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Broke Screen (new glass or lcd/digitizer?)

M

MEDELLINHEEL

Lurker
Bought a new screen off amazon, go to a cell repair shop and he tells me they only do it with a new lcd/digitizer.

Those cost around 200 bucks, might as well just send it in to Samsung.

However I am thinking about just replacing the glass myself. Anyone does this and how is the phone hold up down the road?
 
Many people have posted here that they've done it - and their question is that now that the phone stopped working (or ringing or vibrating or something else doesn't work), what should they do.

You might get lucky and never have a problem. Or you may bit notice some hair-thin wire you break and end up paying more to get the phone working than it would have cost you to have the screen replaced in the first place.

The reason for not replacing the glass without replacing the LCD is that any shock great enough to break the glass used in today's phones is probably enough to damage the LCD. So they replace only the glass, and you're back next week complaining about the green streaks on your screen. (And they have to eat the price of a full screen replacement or look like they're ripping you off). It's more profitable for them to not take your money than to pay for a new screen and the technician's time and only get a few dollars from you for replacing the glass.
 
I wouldn't do a repair of any kind myself and I used to repair TVs. Without the specialist tools, knowledge and experience the tiny components in a modern smartphone are far too easily damaged.
 
Dyno, I repaired cellphones for years, and I wouldn't try most repairs now. I still have all the tools and equipment, but incipient cataracts in both eyes and 71 year old hands aren't as steady as 50 year old hands. Pop batteries and cards in and out? Sure. Replace a screen? Not until I've worked one or two parts-bunnies of the same model to see how badly I'd damage them now.

(And I still have a Heath NTSC pattern generator out in the shop in the garage. I think we all started on radios and TVs, or in the military, or both.)
 
I am pretty handy with electronics but having replaced the screen on an iPad, I don't think I would want to try with an even smaller device. These things are tiny and very difficult to disassemble so I concur with the posters above, send it back to Samsung. It will cost a lot more than doing it yourself but a lot less than making a dog' s breakfast of it yourself and ruining your phone completely.
 
bought my phone from a guy in korea and came back to usa. called samsung and they tell me they cant repair it without proof of purchase. what a load of bull. fml
 
I actually just cracked my screen and plan on trying replace the screen this weekend.

That said I've replaced the charge port before, it was super simple.

Replacing the whole digitizer, looks pretty simple from the youtube videos, its only a couple extra steps from doing the charge port.


NOW, the screen on the S4 is glued on, it will be a whole different beast to try and replace. The videos show it is a very involved and delicate process. I'm actually really nervous about it.

The good news is, if I screw up and break the digitizer, I'm only out 16.99 for the kit.
 
Why not see if your household insurance covers your phone for these sort of mishaps. I know mine does for all sorts of things, makes life so much easier.
 
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