A cracked screen usually triggers one of two decisions: get it repaired, or trade the device in and put the money toward something new. The two options don't produce the same financial outcome, and it's worth doing the actual maths before choosing.

What a broken screen does to trade-in value

Trade-in and resale platforms assess devices on condition. A cracked screen is one of the biggest single deductions in that assessment - often reducing the trade-in value far more than the cost of the repair itself would be.

The maths that actually matters

Compare two paths for the same device:

• Trade it in broken - you accept a heavily discounted value, then put that toward a new device at full price
• Repair, then decide - you pay for the screen repair, and the device is assessed - whether for continued use or a later trade-in - at its full, undamaged value

In almost every case, the second path nets more money overall - either because you keep using a fully working device for free, or because you trade it in later at a far higher price than a broken-screen valuation would ever offer.

When trading in broken still makes sense

If the device is otherwise at the end of its useful life - old software, failing battery, multiple faults - a broken-screen trade-in can be the simpler option. But for a device that's otherwise in good shape, that's usually leaving money on the table.

Get the real numbers first

Repatch can give you an accurate screen repair price before you decide anything. A courier collects the device from home or work, and it's repaired and returned - often within 2 hours - so you're comparing real numbers, not guesses.