Cracked iPhone screen help guide: How 5 repair options stack up
"GMA" sees how five different repair options stack up.
— -- As millions of Americans damaged their smartphones, the cellphone repair industry reported $4 billion in revenue last year.
There are tons of repair options out there for fixing a cracked screen and "Good Morning America" teamed up with the technology gadget website, The Wirecutter, to see how some stacked up.
We looked at five options for fixing a phone:
1. Do-it-yourself kit
2. Manufacturer repair (Apple store)
3. Local repair/"mom and pop" shop
4. Mobile repair service that comes to you
5. Mall kiosk
There were four factors we considered:
1. Cost
2. Speed
3. Convenience
4. Guarantee of workmanship
I had five iPhone 6s with cracked screens and brought one to each repair option without disclosing that I was a reporter from ABC News. The Wirecutter's Senior Editor Dan Frakes examined all our phones to evaluate the fixes. It was by no means scientific, but it does give a good indication of some factors to consider when weighing repair options.
Do-it-yourself kit
Manufacturer (Apple store)
Expert take: Frakes says if you have a phone that's new -- within six months of purchase -- always take the phone back to the manufacturer or carrier for repair. “The parts are really hard to get for independent stores,” he said, “And they don’t have a lot of expertise.”