A cracked or dead screen is easily the most common thing that happens to a phone — and one of the most stressful. One slip off the couch, one corner-first landing on the footpath, and suddenly the device you rely on for everything is a spiderweb of glass or a black rectangle that won't respond. The good news: almost every screen fault is repairable, usually the same day. At Repair Mate® we've replaced tens of thousands of screens across iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, iPad, Google Pixel, OPPO, Motorola and more. This guide explains the different types of screen damage , what each one means, how much of your screen is actually broken, and — just as importantly — how to protect your screen so you're not back here in three months. The types of screen damage (and what each one really means) "Screen" is actually two parts bonded together: the outer glass/digitiser (what you touch) and the LCD/OLED display underneath (what shows the picture). Which layer is damaged decides the repair — and the price. 1. Cracked or shattered glass Spiderweb cracks, a shattered corner, or fine hairline splits. If the picture underneath is still perfect and touch still works everywhere, only the outer glass is damaged. Don't ignore it though — open cracks let in dust and moisture and can cut your finger, and a small crack spreads fast. 2. Black screen / no display The phone rings, vibrates or makes sounds but the screen stays black. This usually means the display panel itself has failed even if the glass looks intact — common after a drop that doesn't visibly crack the glass, or after liquid exposure. 3. Vertical or horizontal lines Coloured or black vertical lines (or horizontal bands) running down the display are a classic sign of a damaged LCD/OLED panel or a loosened display connector. Lines often appear after a drop and tend to spread over days — it will not heal itself, and it needs a display replacement. 4. Unresponsive / "no touch" screen The picture looks fine but the phone ignores your taps, or only part of the screen responds. This is a digitiser fault. Sometimes the whole screen is dead to touch; sometimes there's a vertical strip that won't register. Either way the touch layer needs replacing. 5. Ghost touch (phantom taps) The phone taps, types and opens apps by itself as if a ghost is using it. "Ghost touch" is caused by a failing digitiser, a poor-quality previous repair, or liquid/pressure damage — and it makes a phone almost unusable. A genuine-grade screen replacement fixes it. 6. Flickering, half-lit or dim screen A screen that flickers, shows a bright/dark half, or has a dim patch points to the display's backlight or panel. Catch it early — flicker often precedes a full black-screen failure. 7. Bleeding, blotches & dead pixels Spreading ink-like black blotches, purple/rainbow bleeding from a corner, or clusters of dead pixels mean the panel is physically damaged inside. These grow, so a display replacement is the fix. Not sure which one you've got? Send us a photo or drop in. We'll diagnose it in minutes and tell you exactly what's damaged and what it costs — before any work starts. How Repair Mate® repairs your screen Free diagnosis — we confirm whether it's the glass, the display, the touch layer, or a connector. Upfront quote — you approve the price and screen grade before we begin. Professional replacement — anti-static bench, proper tooling, fresh adhesive, and a full function test (touch, brightness, cameras, sensors, Face ID/fingerprint where applicable). Warranty — every screen repair is covered by our workmanship warranty. We offer different screen grades so you can choose your budget — from cost-effective aftermarket panels to genuine service-pack displays. We'll explain the difference and recommend what suits your device. How to protect your screen (so it lasts) Fit a tempered-glass protector. A 5 protector absorbs the impact and cracks instead of your actual screen — the single best-value protection you can buy. Use a raised-lip case. A case with a bezel that sits slightly above the glass means the screen never hits the ground face-first. Mind the temperature. Extreme heat (a hot car dashboard) and cold weaken adhesives and stress OLED panels. Keep it out of back pockets. Sitting down on a phone is one of the most common ways screens crack. Act on small cracks early. A tiny chip becomes a shattered screen — and once moisture gets in, you risk the display and touch layer too. Where to get your screen repaired — Australia-wide Repair Mate® fixes screens at our staffed stores in Carnegie (Melbourne, VIC) , Newcastle (NSW) , Brisbane (QLD) and Hobart (TAS) . Not near a store? Our Australia-wide mail-in service reaches every state and territory — Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, Canberra, Gold Coast, Darwin and regional towns — with tracked, insured return delivery. Book a screen repair Call 03 9840 0071 Transparent pricing. You always get a clear quote first — no surprises. Can't see your exact model listed? Request a free quote and we'll respond fast. Frequently asked questions Can you repair just the glass, or do you replace the whole screen? It depends on the fault. If only the outer glass is cracked and the display and touch still work perfectly, some models can have a glass-only repair. But on most modern phones the glass, display and touch layer are fused as one part, so a full screen replacement is the reliable, warranty-backed fix. We'll always tell you which applies to your device before starting. My screen still works but has vertical lines — is it urgent? Yes. Vertical lines mean the display panel or its connector is failing, and they almost always spread until the screen goes black. Repairing early is cheaper and avoids losing access to your phone entirely. How long does a screen repair take? Most phone screen replacements are done the same day, often within an hour or two in-store depending on the model and parts. Mail-in repairs are turned around quickly and returned by express post. Will replacing the screen delete my data? No. A screen replacement doesn't touch your storage — your photos, apps and messages stay exactly as they are. We still recommend a backup before any repair, just as good practice. Do you use genuine screens? We offer a range of grades, including genuine service-pack displays and high-quality aftermarket options, so you can match the repair to your budget. We explain the trade-offs and every option is covered by our warranty. Is a cracked screen worth fixing or should I replace the phone? In the vast majority of cases repairing is far cheaper than replacing the phone and keeps a perfectly good device out of landfill. We'll give you an honest assessment — if a repair isn't worthwhile we'll tell you. Related repair guides Not the repair you were after? Repair Mate® also handles these common faults across Australia — same-day where possible, warranty included: LCD & Display Repair — black patches, bleeding, flickering displays. Charging Port Repair — won't charge or only charges at an angle. Liquid & Water Damage Repair — got wet, corrosion, won't turn on. Battery Replacement — drains fast, swelling, sudden shutdowns. Phone Camera Repair — blurry, black or cracked front & rear cameras. Microphone Repair — callers can't hear you, no sound on video. Headphone Jack Repair — no sound in headphones, stuck in headphone mode. Power & Volume Button Repair — stuck, loose or unresponsive buttons. Speaker Repair — no sound, crackly or muffled speakers.