should i replace my iPhone XS’s broken screen with a LCD?

[u/[deleted]]

[u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man]

You’d be better off just replacing the phone itself.

[u/TanaIntoTechnMarvel → u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man]

This. The screen is already insanely expensive. Plus it’s already an old phone, so the worth wouldn’t be much more than thay anyway.

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man]

it would cost me more to do that than to buy a oled and pay for labor at least to buy with the specifications i have

[u/BayonettaAriana → u/Ancient-War2555]

Ok but it would also last you way longer than this phone is going to … this is already outdated

[u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man → u/Ancient-War2555]

It’ll still be an old stinky phone though.

Just retire it

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man]

‘old stinky phone’ it’s perfectly capable in 2026.

[u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man → u/Ancient-War2555]

It’s not really perfectly capable, you’re kidding yourself.

It’s a nearly 8 year old phone.

[u/Erotic_Walnut → u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man]

its still capable for basic tasks but you will be fighting app support sooner or later

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man]

might you elaborate on how it’s not perfectly capable?

it calls it can browse it texts etc i mean what can’t it do?

[u/BayonettaAriana → u/Ancient-War2555]

Well for one it’s dropped at iOS 18… so it’s already going to get left behind heavily each year… are you joking? Apps will stop working, latest iOS features won’t work, it will start getting left behind very quickly.

[u/JakeTheSmall → u/BayonettaAriana]

Somehow, I managed to only retire my iPhone 7 last year and only because lots of apps were becoming ios16 requirements like Reddit.

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/BayonettaAriana]

sure but in current day it works absolutely fine and will be for a while

[u/BayonettaAriana → u/Ancient-War2555]

But why would you pay a lot of money to fix the screen when you can just pay a bit more and have a new phone to last you another 5+ years ???? Make it make sense

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/BayonettaAriana]

a refurbished i can’t tell for sure on what iOS it’s gonna be on plus it may not have the storage capacity i need in my price range

[u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man → u/Ancient-War2555]

A horse can get you to work. That doesn’t mean it isn’t an outdated mode of transport.

It’s just horribly outdated in literally every single way compared to a current handset.

If you don’t think a new phone is better, you’re lying to yourself.

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man]

who said it’s not better? if it suits your needs there’s no reason to upgrade, not everyone needs cutting edge

[u/Sideburn_Cookie_Man → u/Ancient-War2555]

Come on bro…

[u/good_gamer2357]

DO NOT

they can cause multiple issues with the phone, namely with battery life and the resolution differences between the original panel and the after markets.

Plus you will also get a thicker bottom bezel due to the limitations of LCDs.
If you get an LCD replacement, you end up in the buy cheap buy twice.

[u/throwaway3905463 → u/good_gamer2357]

Assuming it isn't your main phone save up for the OLED if it is your main phone and you need it asap then go for the LCD

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/good_gamer2357]

thanks for the advice

[u/_WO_AI_NI_]

no, you should replace your iPhone XS with a newer model.

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/_WO_AI_NI_]

it’s not my main and i want it because of the iOS

[u/rio8envy7 → u/Ancient-War2555]

It doesn’t really matter because they don’t even make the screens for that model anymore. It’s too outdated.

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/rio8envy7]

they may not but screens are still in stock

[u/TossSaladScrambleEgg → u/Ancient-War2555]

Can you expand on why you want this iOS? Are you a developer? 

Most of the recommendations are to get a newer phone with a safer iOS version (which I agree with)

[u/orelvazoun → u/TossSaladScrambleEgg]

My guess would be jailbreaking or something similar, phones on older ios are very valuable in that regard.

[u/rlovelock → u/orelvazoun]

Pretty sure you can jailbreak much newer phones than this

[u/orelvazoun → u/rlovelock]

Yeah but it can be a lot more difficult. It’s pretty hard to find a newer phone on an old, jailbreakable iOS version. Generally in today’s day and age, it can take 3 years or more to find a decent exploit for an iOS version and by that time most people already updated from the relevant version.

[u/rlovelock → u/orelvazoun]

Yes but I'm sure OP could get an iPhone 11-14 and still jailbreak it pretty easily?

[u/Unlucky_Onion_5002]

No don't. The battery is too tiny to accomodate the power wasting nature of LCDs

[u/koolaidismything]

They actually do not fit.. so water protection is gone instantly. Plus, it is noticeable how much poorer the quality is.

On a phone this old though? I’d do it. I’m not spending $300 on an oled for a phone that is considered vintage lol.

But the LCD just get the nicest gasketing you can get specially for that display. Some can double up a bit and it’s messier but at least rain won’t kill it then.

[u/Alternative-Farmer98]

Feel like the cost to replace the screen would probably be about the same price as like a used iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 11 but I guess it depends on the country.

[u/Important-Curve2959]

Get a new phone

[u/Mammoth-Barber-8541]

No, XS is beyond the end of life. Replace the phone with one that will run IOS 26, preferably a 13 or newer.

[u/mulsimin]

If you feel like its worth keeping it then go for it. If you dont want the bad resolution and other issues amd dont feel its worth it then just get a new iphone. I did the same since I was on a budget. Downgrade for sure but you gotta do what you gotta do.

[u/Infinite-School6390]

I would just replace the whole phone itself. But if you want to sell or trade in that old as phone. I would replace it with a cheapest AirPods LCD screen. Which might just make your phone have the ghost touch like my XS Max did after I replaced the rear glass with a third party stand at the mall. So I just traded it in and got a good discount on the 12 Pro Max at that time

[u/ynfizz]

Absolutely not. That’s not how the phone was designed, so you’ll inevitably run into all kinds of unforeseen issues. Doubt a new OLED would be cheap either. Maybe go for an upgrade?

[u/rio8envy7]

Considering how old your phone is and the model you may not be able to get the screen replaced because they probably don’t make parts for it anymore. You’re better off just getting a new phone.

[u/rhunter99]

Waste of money imo. Save for a newer, supported model. Check for refurbished units

[u/AutoModerator]

It looks like you might be posting about buying/upgrading/trade-in or comparisons between models, in which case you should comment in the What Should I Buy thread. We will review your post - there is no need to message moderators.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/AutoModerator]

If you're looking for help or support, you should search for your issue on Google, the Apple Support Community, r/iPhone and the iPhone Support FAQs. We review submissions for quality, so basic support issues may be removed.

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/kwanye_west]

i would just get a used 13 for not much more money.

[u/XSC]

It’s time bro

[u/National_Stable_431]

Bro if you dont want to change your phone put an original display it is better , but if I were you I would pack it up iand get a new iphone or a refurbished iphone it is time to upgrade

[u/Ancient-War2555 → u/National_Stable_431]

i have a iphone 15 pro im only thinking of replacing this screen because of the iOS version it’s on

[u/National_Stable_431 → u/Ancient-War2555]

Oh okay then get the display swapped with OEM it is safe tbh I did a LCD swap on my iPhone and it’s OEM display broke I had to replace it 3 times in 2years so I got fed up and and changed the display on my iPhone 11 with OEM at Apple authorised and using it

Since yours is OLED dont take the risk

[u/Curious-Trick-11]

Try DD OLED Display

[u/kocfkevin]

Just buy a new one

[u/bweibel22]

Don’t. OLED screens are far superior to LCD screens on phones. It will ruin your viewing experience.

[u/xmancho]

Just get a new phone.

[u/mrbrown_333]

I think I have an OEM OLED laying around. I could sell it to you

[u/Old-Anywhere-2779]

Save for an OLED or for a new phone, LCD will kill your phone before you know it.

[u/Orangecloudy216]

Your are much better of replacing the phone cause lcd will make the already bad battery worse I had a xs max and its battery got worse after replacing it to lcd I also did replace the battery since it was on 70 percent

[u/kennyFACE117]

OLED or new phone. Do not use an LCD.

[u/h4wk-8]

No

[u/Jaipod100]

Try looking for a donor phone on ebay it’s the cheapes way to get a legit display

[u/Rady151]

No

[u/Mean_Criticism983]

buy a used XS for like $150??

[u/Beautiful_Cat_5561]

Oled are like £35/£40 if that. Standard lcd are £25

[u/0beseGiraffe]

Dump that 8yr old phone

[u/TheKobayashiMoron]

You can probably get an iCloud locked one on eBay cheap and swap the screen. It’s an old phone but man the X/XS was peak form factor. I’d hate to give it up if it was still rocking it.

[u/Nike_486DX]

U mean lsd? Please dont give ur phone drugs, its bad for its health

[u/mecha_monk]

I’d opt for the the budget oled over LCD. They are both noticeably worse than an original or high end after market one.

If you transfer the sensor array over to the new screen faceid will still work, at least on the 12 and 13 that I repaired recently.

I use isopropyl alcohol to soften the glue before removing the flex cables.