Cracked iPad glass? We replace the glass, not the whole screen.
This iPad came in with shattered front glass, but the display under it worked perfectly. Most shops would swap the entire screen for a few hundred dollars. We did it the harder, cheaper way: separated just the cracked glass, kept the original display, and laminated fresh glass back on with our OCA machine. Here's how, and why it saves you money.
The iPad's outer glass was cracked, but the LCD underneath still displayed and touched perfectly. On a modern laminated iPad, the glass is bonded to the display, so most shops replace the whole assembly for $250 to $600+. We instead de-bonded the cracked glass, cleaned off the old adhesive, aligned a new piece of glass, and re-laminated it to the original display in our OCA machine. Same Apple display, new glass, a real saving. It's specialist work that needs the right equipment, which is why not every shop offers it.
Why most shops replace the whole screen
On a modern iPad, the front glass and the LCD are laminated together, bonded as one fused unit with a layer of OCA (optically clear adhesive) in between. Because they're stuck together, the easy fix is to throw away the whole assembly, cracked glass and perfectly good display included, and bolt in a new one. That's why a laminated iPad screen runs $250 to $600 or more depending on the model.
But when only the glass is cracked and the display works, replacing the entire screen means paying for a part you don't need. The smarter repair is to replace just the glass, if you have the tools to do it.
Step one: separate the cracked glass, keep the display
This is the part that takes equipment and a steady hand. We carefully de-bond the cracked glass from the display, lifting the broken layer off while leaving the LCD and its OCA underneath intact. Done wrong, you crack the display too, and turn a glass job into a full-screen job. Done right, the original Apple display comes through untouched.
Step two: align the new glass
With the old adhesive cleaned off, we align a fresh piece of glass to the display. Alignment matters: it has to sit square and centred so the touch layer lines up perfectly and there are no gaps at the edges. A jig holds everything in exact position.
Step three: laminate it back together
The new glass is bonded to the original display in our OCA lamination machine, which presses the two together under controlled vacuum and heat with a fresh adhesive layer. This is what re-creates that factory, gap-free, laminated look, no bubbles, no haze, no air pocket between the glass and the screen. A bubble-prone hand glue-up doesn't come close.
The result
New glass, original Apple display, fully laminated, and working exactly as it should. The customer kept the screen they paid for and only replaced the part that was actually broken.
Why glass-only is worth it
You keep your original display. The brightness, colour, and touch you paid Apple for stay exactly as they were, no aftermarket panel, no downgrade. You pay less, because you're not replacing a working LCD. And it's done properly, laminated by machine, not hand-glued. The catch is simply that it takes the right equipment and skill, which is why most repair counters skip it and quote you the full screen instead.
What it costs and which iPads qualify
Glass-only is an option when the glass is cracked but the display still works (it lights up, shows a clear picture, and responds to touch). If the LCD itself is damaged, lines, black spots, dead touch, then the display has to be replaced too. The diagnostic is free: we check whether the display is good, tell you exactly what your iPad needs, and give you a firm price before any work. Glass-only turns around quickly, and you approve the quote first, every time.
FAQ
Can you really replace just the glass on a laminated iPad?
Yes, when the display underneath still works. We separate the cracked glass from the display, clean off the old adhesive, and laminate fresh glass to your original screen in an OCA machine. It takes specialist equipment, which is why a lot of shops only offer a full screen replacement.
How do I know if I need glass-only or a full screen?
If your iPad's glass is cracked but the picture is still clear, colours look normal, and touch works everywhere, it's usually a glass-only candidate. If you see lines, black patches, discoloured areas, or dead spots in the touch, the LCD is damaged and the display needs replacing too. The free diagnostic confirms which it is.
Is glass-only cheaper than a full screen replacement?
Usually, yes. A full laminated iPad screen can run a few hundred dollars because you're paying for a new display you don't actually need. Replacing only the glass and keeping your working display costs less. We give you the exact price after the free check.
Will it look as good as before?
It should. Because we laminate the new glass to the display under vacuum and pressure, you get that factory, gap-free finish, no bubbles, no haze, and your original Apple display behind it. That's the difference between machine lamination and a hand glue-up.
What if my iPad's display turns out to be damaged too?
Then glass-only isn't the right fix, and we'll tell you that up front rather than do a repair that won't hold. We'll quote a full screen replacement instead, and you decide. No surprise charges, you approve the price before we start.
Do you do this for iPhones too?
We do. Same idea: keep your original display and replace just the cracked glass with machine lamination. Here's our iPhone glass-only writeup.
Replace the glass, keep your display.
Glass-only iPad and iPhone repair with machine OCA lamination, done in-house. If your glass is cracked but the screen still works, you may not need a whole new display. Free diagnostic, firm quote before any work, and your original Apple screen stays put.