Broken iPad screen – What to do next?

Even though Gorilla Glass is tough it’s certainly not unbreakable. The screen on an iPad can be cracked or broken if it falls from as little as a couple of feet. Of course, having a good case will help protect the screen, but here are some options if you break your iPad’s screen.

Contact Apple

If your iPad is still under the 12 month warranty, take it to the closest Apple store. Although, the warranty does not cover damage caused by accidents, abuse, misuse, liquid contact, fire, earthquakes, etc., many people have posted that Apple has replaced damaged iPads as a courtesy. Your best bet is to go in person, if you call they are more likely to stick with what the warranty says.

If you cannot get Apple to replace the screen under warranty find out what they will charge to replace it. Apple has not posted an official price for screen replacement, but in most cases they charge $249.

Third Party Repair

The next option is to find a third party repair shop. A good place to start is to find a local authorized Apple service provider. Given the nature of the repair it should be easy to get an estimate before any work is done.

There also many online sites that offer iPad screen replacement. Of course, you will need to factor in the shipping cost to accurately compare an online services to a local repair shop. Online repair services can be more risky so, make sure you do plenty of research before you send your iPad to a complete stranger.

Make the Repair Yourself

This will be the most economical route, but it’s not for the faint of heart. You will want to do some homework and see if this is the option for you. In most cases you will need to replace the glass and digitizer. If the iPad is unresponsive to touch, then the digitizer will need to be replaced. If the screen is blurry, spotty, or has blue, green, red or black lines, you will need to replace the LCD screen as well.

Here is a great how to guide that explains how to replace the front panel on an iPad 2.

Sell Your iPad and Buy a New One

Even an iPad with a broken screen has value. You can sell the damaged iPad on eBay (or wherever.) Someone who has experience repairing iPads will be happy to buy it at a discount. You can buy a new one to replace it or look for a deal on a refurbished or used iPad.

Conclusion

Use a case to protect your iPad, because a broken screen is a real bummer. There are options, but whatever option you choose make sure you sync your iPad to backup the data on it. If you sell your iPad make sure you erase the data and set it up as new.