Galaxy S10 Repair Prices Reveal Unreasonably High iPhone Repair Cost

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Samsung recently revealed the official repair prices of the Galaxy S10 phones – Galaxy S10e, S10 and S10+. This comes as convenient for Galaxy S10 users who will now know beforehand the amount of money they will have to spend on some repairs. Though it is good for Galaxy S10 users, it’s not so good for Apple and iPhone users when they see the price comparisons.

iPhone XS vs. Galaxy S10 repair prices

Samsung revealing the Galaxy S10 repair prices puts the spotlight on the repair costs for iPhones, especially the latest iPhones – XS, XS Max and XR. A comparison between the Galaxy S10 repair costs and iPhones was always expected. However, such a comparison doesn’t look good for Apple.

PhoneArena even came up with a chart detailing the repair costs for the Galaxy S10, iPhones XS, XS Max and XR, and other major Android phones.

Samsung revealed the repair prices for the repairs, including screen repairs and back glass panel repairs. According to the Korean firm, replacing the OLED displays of the Galaxy S10e, S10 and S10 Plus would cost $199, $249 and $269 respectively.

On the other hand, replacing the OLED displays for the iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max will set you back $279 and $329, respectively. For the LCD variant, the iPhone XR, replacing the screen costs $199, the same as the OLED in the Galaxy S10e.

If you are an iPhone user and are now getting the feeling of being charged more in case you need to replace the front screen, hearing about the difference in the cost of repairing the glass on the back could even convince you to switch to Samsung.

Samsung revealed that for all three Galaxy S10 models it will charge $99 each for replacing the back glass. Apple, on the other hand, charges $549 for the iPhone XS, $599 for the iPhone XS Max and $399 for the iPhone XR.

Why such high repair costs for iPhones?

Such a high price for replacing the iPhone rear screen could be due to the way the components are placed inside. iFixit talked about a similar thing in its teardown.

“Despite the many improvements this phone received, it’s got the same iPhone 8/iPhone X back glass construction, meaning one tiny crack calls for a whole chassis replacement,” iFixit said.

Those in favor of Apple might argue that most users go for AppleCare+ and don’t end up paying that much. However, the insurance itself costs $249, while replacing the rear glass will cost you $99 more as it is covered under other “damages.”

Though one would expect Apple to charge high prices for its phones and also for repairs, such a massive difference in the repair cost is certainly not acceptable.

The iPhone users will surely want an explanation from Apple over such big differences in the iPhone and Galaxy S10 repair costs. Moreover, this will also add pressure on Apple to support the Right to Repair legislation. So far, the company has been actively lobbying against the legislation.

Drops migration fee for Mac users

Separately, in good news for Mac users, Apple earlier this week announced that it will now offer data migration services for free. Prior to this, Apple charged $99 for data migration services for new Mac users.

“Beginning April 2, there will be no cost for Data Migrations with the purchase of a new Mac or Data Transfers with a repair,” an Apple Store Operations Specialist recently told TidBITS.

Prior to charging $99, the data migration was part of Apple’s One to One program, which was shut down in 2015. The program which cost $99 gave users a year’s worth of instruction and help. When Apple ended the program, the company started charging $99 for the data migration as a one-time service.

As of now, it is not clear why Apple ditched the migration fee. Apple’s decision, however, comes at a time when the company wants users to use Apple stores as a meeting place, instead of just a retail store.

It must be noted that Apple already has a built-in Migration Assistant in Mac that allows users to move files from old or Windows PCs. So, many were already not visiting Apple stores. However, possibly to encourage users to visit Apple stores, the company scrapped the migration fee.

The in-store procedure reportedly takes a bit longer to complete. Apple possibly wants to take advantage of it by pitching more of its products to the waiting customers.

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