Have a cracked iPhone 5C screen? Apple Stores will now fix it for you

iPhone 5C
Glass and plastic, fragile?

Apple is now replacing cracked iPhone 5C screens at local stores near you.

Last week a report suggested that in-store screen replacement for iPhone 5C would come as soon as Monday. Turns out the rumors were spot on; an Apple representative told TechRadar the $149 (about £90/AU$169) in-store screen repairs for the cheaper new iPhone began January 20.

We were also told customers with devices enrolled with AppleCare+ protection plan get a discounted fixer-upper for $49 (about £29/AU$55) - a lump to pay for a new sheet of Gorilla Glass, but it's better than walking around with a clearly broken phone.

Cracked 5Cs can be brought in store for display repair or complete replacement. The Apple rep also pointed out that while the screen is a simple fix, Geniuses will have to take a consider alternatives for seriously damaged handsets.

If there are additional broken parts like a cracked plastic shell, it could mean extra fees and possibly sending out the phone to dedicated repair facilities.

Don't drop it

Shattered screens have been a bane for Apple mobile users since the first iPhone, but now users have the option of in-store repairs for two handsets: the iPhone 5C and iPhone 5.

Formerly, owners of shattered screens were left with the data-losing option of replacing their entire handsets.

The Apple rep told TechRadar the on-site maintenance is rolling out to Stores in all territories.

Kevin Lee

Kevin Lee was a former computing reporter at TechRadar. Kevin is now the SEO Updates Editor at IGN based in New York. He handles all of the best of tech buying guides while also dipping his hand in the entertainment and games evergreen content. Kevin has over eight years of experience in the tech and games publications with previous bylines at Polygon, PC World, and more. Outside of work, Kevin is major movie buff of cult and bad films. He also regularly plays flight & space sim and racing games. IRL he's a fan of archery, axe throwing, and board games.