When it comes to replacing a cracked or damaged iPhone screen, you’re often faced with a crucial choice: OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) screens or aftermarket screens. While both options can get your phone working again, they aren’t created equal.
OEM screens meet Apple’s standards for quality, performance, and durability, ensuring your iPhone functions as intended. Aftermarket screens, on the other hand, are primarily chosen because they are cheaper.
In this guide, we’ll break down the key differences between OEM and aftermarket iPhone screens to help you make the best decision for your device—and your wallet.
Color Tone
OEM screens are calibrated to Apple’s strict standards, delivering accurate color tones and balanced white levels. Features like True Tone and Night Shift adjust the display based on ambient lighting, ensuring a more natural viewing experience. Whites appear neutral, and colors are vibrant yet true-to-life, just as Apple intended.
Aftermarket (non-OEM) screens, even high-quality ones, often struggle to match this level of color accuracy. Common differences include:
- A cooler, bluer hue, making whites look slightly tinted
- Less accurate color reproduction, with some colors appearing dull or overly saturated
- Inconsistent white balance, especially noticeable when compared side by side with an OEM screen
While these differences are noticeable, they don’t significantly impact everyday use. For most users, the screen still looks clear and vibrant, but if you care about perfect color accuracy—for tasks like photo editing or design—an OEM screen remains the better option. For those on a budget, a high-quality aftermarket screen still provides a solid viewing experience.
Touch Sensitivity
OEM screens provide the best touch sensitivity, offering smooth, precise, and instant responses that meet Apple’s exact standards. Whether you’re swiping, typing, or using features like 3D Touch or Haptic Touch, the experience feels natural and fluid, with no lag or missed touches.
Aftermarket (non-OEM) screens, even the highest quality options, don’t fully match this level of precision. The difference in touch sensitivity is noticeable, especially during fast typing or gaming, but it doesn’t significantly affect usability. These screens are still fully functional and responsive for everyday tasks like browsing, messaging, and app use.
For most users, the slight drop in touch sensitivity won’t cause major issues. If you’re budget-conscious, a high-quality aftermarket screen is a reasonable choice—it may not offer OEM-level responsiveness, but it still gets the job done without major compromises.
Thickness
Another key difference between OEM and aftermarket iPhone screens is the thickness of the display.
OEM screens are manufactured to Apple’s exact specifications, ensuring a perfect fit with the iPhone’s frame. This seamless integration maintains the phone’s sleek design, with the screen sitting flush against the edges—just like it did when new.
Aftermarket screens are often slightly thicker resulting in a subtle edge or lip where the screen meets the frame. However, the difference is usually barely noticeable. Moreover, this extra thickness doesn’t impact usability. The touchscreen still functions as expected, and most users won’t notice the difference unless they’re specifically looking for it.
Brightness
OEM screens are designed to deliver consistent brightness levels, making them easy to view even in bright outdoor environments. They maintain high brightness without distorting colors or draining extra power.
Aftermarket screens often struggle in this area. Many are noticeably dimmer than OEM displays, which can make it harder to see the screen clearly in sunlight or bright settings. Lower brightness also affects color vibrancy, making images and videos appear dull.
Battery Life
OEM screens are optimized for power efficiency, using less energy while maintaining high performance. This helps preserve your iPhone’s battery life and reduces the risk of overheating.
Some aftermarket screens, especially cheaper ones, are less efficient and can consume up to 20% more battery. This leads to faster battery drain, more frequent charging, and in some cases, causes the phone to heat up during regular use.
Warranty
Warranty coverage is another key difference between OEM and aftermarket (non-OEM) iPhone screens.
OEM screens generally come with a longer warranty period since they meet Apple’s original quality standards. When installed by Apple or an authorized service provider, OEM screens are often covered for issues like:
- Touch responsiveness problems
- Display malfunctions (e.g., dead pixels, flickering)
- Color accuracy or brightness inconsistencies
In some cases, using an OEM screen can also help maintain your iPhone’s overall warranty, especially if you have AppleCare+.
Aftermarket screens, on the other hand, typically come with a shorter or limited warranty. While many third-party repair shops still offer coverage for defects—such as screen malfunctions or touch issues—the warranty is usually more restrictive compared to OEM parts. Coverage periods can vary depending on the repair shop and the quality of the aftermarket screen used. At Fixsquad, we offer 3 month warranty for OEM screens and 1 month warranty for non-OEM screens.
If having a longer warranty and better post-repair support is important to you, an OEM screen is the safer choice. But if you’re looking to save money and are comfortable with a shorter warranty, a high-quality aftermarket screen remains a viable option.
Conclusion
When it comes to replacing your iPhone screen, the choice between OEM and aftermarket (non-OEM) comes down to balancing quality and cost.
OEM screens offer the highest standards in display quality, touch sensitivity, color accuracy, and durability. They provide the experience Apple intended, with seamless compatibility and optimal performance.
Aftermarket screens, while not matching OEM quality, offer a cost-effective alternative. Even the best non-OEM screens show slight compromises—such as reduced touch sensitivity or less accurate color tones—but they remain fully functional and usable for everyday tasks. For users on a budget, a high-quality aftermarket screen is a reasonable choice that delivers solid performance without breaking the bank.
If you prioritize perfect quality and flawless performance, go for OEM. But if you’re cost-conscious and can accept minor quality differences, an aftermarket screen will still serve you well.
