Q: My 15-month old daughter was playing with my iPhone 3GS (brilliant idea, I know) and broke it, so now I have an exclusive "Spiderman edition" with shattered webs covering the front of the phone. It's still functional (you can make out the screen through the webs), but not at all attractive. Should I replace my phone, or just wait to upgrade when the next one comes out?
- from Jamie
Editor - You mention two options—replace or upgrade—but there are actually three great options available to you:
- Replace your iPhone 3GS with another 3GS. You can get a brand new 8GB iPhone 3GS for only $49 with a new 2-year contract (Your carrier can tell you if you're eligible for an "upgrade," which just means that you're able to get a new phone at the subsidized price with a new contract—you don't actually have to "upgrade" your model). If you can't (or don't want to) sign a new contract, you can find an iPhone 3GS through Craigslist or eBay for $100-$200.
- Replace your iPhone 3GS with an iPhone 4. The iPhone 4 is the latest model to hit stores, and it comes at a new-contract price of $199 for the 8GB iPhone 4.
- Wait to upgrade to the highly anticipated iPhone 5. We have no clue what the pricing or features might be for this phone, but it's due up this fall. There's rumors that Apple is releasing a lower-priced iPhone at the same time, so the iPhone 5 could be the most expensive iPhone yet. Yikes.
You say you can still work your phone just fine through the webs (we're assuming the touch screen is working just fine). If we were you, we'd just deal with the broken phone until the iPhone 5 comes out. The most recent news says it's expected in early October, so you won't have too much of a wait.
Rumors suggest that the next iPhone will sport a bigger screen and a better camera, so you'll come out ahead if you're the type to always crave the latest tech. But even if you decide not to get the iPhone 5, the short wait is worth it. The price of the iPhone 4 (and even the iPhone 3GS) will drop when the new model his shelves.
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(Images:Flickr member Keisuke Omi licensed for use under Creative Commons, Flickr member kidTruant licensed for use under Creative Commons)
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You could find a friend with an unused Android phone and pop your SIM card in for a month or so until the next iPhone comes out or the iPhone 4 drops in price.
I would also wait for the next iPhone, but in the meantime you could just repair the screen on your 3GS. I just did my girlfriend's screen last night (for the second time). It's really not that hard to do yourself and you can order the entire kit + the screen for under 10 bucks from amazon.
I don't think there's an 8GB iPhone 4. It comes in 16GB (US$199 subsidized) and 32GB (US$299 subsidized).
I just did the replacement a few months ago and wrote a two-parter here at Unplggd:
Phone Commits Suicide at 20mph: Emergency Rescue, Part 1
How I Rescued and Repaired my iPhone for $7
It was a tedious installation and is far from perfect by any means, but it'll last you a month or two. I thought I'd only have to wait a month or two but that's turned into 4 or 5 months as I wait for the next iPhone.
What about replacing the glass? You said the iPhone is still functional...
yeah just replace the glass...no matter how hard you convince yourself it's going to be...it's actually easy
I dropped my iPod Nano which shattered the glass, much like in the iPhone pictured above. It still worked, but as I ran my finger over the glass, I was sure that with enough use those shards of glass would end up in my finger or in my leg as walked around with the iPod in my pocket.
I asked a local third party repair shop and they said it wasn't worth fixing and I resigned myself to buying a new one. Though before I did, I thought up this super cheap fix, that so far has worked.
I took a piece of clear packing tape and slowly attached it to the screen, smoothing it down as I went. Then I trimmed the top and bottom edges (button and connector edges) flush with an X-acto blade. I left about a quarter inch of overlap on each of the curved sides and smoothed those along the sides.
Now I have the broken glass encased under the tape and the touch screen works just fine. The tape is pretty much the same as any purpose-built screen cover that you can buy.
Most packing tape is probably not wide enough to do your iPhone, but I bet that one of the above-mentioned screen covers would do the trick, at least until you decide to replace or upgrade.
@robtakata - Ahh, packing tape! Much better than the saran wrap I was using, which would fall apart after a day or two.
this happened to my buddy! he took his phone to the genius bar at an apple store, and they replaced the glass/display for a hundred bucks i think. he's still using the phone, no other problems!
I've been in the same boat for several months now. Replaced the screen (which is tedious, but not dificult) and am holding out for the next model.
Last weekend my twins ruined my iphone AGAIN! This is the second time this summer. First time involved them throwing it at the floor and cracking the screen... the next time involved the sound of flushing and loud laughter. Both time the Apple store gave me a brand new phone completely for free. God, I love that company. I did not cry or beg or anything! Just went in and told them what happened and asked if there was anything they could do to help me out!!
me? I'd probably get the Samsung Galaxy S II...
I'm looking into getting a glass screen replaced today. I have a local shop here in Seattle, and they have another location in Chicago. Look up Jet City Device Repair, Seattle. (I can't remember the Chicago store's name). $85 to fix my HTC screen. They accept mailed phones, repair takes a day, and they mail it back. I'll let you know how it goes.
i would definately look into repair. while its very easy to DIY, there are many brick-and-mortar shops who'll do it for around $50 (the place by me in Encinitas, CA is a PC fix-shop that has a sign on it that says "we fix Macs!"). Check out directfix.com for videos on the replacement, if you're going to DIY, purchase the replacement parts on Amazon. Good luck!
Editor, it shocks me that you failed to mention what the Apple Store is best at-- post-purchase technical support and repair. They will replace the cracked display for $99 which is a much better option. Dealing with a broken phone especially around a young one is stupid and unsafe.
Also, as another person mentioned, there is no 8GB iPhone 4.
@danaxbee - I think $99 is a wee expensive for a 2 year old phone that's been updated once (iPhone 4) and is about to yet again shortly in September/October
Hard to make a recommendation without knowing how long until a new contract phone upgrade is available, or if $ for the latest and greatest is wanted to be spent as soon as an upgrade is available. It's not like the phones are completely cheap even at the contract re-sign..... As far as my repair, it went great!! Phone is just like new. Totally happy with the service. For us, as we don't have a new phone upgrade option until 10/12, the $85 repair was awesome. So, we'll eat at home a few more times when I'd rather go the easier takeout route. If you are in Seattle or Chicago, I heartily endorse Jet City Device Repair (and whatever the Chicago store is called).
Another vote for replacing the screen. It only costs a few dollars. I can't go 2 days without my iPhone, let alone 2 months until the new one comes out.