Is it cheaper to repair or replace an iPhone?

For an iPhone 14 or newer, repairing is almost always cheaper. Even a Pro Max screen is $415 at Citri Mobile with an Original Grade part, against well over a thousand dollars for a new Pro Max. Replace when the repair is more than about half of what the phone is worth working.

Is it worth fixing a cracked screen on an iPhone 15 or 16?

Yes, in nearly every case. An Original Grade screen is $195 on an iPhone 15 and $330 on a 16 Pro Max, and a cracked screen usually takes a big slice off the phone's trade-in value.

Should I trade in my iPhone broken or repair it first?

Compare the trade-in value working and broken with the repair price. If the gap is bigger than the repair, repair first. On recent iPhones it usually is.

When should I replace my iPhone instead of repairing it?

When there are several major faults at once, when board damage comes on top of a broken screen, when the frame is bent, or when you were about to upgrade anyway.

Does a non-Apple screen affect resale value?

It can. iOS lists a non-Apple display as an unknown part in Parts and Service History, and some buyers check. A genuine Apple display fitted under the Apple IRP programme shows as genuine.

Do you charge to check what's wrong?

No. Diagnosis is free, and you decide whether to go ahead once you have the price.

Repair or Replace an iPhone 14 to 17? Singapore Costs

For an iPhone 14 or newer, repairing is almost always cheaper than replacing. One of the biggest common bills, a Pro Max screen, is $415 at Citri Mobile with an Original Grade part, and a new Pro Max costs well over a thousand dollars. Replace instead when the repair comes to more than about half of what the phone is worth working, or when board damage sits on top of a broken screen. Everything below uses our live prices, so you can run the sums for your own phone.

Got an iPhone 13 or older? The maths changes as phones lose value and drop off iOS updates. Is it worth repairing an old iPhone? goes through those model by model.

What do the big repairs cost on a newer iPhone?

These are the repairs that make people wonder whether to bother. Prices are nett, per model, straight from our price list.

Repair	iPhone 14 Pro	iPhone 15	iPhone 16 Pro Max	iPhone 17 Pro Max
Screen, Original Grade	$215	$195	$330	$415
Screen, genuine Apple display (Apple IRP)	$445	$415	$515	$545
Back glass, Grade AAA	$65	$65	$75	$80
Back glass, genuine Apple (Apple IRP)	on quote	$220	$220	$220
Battery, Original Grade	$50	$55	$60	$70
Rear camera	$90	$75	$100	$135
Face ID	$70	$90	$90	$95
Board-level repair	Quoted after a free diagnosis

Every other model, and every other repair, is on the iPhone repair page. "On quote" means we confirm the price and stock for that model on the day.

Now set those against a new phone. Apple's Singapore store lists current prices, and a new Pro Max runs well into four figures. Even the dearest line in the table above is a fraction of that.

So when does replacing make more sense?

Use one rule: if the repair costs more than about half of what the phone would be worth working, think hard before paying for it. Below half, repair. Above it, look at trade-in or selling as-is.

On a phone from the last three or four years, that line is hard to cross with one fault. It gets crossed in a handful of situations:

Two big faults at once. A shattered screen plus back glass plus a camera on a Pro Max adds up quickly.
Board damage on top of a broken screen. After a bad drop or liquid, the screen price is only part of the bill, and the board work can't be priced until we've diagnosed it.
A bent or split frame. That's a housing job, quoted after a look, and on top of whatever else broke. See iPhone housing replacement.
You were upgrading anyway. If a new phone was coming next month, a big repair now mostly buys a better trade-in.

How does a broken screen change your trade-in value?

A lot. Trade-in counters grade a phone on its condition, and a cracked screen or cracked back drops it into a much lower band. That matters when you're deciding, because the real choice isn't repair versus a new phone at full price. It's repair and keep (or trade in later at full value), against trade in broken now and pay more for the new one.

So get both numbers before you decide. Check what your model is worth working and broken on our phone trade-in page, then compare the gap with the repair price in the table. On a recent iPhone the repair often costs less than the value it restores.

Is the genuine Apple display worth it on a newer iPhone?

It depends how long you'll keep the phone. A genuine Apple display, fitted under the Apple IRP programme, is the factory part. Settings → General → About lists it as genuine in the phone's Parts and Service History, which a buyer or a trade-in counter may check later. An Original Grade screen costs much less and does the job well, but iOS shows it as an unknown part.

So if you're selling within a year or two, the genuine IRP display can pay part of its way back. If you're keeping the phone until it dies, Original Grade is the sensible spend. Original vs OEM iPhone screens covers the difference in more detail.

What if the phone is still under AppleCare+?

Then start with Apple. AppleCare+ turns accidental damage into a fixed service fee, which on a Pro Max screen is likely to beat any independent price, and nobody else can claim it for you. If you're out of AppleCare+, or deciding whether to buy it, AppleCare+ vs walk-in repair works through the numbers.

What about the iPhone 16e and iPhone Air?

Same rule, different parts. The iPhone Air's back glass is $190 with Grade AAA glass, noticeably more than other recent models, and its screen is $380 with an Original Grade part. The iPhone 16e's Original Grade screen is $145. Both phones are new enough that a single repair almost never comes close to the cost of replacing them.

How do I get a price for my phone?

Start with the diagnosis. It's free, and it's the only way to know the full bill when more than one thing might be wrong. WhatsApp +65 9456 6455 with your model and what happened, or bring it to one of our four branches: People's Park Centre #01-47 in Chinatown, 503 Tampines Central 1 #01-299, Blk 846 Yishun Street 81 #01-3643, or Jurong Point #B1-34A, all open 11am to 9pm daily. You don't need an appointment, but message or call first so we can confirm your part is in stock before you travel.

Most screen and battery jobs are done while you wait, usually somewhere between 45 and 90 minutes once we start, and if yours needs longer we'll say so first. Prices are nett, your data stays on the phone, and every repair carries a warranty of up to 100 days. We're an independent repairer under the Apple IRP programme, so the genuine Apple option is there on eligible iPhones if you want it. For every repair and its price, see the iPhone repair cost guide.

Repair or replace: FAQs

Is it cheaper to repair or replace an iPhone?: For an iPhone 14 or newer, repairing is almost always cheaper. Even a Pro Max screen is $415 at Citri Mobile with an Original Grade part, against well over a thousand dollars for a new Pro Max. Replace when the repair is more than about half of what the phone is worth working.
Is it worth fixing a cracked screen on an iPhone 15 or 16?: Yes, in nearly every case. An Original Grade screen is $195 on an iPhone 15 and $330 on a 16 Pro Max, and a cracked screen usually takes a big slice off the phone's trade-in value.
Should I trade in my iPhone broken or repair it first?: Compare the trade-in value working and broken with the repair price. If the gap is bigger than the repair, repair first. On recent iPhones it usually is.
When should I replace my iPhone instead of repairing it?: When there are several major faults at once, when board damage comes on top of a broken screen, when the frame is bent, or when you were about to upgrade anyway.
Does a non-Apple screen affect resale value?: It can. iOS lists a non-Apple display as an unknown part in Parts and Service History, and some buyers check. A genuine Apple display fitted under the Apple IRP programme shows as genuine.
Do you charge to check what's wrong?: No. Diagnosis is free, and you decide whether to go ahead once you have the price.