Broken smartwatch screen: repair or replace?
Smartwatch screen broken? We explain what exactly can be damaged, how such a repair works and when replacing makes more sense than repairing.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2018-08-30
A smartwatch takes more knocks than a phone. It sits on the outside of your wrist, exactly where you scrape past a door frame or clip a barbell. So it is no surprise that the screen on your watch breaks sooner than the one on your phone. The question is what you do next: have it repaired, or replace it? Below we explain how such a repair works, why a watch is more complicated, and when the sums start pointing towards a new device.
In short: On a smartwatch the glass is usually bonded directly to the display, so damage often means replacing the entire screen unit rather than just the glass. Technically that is perfectly doable, but the cost is relatively high compared to what the watch is worth. On a young watch with a healthy battery, repairing makes sense. On an old model with a worn battery, or a crack running right across the display, replacing is usually the wiser choice. Current prices per model are on our .
First work out what exactly is broken
"The screen is broken" can mean three different things, and the difference determines the price.
- Only the glass is cracked. The image is still perfectly fine and the touch controls work normally. You see cracks, but everything underneath is intact.
- The display itself is damaged. Black patches, coloured smears, lines or an area that no longer shows anything. In that case the panel itself has been hit and new glass will not help.
- The touch controls no longer respond. The image is fine, but the watch does not react, or reacts in places you are not pressing. Often the digitizer layer has been hit or moisture has got in.
On phones you can sometimes replace only the glass and reuse the expensive OLED panel. On smartwatches that usually does not apply: the parts are smaller and the risk of damaging the panel while separating it is high. In practice you therefore almost always replace the complete screen unit, even when "only the glass" is broken.
Why a smartwatch screen is more work than a phone screen
A smartwatch is a sealed device. Where a phone opens up with a few screws and clips, a watch case is generally fully bonded shut, with a seal running all the way around that keeps it dust and water resistant. To get inside, that adhesive seam has to be released with heat, after which the ribbon cables to the display have to be disconnected. Those cables are thin, short and held fast; tear one and there is no way back.
On top of that, there is barely any room inside a watch. The battery, the sensors on the underside and the mainboard sit millimetres apart. One wrong move with a spudger and you hit the heart rate sensor or the battery. That is why we always do a smartwatch repair at the workbench with a heating mat and the right tools, and never as a quick job in between. Once opened, the seal also has to be applied again - we come back to that below.
Can it be repaired?
In most cases yes, but it depends heavily on brand and model. For popular models from well-known brands, screen units are readily available and the repair is a routine job. For older or less common models, the main question is whether the part can still be sourced at all. Some cheaper brands do not produce spare parts at all: then there is simply nothing to fit and that is the end of it.
There are also situations where it is technically possible, but we advise against it:
- The case itself is bent or dented by the fall. A new screen will no longer sit flat and will crack again.
- Water has got in and the watch shows several faults at once (screen, sensors, charging). Then the problem is probably not limited to the screen.
- The battery is clearly at the end of its life: the watch no longer lasts the day. You would be paying for two repairs on a device that is already well on its way.
Feel free to bring your watch in for a check. We look at what is actually wrong first and tell you honestly if a repair would be a waste of your money.
What does it cost?
That varies by brand and model, and parts prices move with the market. That is why we do not quote figures here that may be out of date tomorrow. You will find the current prices on our ; if your model is not listed, send us a message with the brand, model and a photo of the damage. We will then look up the part and give you a price before we start anything. You are never committed to something you have not said yes to in advance.
One expectation to set now: do not count on a watch screen being cheaper than a phone screen simply because it is smaller. The labour is higher, because the case has to be opened and closed again.
When does replacing make more sense than repairing?
There is no fixed cut-off, but these four questions will get you to an answer in two minutes.
- How does the repair compare to what the watch is still worth? If the repair costs a substantial share of what you would pay for the same model second-hand, repairing is rarely smart. The other way round: if the watch is under two years old and worth far more than the repair, it is an easy call.
- How is the battery? A smartwatch battery is small and degrades relatively quickly because of daily charging. If your watch no longer lasts the day, you would be repairing a device you will still have to keep on the charger.
- Is the model still getting software updates? Without updates you gradually lose features and connections to your phone. On a watch that has already fallen out of support, investing in a new screen is money thrown away.
- What do you expect from water resistance? Do you swim with your watch, or is it limited to washing your hands and rain? That genuinely changes the answer - see the next section.
Water resistance after a repair: be honest with yourself
A smartwatch is water resistant thanks to a closed case bonded at the factory. Once that case has been opened, a technician can renew the seal and bond it neatly shut again, but the factory test the water resistance rating is based on no longer applies. We always use a new seal when we bond a watch back together, and in daily use that works fine: washing your hands, rain, sweat during sport. Taking it into the swimming pool or diving into the sea is something we would no longer recommend once the case has been opened. If you use your watch specifically for swimming, that is a serious argument for looking at a different device.
What you can do yourself until the repair
If there is a crack in the glass but everything still works, you can keep using the watch. A few things are sensible though:
- Stick a thin film over it temporarily. That holds the shards together and stops you cutting your wrist.
- Keep the watch away from water. A crack in the glass means the case is no longer sealed, even if it looks intact.
- Take it off while playing sport or doing DIY. Every extra knock makes the damage worse.
- Check that your data is synced with your phone.
How to avoid the next broken screen
Most of the damage we see is not a dramatic fall, but a knock against a door frame, a wall or a weight in the gym. Two simple measures make a big difference: a bumper case that sits just proud of the glass, so a knock lands on the rim instead of the display, and a screen protector. For curved watch glass, flexible film generally works better than tempered glass, because flat glass does not follow the curve. We fit protectors free of charge in the shop if you buy them from us; our range is under accessories.
Come and see us
If you are torn between repairing and replacing, just show us the watch. We will look at the damage, check the battery and tell you honestly what we would do if it were ours - even when that means not selling you a repair. Our refurbished devices come with a two-year warranty and thirty days to return, should you go that way after all.
You will find us at Willem Alexanderstraat 11 in Nijverdal, with our own workshop behind the shop. If you would rather not come in, send us a message via contact with the brand, model and a photo of the damage. We will let you know what is possible and what it costs before you decide anything.
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