When an Apple repair costs more than the iPhone
We put Apple's out-of-warranty repair prices next to what each iPhone Pro Max from the 11 to the 17 sells for used. Batteries are almost always worth fixing. Back glass on three recent models is not.
Key findings
- Back glass costs more than the phone on the 12, 13 and 14 Pro Max. Apple charges $499 to $609, which is 115% to 143% of each phone's used value.
- The 15 Pro Max changed that. Its redesigned back drops the same repair to $159, and the 16 and 17 Pro Max keep that price. That is 14% to 25% of their value.
- A screen repair on the iPhone 11 Pro Max costs 127% of the phone. Apple charges $329, while the phone averages $259 used. On the 12 Pro Max the same $329 is 94%.
- The battery is the safe repair. At $89 to $119, it costs 25% or less of the phone's value on every model from the 12 Pro Max on, and 11% on the 17 Pro Max.
- A cracked screen and back together write off three models. Apple's combined price is 171%, 149% and 123% of used value on the 12, 13 and 14 Pro Max.
11 Pro Max · used $259
Battery34%
Screen127%
Back glassNot listed separately
12 Pro Max · used $350
Battery25%
Screen94%
Back glass143%
13 Pro Max · used $441
Battery20%
Screen75%
Back glass127%
14 Pro Max · used $528
Battery19%
Screen72%
Back glass115%
15 Pro Max · used $630
Battery16%
Screen60%
Back glass25%
16 Pro Max · used $821
Battery14%
Screen46%
Back glass19%
17 Pro Max · used $1,104
Battery11%
Screen34%
Back glass14%
Full data
Every percentage below is Apple's estimated price divided by the phone's average unlocked price on Swappa. Back Market's refurbished starting price is shown as a cross-check. You can reuse this table with credit and a link to this page.
| Model | Used value (Swappa) | Refurb from (Back Market) | Battery | Screen | Back glass | Screen + back | Other damage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 Pro Max (64GB) | $259 (21 listings) | $234 | $89 (34%) | $329 (127%) | n/a | n/a | $599 (231%) |
| iPhone 12 Pro Max (128GB) | $350 (23 listings) | $310 | $89 (25%) | $329 (94%) | $499 (143%) | $599 (171%) | $599 (171%) |
| iPhone 13 Pro Max (128GB) | $441 (49 listings) | n/a | $89 (20%) | $329 (75%) | $559 (127%) | $659 (149%) | $659 (149%) |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max (128GB) | $528 (75 listings) | $477 | $99 (19%) | $379 (72%) | $609 (115%) | $649 (123%) | $759 (144%) |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max (256GB) | $630 (177 listings) | $619 | $99 (16%) | $379 (60%) | $159 (25%) | $469 (74%) | $779 (124%) |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max (256GB) | $821 (194 listings) | $756 | $119 (14%) | $379 (46%) | $159 (19%) | $469 (57%) | $829 (101%) |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max (256GB) | $1,104 (83 listings) | $1,069 | $119 (11%) | $379 (34%) | $159 (14%) | $469 (42%) | $899 (81%) |
Beyond the Pro Max: the standard and Pro models
The pattern is not limited to the biggest phones. Across all 21 standard, Pro and Pro Max models from the 11 to the 17, a single screen or back glass repair costs more than the phone is worth on 11 of them.
- Back glass on the iPhone 12 costs 179% of the phone. Apple charges $349 for a phone that averages $195 used. The 12 Pro (170%), 13 (142%), 13 Pro (137%) and 14 Pro (126%) are also above 100%.
- The standard iPhone 14 got the cheap back first. Its back glass costs $159, a year before the Pro line, while the 14 Pro still costs $559.
- A screen repair costs more than the whole phone on the 11, 11 Pro, 12 and 12 Pro (106% to 143%), and almost exactly matches the iPhone 13's used value ($279 vs. $280).
Run the numbers for your exact phone with our repair vs. upgrade calculator.
| Model | Used value (Swappa) | Battery | Screen | Back glass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 11 (64GB) | $161 | $89 (55%) | $199 (124%) | n/a |
| iPhone 11 Pro (64GB) | $216 | $89 (41%) | $279 (129%) | n/a |
| iPhone 12 (64GB) | $195 | $89 (46%) | $279 (143%) | $349 (179%) |
| iPhone 12 Pro (128GB) | $264 | $89 (34%) | $279 (106%) | $449 (170%) |
| iPhone 13 (128GB) | $280 | $89 (32%) | $279 (100%) | $399 (143%) |
| iPhone 13 Pro (128GB) | $372 | $89 (24%) | $279 (75%) | $509 (137%) |
| iPhone 14 (128GB) | $324 | $99 (31%) | $279 (86%) | $159 (49%) |
| iPhone 14 Pro (128GB) | $442 | $99 (22%) | $329 (74%) | $559 (126%) |
| iPhone 15 (128GB) | $446 | $99 (22%) | $279 (63%) | $159 (36%) |
| iPhone 15 Pro (128GB) | $561 | $99 (18%) | $329 (59%) | $159 (28%) |
| iPhone 16 (128GB) | $587 | $99 (17%) | $279 (48%) | $159 (27%) |
| iPhone 16 Pro (128GB) | $697 | $119 (17%) | $329 (47%) | $159 (23%) |
| iPhone 17 (256GB) | $801 | $99 (12%) | $329 (41%) | $159 (20%) |
| iPhone 17 Pro (256GB) | $1,011 | $119 (12%) | $329 (33%) | $159 (16%) |
What this means if your Pro Max is damaged
- Worn battery: fix it. Our battery vs. upgrade calculator runs the numbers for your exact model.
- Cracked back on a 12, 13 or 14 Pro Max: Apple's price is more than the phone is worth. If the crack is cosmetic, a case may be the better answer. Otherwise, get a quote from an independent shop or put the money towards a newer phone.
- Cracked screen on an 11 or 12 Pro Max: compare the quote with a used replacement before you pay. The 11 Pro Max is also old enough that you should confirm it still gets iOS security updates.
- Buying used: a cracked back on a 12 to 14 Pro Max is not a small flaw. Price it as if the phone needs a $500 to $600 repair, and check Settings › General › About › Parts and Service History. Our guide to used iPhones with replaced parts covers what to look for.
Method and limits
- Repair prices are Apple's U.S. out-of-warranty estimates from its iPhone repair estimator, read for each Pro Max model on October 25, 2026. Apple inspects the phone first, may add tax and shipping, and authorized providers set their own prices. AppleCare+ lowers most of these costs.
- Used values are the average unlocked price for the lowest storage listed on each Swappa price guide page, updated October 23 to 25, 2026. The 15, 16 and 17 Pro Max start at 256GB, so their figures are for 256GB.
- Back Market prices are the "Starting at" refurbished price on its U.S. iPhone category page. They do not name a storage size or condition grade, and no price was shown for the 13 Pro Max.
- Apple lists no separate back glass repair for the 11 Pro Max. On that model, back damage is priced as "other damage" at $599.
- The main chart uses Pro Max models so that every generation compares a like-for-like phone. The standard and Pro table uses the same sources; their Swappa values were read on October 24, 2026. Plus, mini, SE, e and Air models are not included.
- Independent repair shops are often cheaper but may use non-Apple parts, which can trigger "Unknown Part" messages.
Research by Leo Conrad Nguyen, FlawCheck. Prices change often, so check a current quote before you decide. Spotted an error? See our corrections policy.