Phone and tablet repair: what to know

What the job involves, what changes the price, and what to ask a pro.

What phone and tablet repair is

A technician replaces cracked screens, batteries, charging ports and cameras, and diagnoses software or water damage on phones and tablets. You need it when the device is hard to use, will not charge, or has damage that is making it less safe to carry and use.

Signs you need it

  • The screen is cracked, unresponsive in spots or shows colored lines
  • The battery drains quickly, gets hot or the phone shuts off at a set level
  • The charging port is loose, dirty or only works at certain angles
  • The camera is blurry, dark or shows spots
  • The phone got wet and now has speaker, charging or screen problems

What the pro does

  • Tests the screen, battery, port, cameras and the software state
  • Backs up your data if the phone or tablet can still be read
  • Replaces the damaged part with the correct model part
  • Checks the water damage area and cleans or treats the board if needed
  • Tests the device after the repair and returns it with a summary

What changes the price

Every job is different, so we do not publish prices. These are the things that move the quote up or down.

  • The model and how many parts are available for it
  • The part needed, such as a screen, battery, port or camera
  • Whether the screen is original, refurbished or aftermarket
  • Whether water damage needs board cleaning and treatment
  • Whether the device has a glass back or other parts that complicate the repair
  • Whether data transfer or a software reset is required

What a written quote should spell out

  • The diagnosis and the test used to confirm it
  • The part used, with model and whether it is original, refurbished or aftermarket
  • Labor for each step
  • Whether data was backed up and any data risk
  • Warranty for the part and the labor

Questions to ask before you hire

  • Is the screen original, refurbished or aftermarket, and what is the difference?
  • Can you back up my data before starting?
  • Will the repair affect my warranty or insurance claim?
  • How do you check for water damage inside?
  • Is the battery a genuine or high quality part?
  • What warranty do you give on the screen and battery?

Red flags

  • Says a phone with water damage will be fine without checking the board
  • Will not tell you which screen type they are using
  • Asks for the passcode without a clear reason
  • Replaces the battery without testing it first

What you can do yourself

A battery that is swollen or hot is a fire risk, so stop charging it and take it to a qualified repair shop or a recycling point. Back up your phone to a cloud service or computer before any repair, and do not open the device or press on a swollen battery. Call a technician for any screen, port, camera or water damage repair.

Licenses and permits

A license is usually not required for phone and tablet repair. Check with your state or local licensing agency about any business registration that applies, and ask the technician to show proof of training or past repair work.

Phone and tablet repair questions

Will the repair erase my photos?

A good technician backs up your data first. Ask for that in writing, and keep a second copy yourself.

Does a third party screen affect the phone?

It can affect some features, such as touch sensitivity or display color. Ask which type the technician uses and what the warranty covers.

Can a phone that got wet be saved?

Sometimes. Power it off, do not charge it, and get it checked as soon as you can. The sooner it is looked at, the better the chance.

About this guide

This national guide is written and checked by infinibell. Rules and conditions differ by place, so local pros are credited on guides for the cities they serve, not on national ones.

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