Bigger phone, bigger screen, bigger bill. The 18 Pro Max screen costs $50 more to fix than the regular 18 Pro ($329), simply because there's more of it. And since this phone is only a few weeks old, the cheap shop screens that exist for older iPhones haven't caught up yet.
Apple's prices for the 18 Pro Max
US prices, before tax:
| Repair | Apple price | With AppleCare+ |
|---|---|---|
| Cracked screen | $379 | $29 |
| Screen and back glass | $469 | Ask Apple |
| Back glass | $159 | $29 |
| Rear camera | $249 | Ask Apple |
| Battery | $129 | $0 |
| Other damage | $899 | $99 |
Two things jump out. The screen price is the same as last year's 17 Pro Max. And that $899 "other damage" price is the one to avoid. If Apple finds a bent frame or other damage on inspection, your repair can land in that bucket instead.
Your screen options right now
On older OLED iPhones, shops sell three tiers of screen. On the 18 Pro Max, two of the three basically don't exist yet.
| Screen type | Price | Status for iPhone 18 Pro Max |
|---|---|---|
| Aftermarket LCD | Not available yet | Rare this soon after launch |
| Aftermarket OLED | Not available yet | Rare. Good copies take a while to reach shops |
| Genuine Apple | $379 at Apple | Available now through Apple and authorized providers |
Things that make this repair delicate
iFixit's teardown of the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max gave both a provisional repair score of 7 out of 10. Pretty decent. But it also flagged a few screen-related things:
- Most major repairs go in through the display. The screen comes off first for a lot of jobs, so it gets handled a lot.
- The plastic frame around the display can crack during removal. iFixit damaged it on three of four phones. A damaged frame may stop the screen from sitting flush and could weaken water resistance. iFixit says it's too early to know if this is widespread.
- Face ID's infrared camera sits under the screen. Apple hides it by removing every other row of pixels above it. That's one more part a careless repair could affect.
Figure out what's actually wrong
- Cracked glass, picture fine, touch fine: It's cosmetic for now. A glass protector can keep shards in place until your appointment.
- Green lines, black blobs, flickering: The OLED panel is damaged. These usually grow, so don't wait long.
- Touch dead in one area: Usually the screen. Apple will confirm when it inspects the phone.
- Screen black, phone still rings: Could be the display or something bigger. Let Apple diagnose it before you agree to a price.
Before you go
- Back up to iCloud or a computer.
- Check for AppleCare+ under Settings > General > About. If you don't have it, you can usually add it within 60 days of buying the phone, so check your purchase date.
- Ask about mail-in or Express Replacement if you have AppleCare+ and no store nearby.
Questions to ask
- Is this priced as screen only, or will it change after inspection?
- Will Face ID and True Tone be tested after the repair?
- If it's an independent shop: is this a new genuine screen, a used one or aftermarket? What's the warranty? How do you reseal it?
Is it worth fixing?
Absolutely. This is a new flagship phone, and $379 is a small slice of its price. With AppleCare+, it's $29. Go to Apple for now, and revisit shop options in a year or two when aftermarket screens become common. If a drop also messed with your camera, see our iPhone 18 Pro Max camera repair guide.
Every iPhone 18 Pro Max price is on the iPhone 18 Pro Max page. Apple prices checked October 14, 2026.
