iPhone Back Glass Repair in Chicago

A broken iPhone back looks cosmetic, and for a day or two it is. Then the edges start to flake, the case stops sitting flat, and you find glass in your pocket. iPhone back glass repair replaces that rear panel without disturbing what's underneath. We do it at 1927 W Chicago Ave in West Town, usually the same day.

Prices start at $99.99, and the table on this page lists each iPhone we have a set price for. You see your price before we start.

Why fix a cracked iPhone back?

Three reasons, in order of importance. First, the phone is less protected. Water and dust get in more easily through a crack, so it won't resist a splash the way it did. Second, the glass cuts. Those small flakes are sharp, and they end up on your fingers. Third, cracks spread, and they can run into the camera ring.

It matters if you plan to sell, too. A broken back is one of the first things a buyer or a trade-in check marks down, so price the repair before you list the phone.

Why some iPhones cost more to fix

Apple changed how the back of the iPhone is built, and that decides how this job goes.

iPhone 8 through 13, and the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. The rear glass is bonded straight to the metal frame. It was never designed to come off on its own, so the old approach was to replace the whole housing. We use a laser instead. It breaks the bond so the old glass lifts away while the frame and the parts inside stay put.

iPhone 14, 14 Plus, and the 15 and later. Apple redesigned these so the rear glass can be removed on its own. No laser is needed, and the repair is simpler, though it still means opening the phone and resealing it.

Here's what laser removal gets you compared with a housing swap:

• Laser removal. Your frame, serial number, buttons and internal parts stay as they are. MagSafe and wireless charging stay where they were.
• Housing swap. The whole frame is replaced and every part moves across to it. It's a bigger job, with more parts disturbed along the way.

The laser leaves a clean frame, but the job takes time. Every bit of old glass and adhesive has to come off before the new back goes on, or it won't sit flush. That's why it can take a few hours rather than the 30 minutes a screen needs.

What a bent frame changes

Check the corner that took the hit. If the phone rocks on a flat table, the frame is bent. New glass won't sit flat on a bent frame, and it may crack again. Minor dents can often be worked around. A badly bent frame needs a housing swap, or it may not be worth repairing at all. We'll tell you before we start.

Colors and finish

We color match back glass to your phone, so a Sierra Blue 13 Pro stays Sierra Blue. Tell us your model and color when you call. Most common colors can be done right away, and a less common one can take a few business days to arrive. The new panel will look very close to original, though the finish on some models can look slightly different under strong light.

The camera ring and lens glass

Cracks often run up into the camera area. The small lens covers are separate pieces of glass, and they can survive a broken back, or not. We check each one. If a lens cover is cracked too, it's better to do both now, and our iPhone camera repair page has those prices. Blurry photos after a drop may mean the camera itself took damage.

What it costs

An iPhone 11 is $99.99 and an iPhone 14 is $130, and our highest listed price is $199.99. Rows marked Call for price just need a quick call to confirm the part. See all models on our pricing page.

If your iPhone has AppleCare+, compare our price with Apple's service fee first. Apple can also tell you what it charges for back glass damage on your model, and it's worth seeing both numbers.

Water resistance after the repair

We seal the new back carefully, but no repair can promise the factory water resistance rating. Treat a repaired phone as splash-resistant at best, and keep it out of the pool.

If you have a phone that has already taken on water through a cracked back, turn it off and read our water damage repair page before you do anything else.

Before you drop it off

Back up the phone and take off the case. Wireless chargers and MagSafe accessories can stay at home. No shop in your area? Mail-in repair works for this repair as well. For iPhone back glass repair in Chicago, call (773) 741-6682 or just walk in. Screen cracked too? We can do both at once. See iPhone screen repair, or go back to all iPhone repairs. iPhone back glass replacement parts carry our 90-day warranty, and labor may apply.