iPhone Screen Broken - Need a Temporary iPhone until The Next Release

BamOz on 16/01/2025 - 13:25
Last edited 16/01/2025 - 15:07 by 1 other user

Hi team, my iPhone took a fall and has an LCD bleed now. I went to apple store who advised screen replacement costing at $480 and also suggested battery replacement as battery was at 72% health, with total cost of $600. The store rep advised not to spend this much as it's an old model.

I don't want to buy the iPhone 16 now and would like to wait for the new iPhone to be released in September this year. Neither am I inclined towards the Samsung S25 or any high end Samsung phones. I am looking at a temporary iPhone till September. Would like to stick to apple but open to any other android phones (not high end as will use only till Sept)

Looked up few refurbished ones on Reebelo, Coles, Kmart and Amazon but the reviews are mixed with many complaining of issues with screen, battery or quality after few months of use. I dont want to spend $400-$500 on a refurb. one only to be in this same position in 2-3 months.

The other option is buy a brand new iPhone 11 or iPhone 13 from OW but that would cost around $700-$800.

Requesting your expert advice and suggestions please

Mobile Apple Mobile Phone

Comments

  • DashCam AKA Rolts on 16/01/2025 - 13:30

    Requesting your expert advice and suggestions please. FTFY

    • BamOz on 16/01/2025 - 13:31

      Thanks. Updated, hope you can offer your's now :-)

  • moph on 16/01/2025 - 13:34
    +5

    Do you think there's going to be something special about the iPhone 17 that's worth waiting for? This doesn't really make sense to me. If it was July or August and the next iPhone was just about to be announced then maybe it would be worth it to hold off. But the 16 has really only just been released. Why go through the hassle and expense of buying a 'temporary phone' when you could just get a new phone and be done with it for a few years?

    • BamOz on 16/01/2025 - 13:40
      -1

      I think apple would bring something major as they took quite a beating with the iphone 16. Hence the wait. iPhone 16 doesnot have any differentiator vs iPhone 15 and 15 is not the latest! Also, the temporary one can be used later for my Internatinal SIMs (I believe they will work after unlocked)

      • 87percent on 16/01/2025 - 13:49

        Well the base 16 can do Apple Intelligence, 15 cannot.. so there is a difference

      • brad1-8tsi on 16/01/2025 - 14:13

        I recently went through the "which iPhone" dilemma to replace my wife's aging iPhone XR.

        iPhone 15 wasn't as good as a 16. It was a total non-contender.
        iPhone 15 Pro was better in some respects, worse in others and a couple of hundred $$ more for what is a superseded model.
        iPhone 16 Pro was outside of budget.

        Final call was an iPhone 16 256Gb.

        As an Android user I don't see the value but happy wife, happy life.

      • freefall101 on 16/01/2025 - 14:16

        It'll be iterative. It takes time to design and implement these changes, the design of the iPhone 17 would have been locked in before the iPhone 16 came out.

        The rumour is an iPhone 17 Air that will cost more than the Pro model, so it probably won't help you. Other changes are another RAM bump for better AI (but that might only be the pro model) and 120hz screens on all phones (which is on the pro now).

        The iPhone 16 got a RAM bump to 8GB though, which is usually the best sign of longevity. Apple tend to stop supporting hardware when it doesn't have the right RAM requirements for future plans.

      • sumyungguy on 16/01/2025 - 14:36

        15 Pro can do Apple Intelligence but 16/16 Pro get two extra buttons

      • moph on 16/01/2025 - 14:57

        ok. I don't think any of the phone manufacturers are going to be doing more than incremental improvements with each version these days. That's been the case for the past 5 years at least. Better camera, better screen, slightly improved CPU and memory specs, different case design. There are no new tricks in the book. The only real technology area that's changing at the moment is AI so it's most likely they will just be doing more AI integration.

      • jakka on 16/01/2025 - 15:36

        All of the current rumours point to the 17 being an iterative update and the next major changes coming with the 18. Best off just biting the bullet and buying the 16 now and upgrading in ~2years when the 18 launches.

  • PurpleHippo on 16/01/2025 - 13:41

    What's your budget? Sounds like $300-500?
    If you haven't really noticed the depreciation of your battery, why not spend the $480 and get your phone fixed?

    At least then you know the history of your phone, and it'll be pretty much the same as a referb…

    Personally, I think I'd just get the 16 now if you're going to be getting a new phone later in the year anyways…

  • snapper17 on 16/01/2025 - 13:42
    +2

    There is a new iPhone SE 4 expected in April

    You can buy refurbished iPhone SE 3 2022 release for about $330

    Look on catch website

    You could also buy second hand Samsung just few a few months. I don’t like android so I know your pain but the Samsungs are easy to resell which is their only redeeming factor

    You could also use this phone with a new number once you get the new model iPhone. You can use the new number for trials and when selling things on marketplace ect or when you need to give a number to somebody that you don’t want to give your main number too. I do find it handy to have a second phone.

  • xpllmmff on 16/01/2025 - 13:45

    Not necessarily in Sep. Rumor says apple would hold a press in March, releasing its gen 4 iphone SE, together with new Macbook Air (M3/M4 chipset), apple TV gen 4 as well as airtag 2.

    If you are not so enthusiastic in photo taking , an iphone se 4 with only single camera but sharing all other features with lastes iphone 16 would be a decent choice， given its latest A18 chipset and AUD 800 starting price

  • jv on 16/01/2025 - 13:47
    +1

    Get a refurb from a bricks & mortar store so you can inspect it first.
    Phonebot is a good one in Melbourne.

  • skid on 16/01/2025 - 14:01

    Another vote for the iPhone SE. Love hate mine.

  • pegaxs on 16/01/2025 - 14:13

    Get one of those $250~ iPhone SE II deals they keep posting here. It's just a burner until the next release and at least you can just roll your shit over to the new phone… If you go Android (Samsung) then you are going to have to move everything over and from my experience, it is seldom a smooth transaction.

    Alternatively, just get a used iPhone off Scumtree or Fartbook Sharketplace.

  • joka on 16/01/2025 - 14:32
    +4

    Why? You're just going to break the new iPhone anyway. Maybe a Nokia 800 Tough is what you should consider.

  • Hybroid on 16/01/2025 - 14:40
    +3

    You can get a new LCD screen and battery for peanuts on eBay and fit them yourself following an iFixit guide in 20 mins.

  • Ynk on 16/01/2025 - 16:05

    Seems like a silly approach as you need a phone now not in a year….. But just buy whatever refurb is in your budget and spec requirement from somewhere that offers a 12 month warranty and sell it/trade it in when you buy your new one.

  • mtrkr on 16/01/2025 - 16:45

    as a few others point out, this is a possibility https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/888619 … so i bought the iphone SE2 '$169 special' at Kmart. And it's been fine, in good condition, with a screen that looks scratchless, and the battery health says 92%. Can update to latest iOS too.

  • kraigg on 17/01/2025 - 08:33

    I would either spend the money to get phone screen fixed for $480 then but the 2025 iPhone later this year, or buy a brand new, but older model, iPhone ($700-$800) and use it for the next 1-2 years, and don't buy the next new one until 2026 or 2027.

  • BamOz on 17/01/2025 - 23:40
    +1

    Appreciate all your responses.

    I happened to be near a Fone Citi store in a mall and went in to buy refurb as suggested. Showed it to them and they advised to replace the screen. Did so for 150$ with 3 months warranty. Its been running smooth for a day now. Hopefully will stay good, at-least for some months.

    Again appreciate all the responses in time. Thanks all

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join