"Why does the same repair cost more on an iPhone than my friend's Android?" is one of the questions we hear most. The honest answer is a mix of parts, design, and software — not just the brand name.
Parts cost and availability
Apple makes a relatively small number of models each year, all built to a tightly controlled spec, which keeps genuine and quality-equivalent parts fairly consistent in price but not necessarily cheap. Android covers dozens of brands and hundreds of models, so parts pricing varies enormously — a popular recent Samsung model might have very affordable parts, while an older or less common Android phone can actually be harder and pricier to source parts for than an iPhone.
How the phone is physically built
Modern iPhones are built with heavily fused, adhesive-sealed components — the screen assembly, battery, and internal layout are all designed to be compact and water-resistant, which makes them more time-consuming to open and repair safely. Many recent Android flagships have moved toward similar sealed designs, though some Android models — particularly budget and mid-range phones — are still more modular and quicker to work on, which can mean lower labour time.
Software and account locks
iPhones use Activation Lock, tied to your Apple ID and Find My iPhone, which can affect certain board-level and screen repairs if it isn't disabled beforehand. Android has an equivalent — Factory Reset Protection, tied to your Google account — which works similarly. Either way, having your account details ready speeds up some repairs and avoids extra back-and-forth.
What actually determines your price
More than the brand itself, the biggest factors are: how old and common the model is, how available quality parts are for it right now, and how severe the damage is. A recent, popular model of either brand is usually the fastest and most predictable to quote. An older or rarer model — iPhone or Android — can sometimes take longer to price accurately simply because sourcing the right part takes more work.
The short version
It's rarely just "iPhone tax." Bring your device in and we'll give you a straight answer on price and time after a quick look — no guessing required.
Not sure what's wrong with your device?
Bring it in for a free look, or book online and we'll confirm the price after diagnosis.