Which replacement screen should you choose?
OLED or LCD, premium or budget grade: how to pick the right replacement screen for your phone without overpaying or buying too cheap.
Last updated 2026-06-13 · 5 minute read · Applies to: iPhone, Samsung, Android
A cracked screen is the repair we do most, and the one some shops are least honest about. A few quietly fit a budget panel and charge you premium-screen money for it. We list every grade we offer with tiered pricing that matches the quality you actually get, so you can choose with your eyes open. Here is how the grades differ and how to pick the right one for your phone.
1. First, know your screen type: OLED or LCD
Most modern phones ship with an OLED screen: deep blacks, punchy colour, higher brightness and better battery life, because each pixel lights itself. LCD uses a single backlight behind the whole panel, so blacks look more grey and it runs dimmer, but it costs less. The closer a replacement gets to your phone's original screen type, the closer it looks and feels to factory.
2. The grades we offer, and what they mean
S-Grade OLED is our premium tier: as close to the original factory panel as you can get, with true colour, full brightness and features like True Tone intact. Aftermarket OEM OLED is the popular middle option: a quality third-party OLED that looks and feels the same for most people, at a sharper price. A-Grade LCD is the budget tier: a solid, lower-cost panel that is ideal for older or out-of-warranty phones where value matters more than a perfect display.
3. Why the same repair can cost wildly different amounts
If two shops quote very different prices for the same screen, they are almost never fitting the same part. A budget LCD sold at a premium-OLED price is the oldest trick in this trade. We split the grades out on every device page so the part you are paying for is named, priced and yours to choose, not decided for you behind the counter.
4. When to buy the best, and when a cheaper grade is smart
We almost always recommend the best screen your device can take. It looks right, lasts well and keeps features like auto-brightness and True Tone working as designed. But a cheaper grade can be the smart call too: if you are planning to upgrade in the next few months, or you just want to get a little more life out of an older phone before you replace it, a budget panel does the job for less.
5. What stays the same across every grade
Every screen we fit is installed in-house at 37 Williamson Street and backed by our one-year warranty on the part and our workmanship. The grade changes the display quality and the price, not the standard of the repair or the cover you get afterwards.
Warning: A budget LCD on a phone that shipped with OLED will look noticeably dimmer and flatter, and on some models an in-glass fingerprint sensor needs a quality OLED to keep working reliably. If you plan to keep the phone for a while, the mid or premium grade usually pays for itself in how the phone looks and behaves every day.
Frequently asked questions
Is an OLED screen worth paying more for?
For most phones that came with OLED, yes. You get the original colour, brightness and contrast, plus features like True Tone and reliable auto-brightness. If the phone is older or you are about to upgrade, a cheaper grade can still be a sensible choice.
Will a replacement screen still work with Face ID or the fingerprint reader?
Face ID is not part of the screen, so a screen swap does not affect it. In-display fingerprint sensors do depend on screen quality on some models, which is one reason we recommend a quality OLED on those phones. We will flag it before we start.
Do all your screen grades come with a warranty?
Yes. Every grade, from budget LCD to premium OLED, is covered by our one-year warranty on the part we fitted and our workmanship. It does not cover new accidental damage.
How do I know which grades my phone can take?
Open your model's page on our site and the available grades and prices are listed for that exact device. If you are not sure which model you have, bring it in or read how to identify your device.
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