only fit OEM and original parts, replacement OEM screens can be expensive to buy, and so a repair is not within everyone's budget.  

Whilst most repair centres will only offer copy screens (and perhaps tell you that they're original); and Apple only offer their own original screens; we like to give our customers the choice.

How To Pick
We recommend that you base your choice on the following criteria:

  • Your budget - if you can afford the extra, go for OEM.
  • How much you use your device/how important it is to you - if you don't use it much, go for Non-OEM.
  • What you use your device for - gaming, media and creative uses are better suited to an OEM screen.
  • How long you plan on keeping your device for - if you're due an upgrade next month, perhaps opt for the Non-OEM option.
  • How likely you are to break it again - if you're generally careful, and you use a protective case, we'd recommend OEM.

Product Specifics

Original
- OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)

The screens are manufactured to the same specification as the original, or are original LCD’s/OLED's (display panels) that have been refurbished with brand new OEM-quality glass and touchscreen, so it looks and works just like the original part. In most cases, we refurbish original displays.

Apple do not sell their parts, so this is the highest quality option that you can get at a repair centre.

Fault/defect rate: 1-2%

Compatible - Non-OEM (Not Original Equipment Manufacturer)

These screens are aftermarket. They are designed and manufactured by an alternative company to be fully compatible with the relevant model.

Display quality and resolution is not quite as good. For LCD screens, these components utilise a medium brightness backlight, as opposed to a high brightness backlight. 

Not all screens are equal. We use the highest quality compatible assemblies available. They cost a little bit more, but they are more reliable. 

Fault/defect rate: 3-4% 

If you're not happy with the compatible screen, you can pay the difference to upgrade to an original screen at no additional labour cost. 

For models that use OLED screens; iPhone X, XS, XS Max, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, 12 series, 13 series and 14 series; we offer one or two compatible options: 

Non-OEM (Compatible LCD) 

HQ Non-OEM (Compatible OLED)

LCD stands for Liquid Crystal Display. OLED stands for Organic Light-Emitting Diode. OLED is a newer, more advanced technology which offers superior quality and performance to LCD. OLED screens have better contrast, higher brightness, fuller viewing angle, wider colour range and faster refresh rates.

Aftermarket manufacturers have created an LCD that is compatible with iPhone's that use OLED screens. The display quality is not as good as an OLED screen. LCD screens consumer more power, so battery life may be slightly lower. An LCD screen is the cheapest available option.

We use Soft OLED screens, which are significantly better quality than Hard OLED versions. They fit into the frame properly and are more durable. The overall quality and functionality of these screens are close to original screens, yet not as expensive.

If your device uses an OLED, we recommend having an OLED replacement screen fitted.

Are replacement iphone screens as good as original
< Repairs & Services 

Are replacement screens good?

A screen replacement does not reduce your display quality, neither does it degrade the screen quality. All replacement screens from the manufacturers are produced with the same quality as the original screens. They are designed to give you the same feel and look as though you were using the original screen.

Can Apple tell if you replaced your screen?

Apple has never been friendly to user repairs, but the company has opened a new front in its efforts to convince customers to only pay Apple to fix their own devices.

Is OEM screen same as original?

What's the difference between OEM vs Original Parts? OEM Parts are going to be the same high quality as the original parts used in your brand name phone as they will be replacement parts made by the same manufacturer/s who made the original parts in your phone with similar warranties in place.

How do I know if my iPhone screen is original?

Aside from looking at the display itself, you can use a portable light source, such as a flashlight, to check if an iPhone's display is genuine or not. Simply shine the light on the screen and take a close look at the light's reflection on the screen.