I Replaced Just the Glass on an iPhone 13 Pro Max: Not the Whole Screen….
This is an iPhone 13 Pro Max with a broken screen. But today, we’re not doing the usual screen replacement. Nope.
Instead, I’m doing something you probably didn’t even know was possible, we’re going to replace just the glass. That’s right. We’re keeping the original OLED display and restoring the screen to its factory quality... without replacing the entire panel.
It’s a long, tedious process. But it’s also super satisfying and honestly, kind of genius.
Why Replace Just the Glass?
When this phone came out, a full screen replacement cost around $500. Even now, it’ll run you between $250–$300, which is still wild.
But replacing just the glass? That’ll cost about $5 in parts.
Of course, the tradeoff is time and skill. This isn’t a quick fix but if you’ve got the right tools (like the Refox all-in-one refurbishing machine I’m using) and a bit of patience, you can do this yourself or even start refurbishing screens as a side hustle.
Step 1: Disassemble the Screen
We start by carefully removing the screen. As always, heat gun is your friend. Once it loosens up, we lift the screen off and carefully unplug everything especially the proximity and ambient light sensors. You don’t want to damage those.
With the display removed, we’re left with three layers:
The frame (still attached),
The OLED display, and
The cracked glass.
The good news? On the 13 Pro Max, the frame isn’t fused to the glass like it was on older models. That saves us a step.
Step 2: Separate the Cracked Glass
Time to pull out the big guns: the Refox refurbishing machine.
Here’s how it works:
We place the screen on a heated vacuum plate.
The vacuum holds the OLED in place while we use a thin wire to slice between the cracked glass and the OLED panel.
Gloves are a must, this wire can slice fingers just as easily as glue.
Once we’ve carefully worked the wire through, we peel away the broken glass. At this point, the OLED is fully exposed and needs to be tested right away. These panels are fragile, so you want to know ASAP if it survived.
In this case? Success. The phone lit up, and the touchscreen still worked!
Step 3: Clean the OLED
Now for the messy part, removing the leftover adhesive (OCA glue) from the OLED.
There are two main ways to do it:
Mechanically, using a rotating machine that scrapes the glue off.
Chemically, using a very toxic glue remover (yes, with actual cancer warnings).
We used both. Protective gloves, masks, and ventilation are a must for this step. After some spinning, scraping, and solvent-ing... the OLED was finally clean.
Step 4: Install the New Glass
With the OLED cleaned, we grab a replacement glass pre-applied with new OCA glue. That means we don’t have to do the glue layer ourselves.
We carefully align the OLED with the new glass inside a soft sponge-like mold. Then we use the Refox machine again to:
Laminate the glass to the OLED under vacuum,
De-bubble the assembly under high pressure and heat.
This process eliminates all air bubbles and ensures a perfect seal between the two layers.
Step 5: Final Assembly and Testing
Once it’s done, we pull the screen out and it looks amazing. No bubbles, no dust, and no visible separation between the layers.
Now the big moment: does it still work?
We reconnect everything, fire it up... Apple logo appears, touchscreen works, and even True Tone is preserved because technically, this is still the original screen.
So… Why Don’t More Shops Do This?
If it’s cheaper, why isn’t everyone doing glass-only replacements?
Well… because it takes forever. You’re looking at up to 8 hours per screen depending on experience and equipment. And the success rate? Not always 100%.
Most repair shops only refurbish screens like this in bulk or in their downtime. It only really makes sense for high-end screens or when you want to keep the original OLED panel.
Final Thoughts
If you’ve got the time, tools, and confidence, this is the cheapest and cleanest way to fix a broken iPhone screen. The glass is dirt cheap, and you preserve the original display quality. Just be ready for a long ride.
Bonus Tip: This method works best for OLED displays. Don't try this on cheap LCD screens it’s not worth the hassle.
Until next time stay curious, stay careful, and maybe start saving those cracked OLEDs.
See you in the next article!
