Update: Cracked Screen a Problem for Many iPhone Users
iPhone firmware update 1.1.3 has got me really, really upset… almost fuming, actually.
What’s not to love about iPhone’s new GPS feature, the mass text messaging capabilities and the now customizable home screen? Do I agree with Blackberry fanboy Russell Shaw, who is “mostly unimpressed” by the upgrade?
Absolutely not! What irks me about the latest iPhone update is that I can’t enjoy it, because last night my iPhone’s touchscreen was disabled after I accidentally dropped my iPhone, cracking the glass.
As you can see in the image on the left, the glass cracked in about five places after I dropped it on my wood floor.
But the cracks are not on the top glass layer of the iPhone. I can actually slide my finger down the screen and it’s completely smooth.
What appears to have cracked is the touchscreen beneath the glass. So my iPhone works perfectly fine, except that I can’t interact with it.
As long as my SIM card is inside, I’ll continue to get phone calls that I can’t answer, my preprogrammed alarms will continue to go off without my being able to hit Snooze, and the phone will not turn off until the battery drains.
The obvious downside of a touchscreen phone is that, generally, if one feature breaks they all do. The lack of hardware buttons means you can’t answer calls, turn off alarms, send text messages or do ANYTHING without a working touchscreen.
Is iPhone’s Glass Easily Cracked?
When I read the results of PC World’s iPhone stress tests, I admittedly got a little cocky and decided to go without a case for my iPhone.
I’ve dropped my iPhone a number of times, without a problem. However, this was the first time I dropped it directly on its glass surface… and it broke.
After doing some research, it seems the problem is not uncommon. iPhone Atlas notes that “an awkward fall, too much pressure and other unnatural impact can cause cracks in the optical glass.”
Cracked Glass Under Warranty?
Apple states on the iPhone Warranty (PDF) that “Service may not be available if your iPhone has been damaged due to accident or abuse.”
Nevertheless, iPhone Atlas said they “received reports from some readers who had success having their iPhones with cracked screens replaced free of charge by geniuses at the Apple Store … but don’t count on it.”
I’m going to try my luck this weekend at the Apple Store, but I’m not feeling too hopeful. If Apple declines to replace my phone for free, I’ll either have to pay them $249 to repair my iPhone, or have it repaired by someone else, which will void the warranty.
What really bugs me about the $249 repair fee is that it’s only applicable to 8GB iPhones. The 4GB ones cost $199 to repair, even though the hardware that I need replaced is identical on both versions!
So I gave Apple more of my money on January 29 to get an 8GB iPhone, and now they want to exploit that and charge me more for repair? I think that’s unfair. Even more unfair than not being able to test out iPhone update 1.1.3 
iPhone Glass Repair: Other Options
SlashPhone posted a tutorial for replacing your iPhone’s broken glass with a $5 sheet of plastic. It’s not quite like the real thing, but it’s also $245 cheaper. Note that if you choose to do this, your warranty will be voided.
This is not an option for me because, as I mentioned above, it’s the touchscreen below the glass that is broken, not the glass surface itself.
I’ll be sure and report back after visiting the Apple Store this weekend to let you all know whether Apple was willing to replace my broken iPhone for free.
Until then, I’ll be relying on my trusty old Motorola phone from Wal-Mart. Not quite as useful as the iPhone, but it does make phone calls!
Update: I got my replacement iPhone from Apple. Click to read about my experience.
Update #2: Want a strong case that will unfailingly protect your iPhone? Check out the Otterbox Defender.
Ever Cracked Your iPhone’s Glass?
If so, did you get a new phone for free or did you have to shell out big bucks for repair? Please share your experience in the comments.
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Next time go to state farm insurance , and get insurance on iPhone . It’s covered with no money out of pocket , less than 50 a year
Hey Diane: A lot of people buy a new iPHone or iPod when the glass is cracked or shattered, but most of the time that is totally unnecessary, at http://www.repairsuniverse.com you can get a brand new screen for about 1/5 of what you paid. And people fix their own all of the time using RepairsUniverse repair guides, video instructions, or they can send it to them for repair.