Why it matters for repair cost
Screen type is the single biggest factor in repair price. OLED replacements cost significantly more than LCD — often 2 to 3 times as much — because OLED panels are more expensive to manufacture and source. Knowing your phone’s screen type before you get a quote helps you understand immediately whether a price is fair or suspicious.
OLED screens
Used in: iPhone 12 and later, Samsung Galaxy S and A series (most models), Google Pixel 6 and later, OnePlus flagships
Characteristics: True blacks (pixels turn off completely), vivid colours, thinner display stack, higher contrast ratio, power-efficient on dark wallpapers
OLED screens are made of organic compounds that emit light directly — each pixel is its own light source. When a pixel needs to show black, it simply switches off. This is why OLED blacks look genuinely dark rather than slightly grey like LCD.
OLED repair cost in Singapore: Higher. A quality OLED replacement for an iPhone 14 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S23, for example, costs significantly more than an LCD repair on older budget devices. At Certified Phone Repair, we use Grade A OLED panels equivalent to the original factory specification.
⚠️ Common scam to watch for: Some shops replace OLED screens with cheap LCD panels and charge OLED prices. After the repair, you’ll notice the blacks look grey and colours look washed out. Always ask what panel type the replacement uses before agreeing to a repair.
LCD screens
Used in: iPhone 11 and earlier (except XS/X/XS Max which use OLED), older Samsung A-series, budget Android devices
Characteristics: Backlit panel, slightly thicker, less vivid colours, greys appear lighter, generally longer lifespan of the panel itself
LCD screens require a backlight layer behind the pixel layer to make the image visible. They’re more mature technology and generally cheaper to produce and replace. If your phone has an LCD screen and only the glass has cracked (backlight still works, display still shows properly), you may qualify for a glass-only repair at a lower cost.
How to tell which screen type your phone has
| Phone | Screen type |
|---|---|
| iPhone SE (all generations) | LCD |
| iPhone X, XS, XS Max | OLED |
| iPhone XR, 11 | LCD |
| iPhone 12 and all later models | OLED |
| Samsung Galaxy S series (all recent) | OLED (Dynamic AMOLED) |
| Samsung Galaxy A13, A14, A15 | LCD (PLS TFT) |
| Samsung Galaxy A54, A55 | OLED (Super AMOLED) |
OLED burn-in — what it is and when it matters for repair
OLED screens can develop burn-in — a faint ghost image of elements (like the status bar or navigation buttons) that were displayed at high brightness for a very long time. Burn-in is permanent and cannot be repaired by cleaning — only a full screen replacement fixes it. If your screen has a ghost image but is otherwise undamaged, burn-in may be the cause.
Real example
A customer comes in with an iPhone 13 — cracked screen, display still showing. iPhone 13 uses OLED. The repair requires a full OLED assembly replacement. A different customer comes in with an iPhone 11 — same damage. iPhone 11 uses LCD, and because the backlight is intact, a glass-only repair may be possible at a lower cost. Same visible damage, different repairs, different prices — because of screen type.
Related terms
- Glass Repair vs Full Assembly — which repair you actually need
- Grade A Parts — what quality of replacement panel to expect
Free assessment at Westgate and AMK Hub. Grade A OLED and LCD panels, 60-day warranty.
