Real Experiences With an iPhone XR Broken Screen, an iPhone SE Cracked Screen, and an iPhone 13 Broken Screen
I've broken more iPhone screens than I'd like to admit. It started years ago with my iPhone XR broken screen, then later with an iPhone SE cracked screen, and most recently, a painful iPhone 13 broken screen accident that hit both my wallet and my patience. Each experience taught me something different-not just about repair prices, but about screen quality, shop honesty, and how to avoid paying for a bad repair job.This isn't a technical guide. It's simply what I learned the hard way, so you don't repeat the same mistakes.
How I Ended Up Repairing Three Different iPhones
Each phone broke in a different moment of my life, which is probably why I remember the details so well.
The day my iPhone XR broken screen happened
I dropped the XR while rushing out the door. It landed face-down on concrete, and I didn't even need to flip it over to know the result. The entire display looked like it had been hit by a baseball. That moment pushed me into the world of repair shops, quotes, and screen types I didn't even know existed.
Dealing with an iPhone SE cracked screen
My old SE cracked during a weekend trip. I tossed it into a backpack with a metal water bottle-bad idea. The iPhone SE cracked screen wasn't just a minor crack; it had a spiderweb pattern across the top. Thankfully, this repair ended up being one of the cheapest fixes I've ever had.
The iPhone 13 broken screen that surprised me
I treated the iPhone 13 like a newborn baby, but even that didn't stop disaster. One slip from a kitchen countertop and the screen was gone. The iPhone 13 broken screen didn't just crack-it started glitching, flickering, and showing green lines. That's when I found out how expensive modern OLED screens really are.
Why These Three Repairs Cost So Different
When I compared repair quotes, the differences didn't make sense at first. But after speaking to several technicians, I finally understood the big picture.
Screen technology matters
- The iPhone XR uses an LCD panel, so the iPhone XR broken screen replacement wasn't outrageously expensive.
- The iPhone SE uses older LCD technology, which makes the iPhone SE cracked screen repair extremely affordable.
- The iPhone 13 uses an OLED panel-brighter, sharper, and much pricier-so the iPhone 13 broken screen repair hit harder than I expected.
Part availability affects price
Older models like the SE have tons of aftermarket parts, so prices drop. Newer models? Not so much.
Shops offer different grades of screens
This was the biggest discovery. I didn't know there were multiple screen grades until I broke the XR:
- OEM pulls
- Refurbished OEM
- High-quality aftermarket
- Cheap aftermarket
Each grade has a different price and different risks.
My Repair Experience With an iPhone XR Broken Screen
After the XR accident, I walked into four different repair shops. Every shop gave me a different quote. One offered a shockingly low price, so I took it. Bad move.
The replacement screen felt off from the start:
- colors looked faded,
- brightness was uneven,
- and the touch response lagged slightly.
Later, a technician showed me the difference between a cheap aftermarket panel and a refurbished OEM one. It was night and day. That's when I finally realized why the iPhone XR broken screen price varies so much from shop to shop.
Fixing My iPhone SE Cracked Screen Was Surprisingly Easy
The SE was the least stressful repair I've ever done. The shop had three screen options, all much cheaper than the XR or 13 repairs.
The iPhone SE cracked screen replacement took about 20 minutes, and the result looked perfect-not because the shop was magical, but because SE screens are simple and widely available. The brightness wasn't identical to Apple's original display, but for an older device, it didn't matter much.
This was the first time I realized that sometimes, the cheapest repair is actually good enough.
The Most Painful One: My iPhone 13 Broken Screen Story
When the 13 fell, I knew it would be expensive, but not that expensive. The first shop handed me a price that made me question all my life decisions. Another shop quoted something lower, but when I tested their sample display, the colors looked slightly blue.
Issues I ran into during my iPhone 13 broken screen repair journey:
- Face ID risks if the screen isn't paired properly
- Quality differences between OLED types
- Some replacements drained battery faster
- One screen even flickered when brightness was low
Eventually, I paid more for a higher-quality panel and a longer warranty. I learned that you can't take shortcuts with newer OLED screens.
Comparing All Three Repairs
Here's what stood out after fixing all three phones:
Touch response
- iPhone 13: closest to original
- XR: depends on screen grade
- SE: surprisingly responsive even on cheaper screens
Color accuracy
OLED (13) wins easily.
LCD on the SE looks fine for daily use.
XR varies depending on which replacement you choose.
Brightness
SE: average
XR: better
13: excellent-but only with a proper screen installation
How I Now Choose Repair Shops
After so many bad and good experiences, these are the questions I always ask:
- Is the screen OEM, refurbished OEM, or aftermarket?
- How long is the warranty?
- Does the price include installation and tax?
- Can I check the screen before paying?
- Will Face ID and True Tone still work afterward?
If a shop avoids answering any of these, I walk away.
Tips to Avoid Overpaying
- The lowest price usually means the lowest screen quality.
- Don't let shops hide screen grades behind vague labels like "premium" or "standard."
- Always test the display before paying.
- For the iPhone SE cracked screen, a good aftermarket screen is often enough.
- For the iPhone XR broken screen, refurbished OEM is the best balance.
- For the iPhone 13 broken screen, don't cheap out-your eyes will notice.
Final Thoughts
Breaking three different iPhones taught me more about repairs than I ever planned to learn. The iphone xr broken screen, the iphone se cracked screen, and the iphone 13 broken screen each came with their own lessons-about pricing, honesty, and screen quality.
If you're dealing with a broken screen right now, don't panic and don't rush. Ask the right questions, choose the right screen grade, and make sure you get a repair that actually lasts.