

This is an oil-repellent coating that protects the screen, along with adding smoothness and reducing fingerprints. If your phone or tablet screen shows signs of cleaning abuse or wear from heavy handling, return its condition to nearly new with an oleophobic coating kit. A fully cracked screen on either type of device is a solid candidate for a screen replacement.

Is the screen merely cracked or full-out broken - as in massive spider cracks from being smashed? You can cure a cracked screen on a phone or tablet more easily with Sugru, a commercial product. You might be able to repair the damage rather than replace it.įor instance, is the screen clouded or otherwise damaged from your mistaken use of harsh cleaning fluids or coarse paper towels to clean the screen? If so, there is a fix for that. When the culprit really is a damaged screen, choosing one of the next three approaches can help you solve the problem. It is relatively easy to peel off the old film cover and replace it with a new cover. They usually help absorb shock from items dropping on the tablet to lessen risk of cracking the touchscreen glass under it. The film covers can become cloudy or scratched.

So-called screen protectors on those devices are durable clear transparent film. That usually is not the case with tablets. Chances are the screen under it is perfectly intact. You may have installed a glass screen protector when you purchased the phone.Ĭarefully pry off the plastic bezel that covers the front of the device. Often, the actual screen is not cracked at all. It is first things first when it comes to fixing cracks on a smartphone’s screen. Also add scissors, double-sided adhesive tape, canned air and work gloves. Depending on the device involved, you need a phone opener pry tool, little tweezers to deal with small cables inside, a Torx screwdriver, flat-head screwdriver and a precision screwdriver kit.Īdd to that list either a variable hair dryer or a heat gun to soften glued phone parts. Tools might require an additional monetary outlay if you do not have a well-functioning workbench. Tablets are a bit more involved because of the larger size and added components. It is relatively easy and cheap to replace the glass on a phone once you get the hang of it. A tablet replacement digitizer can cost about $50 or more if you perform the work. You usually can find suppliers online for $6 to $20 for a phone. Replacing the cracked glass with a functioning touchscreen is much cheaper. Replacing the tablet’s touchscreen can cost $50-$75 extra. Third-party repair shops typically replace glass on a tablet for about US$100-$200, depending on the model. Cracked or broken mobile device screens can be costly to fix, but a few inexpensive do-it-yourself strategies can eliminate a repair shop visit and salvage your tablet or phone.
