Repair or Replace? How to Decide When Your Phone Breaks

When a phone breaks, the first question is usually whether to fix it or replace it. There is no single answer, but a few simple checks make the decision much easier.

1. Compare the repair price with the phone's value

Get a firm price for the repair first. As a rough rule of thumb, if the repair costs more than about half of what a comparable phone would cost you, look seriously at replacing it. If the repair is a fraction of that, repairing is usually the better value. Our starting prices show what common repairs cost, and we confirm the exact price before any work starts.

2. Think about the phone's age and condition

A recent phone with one fault, such as a cracked screen or a tired battery, is usually worth repairing. A very old phone with a slow processor and several faults is harder to justify, because fixing one fault does not make the others go away.

3. Count the faults

One fault is a repair. A cracked screen plus a swollen battery plus a charging fault is a bigger bill. Ask for a quote for everything that needs doing, so you can see the full price rather than paying for it a piece at a time.

4. Think about your data

A repair keeps your photos, chats and apps exactly where they are. Replacing the phone means moving everything across. If the phone will not start and you have no backup, ask us about data recovery before you decide.

5. Look at the in-between options

• Pre-owned: a good used phone costs less than a new one. See our pre-owned iPhones with condition grades and a warranty.
• Trade-in: if you decide to upgrade, your old iPhone can still be worth something. See trade-in.

When repairing is clearly the better choice

• The phone is fairly new and has only one fault.
• You like the phone and it still does everything you need.
• You want to keep your data and your setup exactly as they are.

Not sure? Send your phone model and the fault on WhatsApp. We give you an honest first answer, including when we think a repair is not worth it.