If the back of your iPhone is cracked, the cost of fixing it depends far less on how new the phone is than most people expect. It depends on how Apple built that particular model, and there is a clean split in the lineup that decides which side of the price range you land on.
Below is what drives the price, what the repair involves, and what a proper job should include. Gadget Ali handles this at both shops, 6551 No. 3 Rd in Richmond and 935 Marine Dr in North Vancouver, and the inspection costs nothing. For everything else we do on Apple devices, see our iPhone repair page.
Why the price depends on which model you have
The part is cheap. The removal is what you are paying for. Replacement rear glass costs very little. Getting the shattered original off the phone without damaging the frame, the wireless charging coil, or the camera housing is the skilled part, and it takes far longer on some models than others.
Not sure what your repair should cost? Get a free estimate from Gadget Ali before any work starts, with no obligation.
Here is what we charge, grouped by how the phone is built.
- iPhone 8, X, XS, XR, 11 and 11 Pro: from $79
- iPhone 12, 13, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max: from $99
- iPhone 14, 14 Plus, and the 15, 16 and 17 series: from $89
Damage beyond the glass moves the price. A bent frame, a cracked camera lens, or a wireless charging coil damaged in the same drop are separate items. We tell you about those at inspection rather than after. For our pricing across every other Apple repair, see our iPhone repair cost guide.
The design change that split repair costs in two
Apple changed how the back attaches partway through the lineup. On iPhone 8 through 13, and on the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, the rear glass is bonded to the body. Getting it off means a laser separator or swapping the entire housing.
From the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus onward, and across the whole 15 series including the Pro models, the back panel comes off. A metal midframe sits underneath and the glass is a separate part, so the phone opens from the back. That change carried through to the 16 and 17 generations.
This is why newer does not mean pricier here. It runs the other way. Apple’s own out of warranty fee for the 14 Pro Max was roughly three times what it charges for the 15 Pro Max, and the only thing that changed between them was how the back is attached.
The curved edge models are their own problem. On the iPhone 8, X, XS, XR and 11, the glass wraps slightly around the edge and the bond is unusually strong. Those take longer than their age suggests.
Laser removal versus a full housing swap
Laser removal takes off the glass and leaves everything else alone. The original frame, buttons, SIM tray and internal components stay where they are. It gives the cleanest result and is what we use on the bonded models.
A housing swap moves the entire phone into a new body. Every component comes out and goes back in. It is sometimes the right call when the frame is damaged as well as the glass, but it is a much longer job and it replaces parts that were not broken.
Ask which one you are being quoted for. Two shops can give very different numbers for what sounds like the same repair because they are describing two different jobs. Knowing which one is on the table is the difference between comparing prices and guessing.
Expect one to three hours in most cases. The bonded models sit at the longer end, the removable ones at the shorter. Our guide to how long phone repair takes covers the rest of the repairs we do.
What Apple charges, and why it varies so much
Apple prices rear glass damage by model, and the spread is enormous. On the models with bonded backs the out of warranty fee has historically been one of the most expensive repairs Apple offers, higher in some cases than replacing the screen. On the models with removable backs it drops sharply.
Check your own model on Apple’s site before assuming. The figure for your exact model is published, and it is worth looking at because it varies more between generations than almost any other repair.
An independent repair is usually the cheaper route out of warranty. It is also faster, since there is no appointment and nothing gets sent away.
Does AppleCare cover a cracked rear panel?
If you have AppleCare with accidental damage cover, yes, for a service fee. That fee is far lower than the out of warranty price, so if you are covered, use it. Check what your specific plan charges rather than assuming a figure.
The trade-off is time. It usually means booking a slot, and depending on the store and the part, the phone may need to be sent away.
Without that cover the maths usually favours a local shop. Particularly on the bonded models, where Apple’s fee is at its highest.
What cracked glass exposes inside the phone
The seal goes first. The rear glass is part of what keeps water and dust out. Once it cracks, that seal is compromised and the phone’s resistance rating no longer applies.
Wireless charging sits directly underneath. The coil is right behind the glass. It usually survives the drop, but debris working in through the crack is what causes problems later.
Cracks near the camera housing are the urgent ones. That area is raised, takes the impact first, and sits closest to lenses and sensors. Damage spreading there is harder and more expensive to deal with than the glass alone.
Resale value drops noticeably. A cracked back reads as a dropped phone to any buyer, and the gap between a clean device and a cracked one is often more than the repair costs.
Can you keep using it as it is?
For a while, yes, with a case over it. The phone works normally and nothing is at immediate risk. A case holds loose fragments in place and keeps them off your hands.
Long term it costs more than fixing it. Dust and moisture reaching the internals through a broken seal is what turns a straightforward glass job into something involving the board.
It also depends on what else is going on with the phone. If the device is old and has other faults, the calculation changes. Our guide on whether to repair or replace your phone walks through that properly.
What a proper repair should include
Colour matched glass, not just any panel. Rear glass comes in the original finishes. A mismatched panel is obvious in daylight and is not something you should have to accept.
Fresh adhesive all the way round. New sealing restores splash resistance. No shop can restore the factory rating once the phone has been opened, and any shop telling you otherwise is overstating what it can do.
Wireless charging tested before you get it back. The coil sits right under the area being worked on, so it gets checked afterwards rather than assumed.
A clear line on what is covered. Ours is thirty days on parts and labour for eligible repairs, and we explain what that covers before the job is finished.
Still deciding where to take your device?
Gadget Ali repairs phones, tablets, laptops and game consoles at two Metro Vancouver locations, Richmond and North Vancouver. Walk in without an appointment, or send us your device model and the issue and we will come back with a clear price range.
There is no charge for the diagnostic, and no obligation to proceed. Most screen and battery repairs are finished within a few hours.
Frequently asked questions
Is back glass repair cheaper on newer iPhones?
Generally yes, which surprises most people. From the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus onward, and across the 15 series and later, the rear panel is removable rather than bonded to the body. That makes the job faster and cheaper than on the iPhone 12, 13, 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, where the glass has to be lasered off or the housing swapped.
Does replacing the back glass affect wireless charging?
It should not. The charging coil sits behind the glass rather than in it, and a careful removal leaves it untouched. We test wireless charging after every rear glass repair before handing the phone back.
How long does the repair take?
Usually one to three hours, depending on which model you have and whether the glass is bonded or removable. We confirm the timing after inspection, before any work starts.
Will the phone still be water resistant afterwards?
It will be resealed with fresh adhesive, which restores splash resistance. The original factory rating cannot be restored by anyone once the phone has been opened, so treat it as a phone to keep away from water.
Can the cracked glass be repaired rather than replaced?
No. Once the glass is cracked it comes off and a new panel goes on. Filler products do not work on rear glass any better than they do on a front screen.
Get a quote for your model
Bring the phone into either shop and we will tell you which repair it needs, what it costs, and whether anything else took damage in the same drop. Walk in during business hours, no appointment needed.
You can also send us your model and a photo of the damage and we will come back with a price before you make the trip.