A cracked screen can make a phone harder to sell, but it does not always mean the device has no value. Broken screen buyers may accept phones with cracked glass, damaged displays, dead pixels, or touch problems, depending on the model and overall condition. Before selling, it helps to identify the type of screen damage, check what still works, and understand how the device may be assessed.
Step 1: Check Whether the Display Still Works
Start with the screen, because this can make the biggest difference to how the phone is assessed.
Turn the phone on and check whether you can see a normal image. Then test the touchscreen from different areas.
For example, a phone may have:
- Cracked outer glass but a clear display
- Cracked glass with working touch
- Dead pixels or black spots
- Lines across the display
- Discolouration or unusual screen effects
- Touch areas that no longer respond
- No display at all
These are not interchangeable conditions.
A cracked glass panel can still have a fully functioning LCD and digitiser. By comparison, a display with lines, spots, or no image has a different condition and may receive a different assessment. LCD Buyer's grading guidance makes this distinction between functioning displays with cracked glass and displays with faults.
Step 2: Check the Phone Around the Screen
Once you know the screen condition, check the rest of the phone.
Look at the frame, back panel, cameras, charging port, buttons, speakers, and microphone. Also check whether the phone switches on and charges normally.
Why does this matter?
Imagine two phones with the same cracked screen. One has an intact frame and working components. The other has a bent frame, damaged camera and charging problem. They may not be assessed in the same way.
If you cannot test something because the screen is unusable, simply mention that when describing the phone.
Step 3: Find the Exact Model
Do not request a valuation using only the brand name.
The exact model and storage capacity are useful when a damaged phone is being assessed. An iPhone 15 Pro, for example, is a different product from an iPhone 12, even if both have cracked screens.
If the phone still works, check its settings for the model and storage information. If the display is completely unusable, the original box or purchase documentation may help.
Also mention whether the phone has had a previous screen replacement. The type of display fitted can be relevant when the device is being assessed.
Step 4: Decide Whether You Are Selling the Phone or the Screen
This is an important distinction.
Some sellers have a complete phone with a damaged screen. Others may already have removed an LCD from a device and want to sell the screen separately.
LCD Buyer states that it buys both damaged LCD screens and whole phones, including phones with broken screens.
If you have a complete phone, don't assume you need to remove the screen yourself before selling it. The buyer may already have a process for dealing with whole devices.
That can save you the trouble of dismantling a damaged phone without the right tools or experience.
Step 5: Understand What Kind of LCD Damage You Have
If you're specifically dealing with an iPhone display, the difference between glass damage and LCD damage is worth checking.
Someone looking to buy iPhone LCD units may need to know whether the LCD and digitiser are functioning, rather than simply whether the glass is cracked.
For example:
Cracked glass + working display: The image is clear and touch works.
Display damage: The screen has lines, spots, discolouration, or other visible display faults.
Touch damage: The image may appear normally, but some or all touch functions fail.
Connector or shell damage: Physical damage affects the parts needed for the display to function correctly.
LCD Buyer's grading information uses these kinds of distinctions when assessing screens.
Step 6: Don't Repair the Phone Automatically
A common assumption is that repairing the screen first will always produce a better selling price.
That isn't necessarily the case.
If the repair is expensive, the cost can reduce the benefit of repairing the phone. This is especially worth considering with older devices.
Before paying for a replacement screen, find out:
- What the repair will cost.
- What condition the phone is currently in.
- Whether a buyer accepts the phone as it is.
- What the device could be worth after repair.
For some phones, selling the damaged device directly is the simpler option.
Step 7: Describe the Damage Properly
When you sell your damaged phone, avoid using a description that is too broad.
“Broken iPhone” does not tell a buyer enough.
A better description would be:
iPhone 13, 128GB. Glass is cracked, but the display and touch work normally. Camera, charging and buttons are working.
If the display is faulty, say so:
iPhone 13, 128GB. Screen has several lines and black areas. Touch works in some areas. Phone powers on and charges.
This gives the buyer useful information before the device is inspected.
Step 8: Check the Buyer's Grading Rules
If you're selling a screen separately, grading can directly affect how the item is classified.
LCD Buyer's guidance, for example, distinguishes between a Good LCD, a Bad LCD, Scrap LCD, and copy screens. A Good LCD can still have broken glass if the LCD and digitiser function correctly, while display faults such as lines, spots and discolouration move it into a different category.
This is useful to know before sending a screen because “cracked” does not automatically mean “non-working.”
Step 9: Prepare the Phone Before Sending It
If you're selling the complete phone, deal with your personal information before packing it.
Back up your data, remove your accounts, disable relevant device-locking features, and reset the phone where possible.
If you're sending a loose LCD, the priority is different. Protect the display and connectors from further damage during transport.
LCD Buyer says it can provide special packaging for LCDs being sent to them.
Follow the buyer's packaging instructions rather than improvising, particularly when sending fragile display assemblies.
Step 10: Know What Happens After Submission
A quote is based on the information supplied about the item. Once the buyer receives it, the actual condition can be checked.
The assessment may look at the display, touch functionality, physical condition, connectors, model, and other relevant factors.
This is where an accurate description becomes important. If the screen was described as fully working but arrives with display lines, the final assessment may not match the initial expectation.
Selling a Damaged Phone or LCD?
If your phone has a cracked screen or your LCD has display or touch damage, the next step is to check its exact condition and understand how it may be assessed. LCD Buyer provides information on accepted phones and LCD conditions, helping sellers understand what to check before sending a damaged device.
FAQs
Can I sell a phone with cracked glass if the display still works?
Yes. Cracked glass and a non-working display are different conditions. Some buyers accept screens where the glass is broken but the LCD and touch function correctly.
Is a cracked LCD the same as a broken LCD?
Not necessarily. A screen can have cracked glass while still producing a clear image and responding to touch. Display lines, spots, discolouration, or loss of image indicate different types of damage.
Should I remove the LCD before selling my phone?
Not automatically. If the buyer accepts complete phones, there may be no reason to dismantle the device yourself.
Can I sell a phone with broken touch?
Some specialist buyers accept phones with touch problems. The exact assessment depends on the model and the condition of the display and other components.
Can I sell several old broken phones together?
That depends on the buyer's process and the devices involved. List the models and condition of each phone so they can be assessed correctly.
