LCD vs OLED: The Risk of Cheap iPhone Screen Repairs on Marketplace
A guy recently came to me after getting his iPhone display replaced by someone on Facebook Marketplace. He thought he was saving money. Instead, he got ripped off. The display looked bad at first glance, but once I opened it up... it was even worse.
The Build Quality? Terrible.
The guy told me the screen cracked easily, and the display frame was already coming off. You shouldn’t have to baby your phone right after a repair. That just shows how bad the parts and installation were.
Whoever did this clearly had experience, they didn’t leave screws out or do a sloppy job. But they still knowingly put in a display that doesn’t belong on this phone.
A Cheap LCD on an OLED iPhone? Never a Good Sign.
When I opened the phone, the first thing I noticed was that the screen was an LCD replacement on a phone that originally came with OLED. That’s always a red flag.
Sure, LCD screens are cheaper, but they're also:
Way less durable
More prone to overheating
Heavier on the battery
Looks awful, washed out colors and poor contrast
I personally only ever use LCDs for data recovery purposes, not for actual long-term use. If someone’s putting an LCD on your OLED phone, they’re cutting corners plain and simple.
Not All Marketplace Technicians Are Bad, But It’s Hard to Know
To be clear, I’m not saying every Facebook Marketplace repair tech is a scammer. In fact, I used to be one, and I like to think I did things right.
But that’s the problem, you just don’t know what kind of tech you’re dealing with. And that’s exactly why situations like this happen.
If you’re going to someone on Marketplace, OfferUp, or Kijiji, do your homework. A few simple questions can go a long way:
What type of screen are you installing?
(LCD, Hard OLED, or Soft OLED?)Is this screen OEM quality or aftermarket?
Is there a warranty?
Most people just ask, “How much to fix my screen?” But the cheapest price usually means you're paying mostly for labor and they’re using the lowest quality parts possible.
Final Thoughts
There’s nothing wrong with saving money on phone repairs but don’t save money by skipping research. That $30 you saved on a screen replacement could cost you way more in overheating issues, battery drain, or even another cracked screen a week later.
If something feels off or too cheap to be true, it probably is. Take the time to ask the right questions and make sure you're getting quality parts, not just a quick fix.
Stay safe out there and don’t let your phone get scammed before you do.
