Cracked screens are the most common type of cell phone damage. Over 50 million Americans break their cell phone screens every year. And if you’re reading this, your phone probably suffered the same fate.
Our phones go everywhere with us, so it is no surprise that they occasionally have unplanned encounters with the ground. Fortunately, a cracked screen isn’t the end for most phones. But does it make sense to fix an older device such as an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S, or iPhone 6S Plus? Keep reading to find out!
iPhone Screen Repair Services
There are plenty of options when it comes to fixing a broken iPhone screen. Many will undoubtedly try the Apple Store first. But since the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S came out in 2015 and 2016, they are no longer covered by AppleCare and are therefore no longer eligible for warranty service. Moreover, iPhone warranties don’t cover accidental damage from drops unless you pay extra for AppleCare+ at the time of purchase. Apple will gladly charge you $169 for an out-of-warranty iPhone 6S Plus screen repair, but there are better options.
Some may try to fix their broken iPhone screens themselves. However, we strongly advise against this for most users. Modern iPhones are incredibly complex machines, sandwiching hundreds of delicate components between two thin sheets of glass, making it difficult or impossible to perform the repair yourself without a background in electronics repair and expensive, purpose-built tools.
Finally, there’s independent repair. Local repair shops generally get you the best cell phone repair prices. However, finding a shop near you that you can trust with your most personal piece of tech can be tough. Thankfully, there’s a better way.
The Swappa Repair Network connects you with over 2400 repair shops, spread all around the country, meaning that you’re never far from cell phone repair. Every repair shop listed in Swappa Repair Network must offer a 30-day guarantee on their work, and be an established business with a physical storefront.
Independent repair means you’re often paying less than half of what Apple charges to fix your phone. But is fixing your broken iPhone screen worth it? Let’s take a look at each phone specifically to find out.
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Screen Replacement Cost
Apple charges $129 for out-of-warranty screen repair for the iPhone 6. That’s a lot of money to spend on an older phone. Other types of iPhone 6 repair for common issues such as water damage, camera failure, and broken home buttons and charging ports can also get expensive.
Fortunately, the average iPhone 6 screen repair price on the Swappa Repair Network is $66, approximately half of what Apple charges. But with iPhone 6 prices starting at just $50 on Swappa, it doesn’t really make sense to pay more for screen repair when you can replace your phone for less.
The story is pretty similar with the iPhone 6 Plus. Apple charges $149 for iPhone 6 Plus screen repair, but you can get similar repairs done for around half the price through the Swappa Repair Network. But with replacement iPhone 6 Plus devices starting at just $85, it probably isn’t worth getting your broken iPhone fixed — especially if there’s anything else wrong with it such as a broken home button or loose charging port.
Apple Repair Fee (out-of-warranty) | Swappa Repair Network | Replacement Price (Swappa) | |
iPhone 6 | $129 | $66 | Starting at $50 |
iPhone 6 Plus | $149 | $73 | Starting at $85 |
Before you rush to buy a direct replacement, consider that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are fairly old phones. Released in 2015, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are still able to perform basic tasks such as light web browsing and posting to social media if you don’t mind a few stutters and pauses here and there. However, they no longer eligible for iOS software updates, hindering app compatibility going forward.
Upgrade to a newer iPhone like the iPhone 7 or iPhone SE 2020 instead. The iPhone 7 starts at just $90 on Swappa, making it cheaper than Apple Store screen repair — you also get a faster processor and at least another year of iOS software updates. Alternatively, future-proof yourself with an iPhone SE 2020, which starts at $209 on Swappa. The iPhone SE 2nd Gen packs the same internals as the iPhone 11, but with a more traditional user interface and Touch ID authentication. Whichever your choice, you can always find the best deals on Swappa. Learn more and see how these stack up to other iPhones in our iPhone 7 Buyer’s Guide and iPhone SE 2020 Buyer’s Guide.
iPhone 6S Screen Replacement Cost
Out-of-warranty screen repair for an iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus isn’t cheap. At the Apple Store, you can expect to pay $149 for iPhone 6S screen repair and $169 for iPhone 6S Plus screen repair. Other types of iPhone 6S repair for common issues such as water damage, camera failure, and broken home buttons and charging ports can also get expensive.
Luckily, the Swappa Repair Network connects you with independent repair shops, where you can expect to pay less than $80 to fix either phone.
Apple Repair Fee (out-of-warranty) | Swappa Repair Network | Replacement Price (Swappa) | |
iPhone 6S | $149 | $72 | Starting at $75 |
iPhone 6S Plus | $169 | $79 | Starting at $94 |
As you can see, finding a local repair shop on the Swappa Repair Network can save you a lot of money compared to paying Apple’s exorbitantly high out-of-warranty iPhone repair fees. However, fixing a cracked iPhone 6S or 6S Plus screen may not be worth it — especially if your phone has additional damage such as a cracked back, scratched sides, or a broken home button.
We recommend upgrading to a newer phone instead. Although the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus currently support Apple’s latest iOS 14, they won’t be compatible with iOS 15, which is due later this year. In addition, the older iPhones like the iPhone 6S and 6S Plus aren’t fast enough for anything other than basic tasks such as light browsing and streaming video.
Our recommendation is to look up repair pricing for your specific phone using the Swappa Repair Calculator and then sell your repaired phone on Swappa for twice as much. Afterward, treat yourself to a long-overdue upgrade with something like an iPhone 8 or iPhone XR. Curious about pricing, camera details, and colors? Learn more and see how these iPhones stack up to others in our iPhone 8 Buyers Guide, iPhone X Buyer’s Guide, and iPhone XR Buyer’s Guide.
Swappa is a safe and easy-to-use marketplace for buying and selling used tech. Whether you want to sell a used iPhone, pick up an upgrade, or repair your existing phone; you’ll always find the best deals on Swappa. Unlike other online marketplaces, Swappa’s expert moderation team screens listings before they go live to make sure that buyers get a fully functional, gently used phone with a clean ESN that’s ready for activation. Click the button below to get started!