The iPad A16 is the basic 11-inch iPad from 2025, the one in silver, blue, pink and yellow. It's the family iPad, the school iPad, the one that lives on the couch. Which means it gets dropped. The good news: it's built in a way that can make a cracked screen cheaper to fix than on the Air, mini or Pro.
What Apple charges
| Repair | Apple price | With AppleCare+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked screen or other damage (Wi-Fi) | $379 | $29 screen, $99 other damage |
| Cracked screen or other damage (Cellular) | $429 | $29 screen, $99 other damage |
| Battery | $119 | $0 below 80% health |
At Apple a crack is priced the same as any other damage, so you pay the full $379 or $429 whether it's one corner crack or a shattered mess.
The glass and the display are two parts
Apple publishes an exploded view and parts list for the iPad A16, and it lists the cover glass (part 661-51042 for Wi-Fi, 661-51080 for Cellular) and the display (661-50893 and 661-50894) as separate orderable parts. There's even a separate display adhesive and dust gasket.
That's a big deal. On the iPad Air M3 and iPad mini A17 Pro, the glass and display are bonded together, so a crack means a whole new display assembly. On the A16, a shop can often replace just the cracked glass and keep your working display. Our iPad Air M3 screen guide explains the laminated version if you're curious.
How to tell if you only need glass
Turn it on and ignore the cracks for a second.
- Picture looks normal, no lines or blotches: the display underneath is probably fine. Glass only.
- Touch dead or jumpy in spots: could be the glass or the display. A shop can test which one before ordering parts.
- Black spots, colored lines, bleeding ink look, or a dark area: the display is damaged too. You need glass and display.
- Bent frame: check by laying it on a flat table. If it rocks, the frame is bent and any new glass may crack again.
Easy things to do right now
- Back up the iPad. Even a glass job means opening it up.
- Tape over sharp cracks, especially if a kid uses it. Little fingers and broken glass don't mix.
- Check AppleCare+ status. If you have it, $29 at Apple beats any shop quote.
Apple or a shop?
Apple ($379 to $429) makes sense with AppleCare+, or if the display is damaged too, or if the iPad has other issues like a weak battery. You walk out with a working iPad and Apple's warranty.
A good independent shop makes sense when only the glass is cracked and you're paying out of pocket. Get a written quote and compare it with Apple's price before you agree.
What to ask the shop
- Are you replacing just the cover glass, or glass and display?
- Is the glass a genuine Apple part or aftermarket?
- Will you use a new display adhesive and dust gasket? Skipping it lets dust in under the glass.
- What's the warranty, and does it cover touch issues?
Is it worth fixing?
Usually yes, especially for a glass-only repair. If the display is damaged too and you don't have AppleCare+, compare the full $379 with what a new basic iPad costs before deciding. If the battery is also weak, our iPad A16 battery guide covers that repair.
All prices are on the iPad (A16) page. Apple prices checked October 14, 2026.
