Cell Phone Repair Cost: What to Expect and When it's Time to Replace Your Phone

It seems like gravity is always doing its best to break your phone.

And at least half the time it gets the job done. It's a real bother to deal with broken phones, especially when we don't want to pay for cell phone repair cost.

But buying a new phone isn't always the answer either.

Keep reading to find out when you should buy a new phone or repair the one you already have.

How Much Does Cell Phone Repair Cost?

There's not one price for a phone repair. There are actually several different things that can affect the overall price of a phone repair.

These are the two most important factors to consider when you're thinking about phone repair: the model of your phone and what you need to get repaired.  Android, Windows, and Apple phones all have different repair prices.

The age of your phone also matters. Old phones can be difficult to fix (because most companies don't make them anymore). That said, older phones are usually cheaper to repair than the most recent models.

What you're having fixed makes a big difference as well. Most basic repairs, things like replacing buttons, getting a new screen, or switching to a new battery, usually cost between $70-$300.

The cost of even basic repairs will vary depending on your phone model, the age, and the damages.

How Do I Know When It's Time to Replace My Phone?

Dealing with a few small damages is not usually a good reason to get a new phone altogether.

For example, if your screen cracks, buying an entirely new phone will cost a lot more than replacing the screen. So if you're looking to save some money, don't immediately buy a new phone whenever you find anything wrong with your current one.

But there are times when the repairs just aren't worth it. If your phone is in bad enough shape, buying a new one could be the better answer, and it could save you money too.

So how can you tell whether or not you should repair your phone?

We're going to help you with that.

Take a look at this guide for a few examples of when you should repair your phone and when you should just buy a new one.

Things that Can Be Repaired

If you notice any of these problems with your phone, there's a good chance you can get a simple repair and be good to go. You can categorize most of these problems as basic phone repairs.

A Cracked Screen

Some cracks are small enough to live with, but others can make using your phone pretty difficult. Roughly 50% of all phone owners crack their screen at some point, so there are a lot of different repair options.

You can either take your phone to a manufacturer or a third-party store to repair a broken screen.

What's the better option? Again, it depends on your phone.

If you still have a warranty on your phone, you could save some money taking it to the manufacturer. But it could take longer to fix if you have to mail your phone somewhere. You might have to spend a few days without your phone.

A third-party store is probably a better option if you don't have a warranty. They can usually repair your phone in a few hours, so if you don't have a lot of time, you might want to go the third-party route.

Out of Storage Space

This is a frustrating problem, but it doesn't mean you have to get a new phone. You can usually buy a storage card that you can put inside your phone. This can give you the extra space you need.

It's also a lot cheaper to buy a storage card than to buy a new phone with more gigabytes.

Water Damage

Most water damage problems can be repaired, but depending on the extent of the damage, the price can vary greatly. A simple water damage repair might only cost you $50, but the price can potentially go up to the hundreds.

You might need to get your phone a diagnostic check first to find out what exactly has been damaged. Most repair shops will do this for free.

Water damage can be tricky because it might take days for the damages to appear. If you start noticing problems with your phone but can't think of what might have caused them, it could be the effects of past water damage.

Don't Buy a New Phone Unless You Have to Buy One

For most phone damages, cell phone repair cost is going to be cheaper than buying a new phone. But there are definitely times your phone will be too far gone for repairs.

If you want to save as much money as you can, stick to repairs. Don't just buy the newest phone because it's new. If your current phone works fine, keep using it.

Are you having trouble with your phone? Take a look at some of our services and see how we can help you.