iPad Pro Screen replacement

Question

iPad Pro Screen replacement

I have an iPad Pro 12.9" 3rd Generation. Unfortunately, recently the iPad slipped off a cushion and hit the floor. Despite hitting it at very low speed, the angle must have been such that it cracked the screen. I didn't even notice I'd done it at first but when I closed the app I was in, I noticed tiny spider web cracks in the corners of the screen. I was obviously very upset! Anyway, no problem (I thought). I have been on to the apple support site today to arrange for a replacement and booked it in with my closest authorised dealer. It didn't provide a price which I was surprised at so I thought I would ring the repairer to check. He explained that prices start at and I cannot belie I am about to say this, 'prices start at FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS! £550! That is £550! Literally all it needs is new glass? The digitiser is working perfectly but the glass has tiny cracks and they are telling me it is going to cost more then the iPad is actually worth to repair the most replaceable element.

My question, is simple, is this information actually correct? Are Apple actually trying to pretend that it is reasonable to charge people at least FIVE HUNDRED AND FIFTY POUNDS to replace the glass screen on a now 2 year old iPad? If this is true, I absolutely declare now, that my unflinching loyalty to all Apple products which runs into many thousands of pounds of equipment across my household over the years ends today. Can someone please tell me this is not right and there is another way.

iPad Pro, iPadOS 15

Posted on Aug 15, 2022 6:11 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

jasperjarratt Author

Level 1

6 points

Aug 15, 2022 11:16 AM in response to LotusPilot

I’m sorry I don’t accept that in the slightest. Aftermarket repairers can do it vastly cheaper than Apple. I’m not suggesting that their repair will be of the the standard and it won’t be using the standard of components. However, it is vastly cheaper at about 40% of the Apple charge. If Apple are designing their products so that the single most vulnerable part, the screen, is so integral that to replace it essentially writes off the product then that is an extremely poor design choice. What I feel is very much more likely to be the case is that Apple are inflating the repair price to ensure people begrudgingly take out their insurance next time.

I'm absolutely devastated by this and it has made me think differently about Apple products to which I have been absolutely loyal for 20 years. £550-£600 for a new bit of glass is absolutely disgraceful and whether it’s been priced wilfully or whether it genuinely costs that through poor design then Apple have fallen very far short on this and it’s an embarrassment to the brand.

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Answer 2

Aug 15, 2022 1:39 PM in response to KiltedTim

Interesting, a technical forum and yet the question replied a simple yes or no but that was not possible. It was your choice to avoid a simple answer and to provide only sarcasm and ‘smart’ comments designed to embarrass someone asking a genuine question (albeit someone who is clearly frustrated at the ‘reality’ presented to them).

Anyway, it appears I’ve got my answer in that forum’s are not designed for questions asked with any sort of emotional attachment! Therefore I will stop wasting my time and also yours.

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Answer 3

Aug 15, 2022 1:43 PM in response to jasperjarratt

And just to clarify, it was NOT a philosophical question. It was simply a question! Is it right that Apple are charging £550-£600 to replace a screen? Not is it morally correct, we already know it isn’t! It was simply, is that correct and I have I understood it correctly (as it simply seemed to be too outrageous to be true).

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Answer 4

Aug 15, 2022 8:07 AM in response to jasperjarratt

First, your iPad has a fully laminated display. As such, unlike much older models of iPad that had a separate cover-glass/digitiser, the screen is a single component. The iPad screen is also the single most expensive component of the iPad.

If you don’t have benefit of the optional AppleCare+ insurance plan, an out of warranty repair of an iPad is typically c.60% of the “as new” cost of the iPad. Your description suggests that this is broadly the figure that you have been quoted.

You can verify repair costs for your iPad here:

iPad Service & Repair - Apple Support

With AppleCare+ cover, the cost is reduced to a small excess/deductible charge - AppleCare+ permitting up to two “incidents” with the coverage period. While the plan is active, the iPad will be replaced with a reconditioned iPad of the same model and specification.

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Answer 5

Aug 15, 2022 12:54 PM in response to LotusPilot

How am I upset with reality?! I don’t believe that by simply stating that it costs £600 and that this is the ‘reality’ makes that fact and more or less justifiable. It’s an absolute rip off and, whilst that may only be my opinion, I believe that I have a right to it. I also believe that many reasonable people would agree with it. My question was simply is it actually right that Apple are indeed charging £550-£600 to replace a screen. The answer is obviously yes and clearly nobody is going to get into a debate as to whether that is fair or reasonable. I will have no choice but to replace it through an after market repairer and accept the consequences of that. I really do not want to do that but clearly nobody in their right mind would spend £600 repairing a lightly cracked screen on a 2 year old iPad but with Apple creating that ‘reality’ then I hope they are happy to be also creating the market for people to leave them and get repairs elsewhere and think very seriously about whether they buy Apple in future. I already have my own answer to that.

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Answer 6

Aug 15, 2022 12:28 PM in response to jasperjarratt

Well, I’m sorry that you’re upset with reality, but contributors here can only convey reality.

As for the screen requiring “just a new bit of glass”, this could hardly be further from the truth; your iPad screen is a sophisticated electronic component - that you have unfortunately managed to break.

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Answer 7

KiltedTim

Level 10

203,782 points

Aug 15, 2022 5:49 PM in response to jasperjarratt

jasperjarratt wrote:

And just to clarify, it was NOT a philosophical question. It was simply a question! Is it right that Apple are charging £550-£600 to replace a screen? Not is it morally correct, we already know it isn’t! It was simply, is that correct and I have I understood it correctly (as it simply seemed to be too outrageous to be true).

Yes, you understood correctly. As for not being "morally correct", "we" know no such thing. Your opinion is just that, your opinion. You're welcome to it, but I for one don't agree with it.

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Answer 8

KiltedTim

Level 10

203,782 points

Aug 15, 2022 1:05 PM in response to jasperjarratt

jasperjarratt wrote:

My question was simply is it actually right that Apple are indeed charging £550-£600 to replace a screen.

That would be a philosophical question that can’t be addressed in this technical forum.

Perhaps you should take the time to read the Apple Support Communities Use Agreement - Apple Community

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Answer 9

Aug 15, 2022 11:25 AM in response to KiltedTim

Wow, useful. Thanks.

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Answer 10

imobl

Level 7

20,664 points

Aug 15, 2022 3:09 PM in response to jasperjarratt

tl;dr: Yes

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Answer 11

MichelPM

Level 10

81,284 points

Aug 15, 2022 8:15 PM in response to jasperjarratt

You fail to understand that the glass and LCD screen/digitizer combo are all glued together with no practical way to seperate these components.

Also, the Face ID cameras and boards are, also, involved with a screen repair.

There are NOT many third party repair service centers that are qualified and competent in Apple iPad repairs and many may do more damage to your iPad while doing, what you seem to think is a “simple” screen replacement.

Also, alnost all third party repair centers are NOT Apple authourised and most will NOT have any accesss to new, OEM, Apple parts and may rely on cannibalised Apple parts from other damaged Apple devixes OR use third party spec'd parts that may or may not be of equal quality or specs to Apple;s own, making the replacement screen an inferior part to Apple's own screen.

Plus, you still may end up paying quite a bit for an iPad Pro screen repalacement with an inferior part and possible more issues with the iPad after repair/replacement.

THAT is another reality you will, definitley, be faced with, also.

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