Apple is preparing to reveal its highly anticipated foldable iPhone at a future event, but potential buyers should be aware of one important detail. Information indicates that the cost to repair the device’s internal screen will be the highest ever seen on an iPhone, significantly exceeding the repair costs of foldable smartphones from other manufacturers.
According to estimates by Ricky Panesar, founder of iCorrect.co.uk, a repair shop in the United Kingdom, replacing the internal screen can cost approximately £850, equivalent to around ¥185,000. Panesar called this projection “the most expensive repair ever for an Apple mobile device,” highlighting the extraordinary expense associated with the foldable iPhone.
The foldable iPhone is expected to incorporate OLED panels manufactured by Samsung Display. However, the integration with a proprietary hinge, produced by 3D printing, gives the device a complex architecture, with unprecedented challenges for repair shops. The difficulty in obtaining parts and the technical sophistication of the repair are factors that contribute to these high values.
In contrast, the costs to replace the internal screen of competing models are more affordable. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8, which employs “Flex Titanium” technology to reduce creases, has a repair cost of £594 (approximately ¥129,000). Its predecessor, the Z Fold7, costs £569 (about ¥123,000) for the same service. Samsung is able to keep prices lower by purchasing panels from its own division, Samsung Display, making it easier to supply replacement components.
Even with the purchase of the AppleCare+ service, Panesar estimates that a foldable iPhone screen repair could still cost almost £100, approximately ¥21,000. This high expense, even with extended coverage, could lead Apple to review its unlimited repairs warranty policy. To illustrate, the cost of repairing an iPhone 17 Pro screen with AppleCare+ in Japan is just ¥3,700.
In addition to the screen, the expert points out that the Touch ID button, positioned on the side of the device, represents another critical point for repairs. He details that this component is “not something that can be easily replaced”, unlike the repairability of Face ID on conventional iPhone models.
While AppleCare+ comes with its own cost, the prospect of a screen repair costing the equivalent of a new iPhone makes subscribing to the service something future owners should seriously consider.
