We are not going to fool ourselves, however careful we are with the iPhone, accidents are always present and a simple hit or fall from a not very high height could break its back. Despite their good materials, in the end they are not indestructible devices, but luckily they are repairable. Keep reading if the back cover of your iPhone has been broken and you want to change it to make it look like new, as we will tell you how this process is done.
Maybe you can polish the scratches on the iPhone
If you have the back of the iPhone completely broken or with deep cracks, it is almost certain that what we are going to tell you will not help you. However, if these are superficial and shallow scratches, you could get to polish them thanks to the special pastes that exist for these types of signs. Of course, it is more designed for iPhones that are made up of glass on the back, that is, iPhone 8 and later.
Changing the iPhone case at Apple
If you definitely need to completely change the case, the best place to do it is at Apple, since they have official materials and tools to carry out the repair. If the iPhone is also under warranty, going to them is the best thing to do.
The same process is not always carried out
Although it may be thought that Apple will change only the back, the truth is that this process ultimately depends on several factors. If the blows that your iPhone has affected the cameras or another component, it is very likely that they will have to change those elements as well. Sometimes, depending on the model and stock of parts they have, they might have to completely change your iPhone instead of repairing only the damaged part. In these cases the price is increased, since they offer a reconditioned device that for practical purposes is totally new.
Repair price
This amount is not public for cases in which only the back is repaired, as well as if more elements have to be changed. In those cases, a budget is given at the time that will also depend on the iPhone model in question. Now, if you have to replace the device with a reconditioned one, you will have to assume the following costs:
- iPhone 5s: 307.10 euros
- iPhone 6: 331.10 euros
- iPhone 6 Plus: 361.10 euros
- iPhone 6s: 331.10 euros
- iPhone 6s Plus: 361.10 euros
- iPhone SE (1st generation): 307.10 euros
- iPhone 7: 347.10 euros
- iPhone 7 Plus: 381.10 euros
- iPhone 8: 381.10 euros
- iPhone 8 Plus: 431.10 euros
- iPhone X: 591.10 euros
- iPhone XS: 591.10 euros
- iPhone XS Max: 641.10 euros
- iPhone XR: 431.10 euros
- iPhone 11: 431.10 euros
- iPhone 11 Pro: 591.10 euros
- iPhone 11 Pro Max: 641.10 euros
- iPhone SE (2nd generation): 307.10 euros
- iPhone 12 mini: 431.10 euros
- iPhone 12: 477.10 euros
- iPhone 12 Pro: 591.10 euros
- iPhone 12 Pro Max: 641.10 euros
IPhone models that Apple no longer repairs
Apple considers the following iPhone models obsolete, which in addition to not receiving software updates for years, also do not support a repair with official parts.
- iPhone (original)
- iPhone 3G
- iPhone 3GS
- Iphone 4
- Iphone 4s
- iPhone 5
- Iphone 5c
With AppleCare + it is cheaper
If at the time you purchased the AppleCare + extended warranty for your iPhone, you should know that all kinds of repairs like this are covered. If you are within 24 months of this guarantee, it will be 99 euros that you will have to pay to get your iPhone with a completely new back.
How to make an appointment to repair it
This repair must be carried out in person, although it is also possible to request that the iPhone be collected from your home through a courier service and that it be returned to you later once the repair is done. In any case, also when making an appointment at an Apple Store, you must use one of the following means of contact with the company:
- Technical support web page
- Telephone (900 150 503 is free from Spain)
- Support App (available on iOS and iPadOS)
Your home insurance could cover it
If the device has been broken by a blow or fall occurred in your home and you have an insurance policy, it is possible that the damage to the iPhone may be covered by it. The conditions of this can vary a lot, since there are insurances that require the payment of a franchise for this, others that repair it on their own and in many others require an Apple repair invoice to reimburse you for the cost. Be that as it may, you should consult your insurance company, who will provide you with all the information in this regard and will tell you what steps you should follow.
Your own third party insurance is also valid
If when you bought your iPhone you purchased insurance with a company other than Apple, it is also possible that this type of damage is covered by it. I’m still sure of the store where you bought the phone or any other that can be hired later, it is very likely that they can take over. Therefore, we recommend that you contact them to explain the situation of your device and that they tell you what you should do to report it and obtain a repair or, failing that, a replacement of the phone.
Can it be repaired for less money?
There are unauthorized technical services that, as a general rule, tend to offer much more affordable prices than Apple’s. This a priori could be very tempting, but you must bear in mind that you would lose the warranty with Apple if you had it and that it is not guaranteed that the parts that you are going to use are original. It must also be taken into account that unauthorized establishments do not usually have the most precise knowledge about iPhones, so any other problem that could arise from this repair could be fatal. If in spite of everything you decide to take it to a service of this type, it is recommended that you previously consult all the details of the guarantee that they offer you after the repair.
Buy the case on your own
Another interesting option that may come to mind in these cases is that you replace the defective part with a new one yourself. This is possible, although you should know some things before as we tell you in the following sections.
Advantages and negative points to consider
In the end this is the cheapest option, since you will only take care of the material and the labor will be your own. In a way it can even be fun to fiddle with the iPhone as well. However, you must bear in mind that, as with unauthorized services, you will lose the warranty with Apple if you have it. It could also be dangerous in a way if you don’t have a certain skill or have never done something like it before, since you could render the phone unusable if during the replacement of the part you break or deactivate any of the components that are part of the iPhone.
The material will be of lower quality
Another aspect to keep in mind is that the material that you can buy to do this is not original. The official iPhone backs are distributed only to authorized technical services and Apple’s own technicians. Although it may be a very good knockoff and even be sold as “original”, you will not really find such components and to some extent it could be an even worse experience at the level of texture, resistance and even in the temperature management of the phone.
Where to get a carcass
In stores specialized in this type of parts it is possible to find iPhone backs. In other stores like Amazon you can also find these accessories in different colors to make them look like your iPhone originally, with the advantage that in most cases it comes with a screwdriver and other tools designed to carry out this process more easily.