Clumsy Apple fans should be extra careful with their iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, as the glass backs of the 2017 iPhone models are very expensive to replace.
One of the most important takeaways from the iFixit iPhone 8 teardown is that the iPhone 8 glass back is very difficult to replace, which is probably why it will cost so much for owners who break it.
iPhone 8 Glass Back: How Much To Replace?
When customers buy a new Apple device, they are given the option to sign up for an AppleCare+ subscription. The plan, which should be purchased alongside the device or within 60 days, extends the limited warranty offered by Apple for an extra year, and adds up to two cases of accidental damage coverage. For the iPhone 8, coverage costs $129, while for the iPhone 8 Plus, coverage costs $149.
While under AppleCare+ coverage, the cost to replace a broken screen is only $29. However, various Apple employees have confirmed with AppleInsider that a broken glass back does not fall under the $29 screen replacement warranty. Instead, it falls under the "other damage" category, which costs over three times more at $99.
After the two cases of accidental damage is used up, the repair price for the iPhone 8 glass back jumps to a whopping $349, and for the iPhone 8 Plus, $399. In addition, even when still under AppleCare+ coverage, cases of "mass destruction" of the rear case will require this out-of-warranty replacement cost.
Apple has not yet revealed the service prices for the iPhone X, which will not launch until Nov. 3. The cost to replace its glass back is largely expected to also be expensive, but it is unclear if it will also cost more than the screen replacement for the iPhone X with its bezel-less OLED display.
iPhone 8 vs iPhone 7
Apple decided to skip the iPhone 7s and go straight from the iPhone 7 to the iPhone 8, which was unveiled alongside the premium iPhone X.
Comparisons between the iPhone 8 and iPhone 7 reveal a smartphone with a significantly upgraded processor, expanded internal storage, and in the case of the iPhone 8 Plus, the addition of the best smartphone camera in the industry. The devices also support wireless charging, with the feature made possible due to the glass back.
Apple fans upgrading to the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X will want to invest in a durable case for their new smartphone, as that will cost much less than possibly spending hundreds of dollars on a few broken glass backs.
