Five grades, one honest table
Every screen in our store carries one of five grades, written the same way on every listing. The grade tells you what the panel is, not how we feel about it. Here is what each one means and how they compare on the points that matter in a repair shop.
| Original | Refurbished Original | Soft OLED | Hard OLED | Incell LCD | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panel | Original OLED/LCD pulled from a phone, tested | Original panel, new front glass laminated | Aftermarket flexible OLED | Aftermarket rigid OLED | Aftermarket LCD with in-cell touch |
| Colours and contrast | As the phone shipped | As the phone shipped | True blacks, close to original | True blacks, slightly cooler tone | No true blacks, LCD backlight |
| Brightness | Original | Original | Close to original | Lower, especially outdoors | Lower; washed out in sun |
| Power draw on OLED models | Original | Original | Near original | Somewhat higher | Noticeably higher; backlight always on |
| Frame / bezel thickness | Original | Original | Original or close | Slightly thicker bezel at the chin | Thicker screen and bezel |
| 120 Hz on Pro models | Yes | Yes | Some panels | Rarely | No |
| True Tone | Transfer with programmer | Usually retained | Transfer with programmer | Transfer with programmer | Transfer with programmer |
| Price band | Highest | High | Middle | Low to middle | Lowest |
Screens are listed per model with the grade in the title, for example on the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 Pro Max pages. Full definitions are on our grades page.
Original and Refurbished Original
Original means a panel pulled from an iPhone and tested. It is not new from Apple and we do not sell it as such; it may have light wear on the glass or frame, which is stated on the listing. Refurbished Original is the same panel with the broken glass replaced by a refurbisher. Colours, brightness, touch response and ProMotion on Pro models are those of the original panel. Both grades keep the original display chip, so True Tone usually stays; because the panel came from a different phone, iOS on iPhone 11 and later may still show the Unknown Part note. For a customer who wants the phone exactly as it was, these are the two grades to quote.
Soft OLED
A flexible OLED panel like the original, made by a third-party panel maker. It bends around the chin the way the original does, so the bezel is the original size and the glass sits flush. Contrast and viewing angles are close to original; brightness is a step down on most batches and the colour calibration is a little different. On ProMotion models (13 Pro onward) some Soft OLED panels run 120 Hz, some are 60 Hz; the listing says which. This is the grade most shops use as their default aftermarket screen.
Hard OLED
A rigid OLED on a glass substrate. It cannot curve under the chin, so the bottom bezel is a little thicker and the screen is slightly less bright. Blacks are still true blacks, power draw is a bit higher than Soft OLED, and the panel is more fragile to drops than a flexible one. The price is lower, and the screen is a good fit for a budget repair where the customer still wants an OLED look.
Incell LCD
An LCD with the touch layer built into the cell. On models that shipped with an LCD (XR, 11, SE family), Incell is the normal aftermarket grade and the visual difference from original is small. On OLED models it is the cheapest screen you can fit and the compromise is visible: no true blacks, a backlit grey instead, lower brightness, a thicker assembly and a higher battery drain because the backlight runs all the time. It is a sensible choice for a phone that will be sold on cheaply or used as a spare, and the wrong choice for a customer who liked the original display.
How to match the grade to the job
- Customer keeping a Pro model long-term: Original or Refurbished Original. ProMotion, brightness and colour are what they paid for.
- Standard repair on a 12, 13, 14, 15 or 16: Soft OLED as default; Refurbished Original if the budget allows.
- Price-sensitive repair, trade-in or resale: Hard OLED on OLED models; Incell on LCD models.
- Phone that will be sold on or used as a spare: Incell, with the customer told what they are getting.
- Insurance or warranty work that specifies « like original »: Original grade, with the Unknown Part note explained in writing.
What all grades share
- Every screen is tested before shipping on a tester for image and touch. Test it again on arrival before installing; see the testing guide.
- True Tone must be transferred with a programmer on every aftermarket grade and on most originals from another phone. Programmers are in Programmers & Testers.
- On iPhone 11 and later a screen from any source other than the original phone can trigger the Unknown Part note. It does not change function.
- Face ID is not on the screen. If Face ID fails after a screen swap, the sensor flex was damaged in the process, not the screen.
FAQ
Is a Soft OLED screen as good as the original?
Close, not identical. Expect slightly lower peak brightness and a small colour shift. For most customers the difference is not visible in daily use.
Why is a Refurbished Original cheaper than an Original?
The glass and the frame adhesive are new aftermarket parts, and the panel has been through a lamination process. The panel itself is the same grade.
Does an Incell screen drain the battery faster?
On OLED models, yes, noticeably, because the LCD backlight is on whenever the display is. On LCD models the difference from original is small.
Which grade keeps 120 Hz on a 15 Pro?
Original and Refurbished Original always; Soft OLED only when the listing says 120 Hz; Hard OLED and Incell do not.
Can I tell the grades apart after installation?
Original and Soft OLED are hard to tell apart by eye. Hard OLED shows a slightly larger chin, and Incell is visible by its grey blacks and thickness.