We Asked Experts How Long A Cracked Phone Is Actually Safe To Use — And Their Answer Was Surprising

When your phone slips from your hands and leaves a lasting crack on the screen, the damage is not just harmful to your phone’s appearance — it could also be hazardous to your safety.

A phone screen has multiple layers that are mechanically and functionally interconnected, so a small outer crack can cause long-term internal damage over time, potentially affecting the touch sensor, the display and even the internal electronics, explained Dibakar Datta, an associate professor of mechanics at the New Jersey Institute of Technology.

The key is understanding which phone screen cracks are cosmetic and which ones are dangerous.

Many of us put off replacing our cracked phone screens because it can be exorbitantly expensive to fix. If you don’t have AppleCare+, Apple’s extended service plan, screen damage replacement can cost up to $379 for newer models.

The good news is that tiny corner cracks usually won’t affect how your phone works. “That small crack on the corner is generally considered low risk,” Datta said. “If the screen continues to respond accurately to touch and there are no signs of discoloration, flickering, or distortion, the damage is primarily cosmetic.”