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iPhone 🔎 Buying guide 9 min read Preferred source in Google

iPhone screen: Service Pack, OEM or aftermarket? The real differences, named clearly

When you crack your screen you get three very different prices for “the same thing” — and, often, no explanation. There is no “good” screen and “bad” screen: there are three different parts with three different trade-offs. We fit all three, every day, and here is exactly what you get with each, what your phone shows afterwards and what it costs for your model.

Alin Marin — CEO Radical Service
Alin Marin CEO Radical Service

Over 12 years of experience in Apple repairs · 25,000+ devices repaired · ASE Bucharest

The three kinds of iPhone display side by side: Service Pack (genuine Apple, service packaging), OEM (genuine, pulled) and aftermarket (third party)

3 options

of screen, named clearly

30–60 min

fitted on the spot, while you wait

3 months

warranty, on any option

1107+

5★ Google reviews

In short: which one is for you

Recent iPhone (last 2–3 years), you keep it or plan to sell it

→ Service Pack. The phone stays exactly as bought, iOS confirms “Genuine Apple Part”, resale value is untouched.

You want a genuine screen but don’t mind the iOS message

→ OEM (pulled). A genuine Apple display, pulled intact from another iPhone — same image, same glass, 15–30% cheaper. The only visible difference is one line in Settings.

iPhone 4–5+ years old, tight budget, one or two more years of use

→ Aftermarket with the same specifications (OLED, 120 Hz on Pro). Works, has a warranty, costs 2–3 times less. You accept that the glass is more prone to scratches and cracks.

You were promised “genuine” at an aftermarket price

→ It doesn’t exist. Ask for the option in writing on the quote and check after the repair under Settings › General › About › Parts and Service History.

Why there are three prices for “one screen”

An iPhone display is not a single part but a sandwich: the outer glass, the touch layer, the panel itself (OLED from the iPhone X onwards, LCD on the 11, XR, SE and older), the frame and, on recent models, the ambient-light and True Tone sensors. Who makes the panel and who assembles the sandwich decides the quality — and the price.

Three families circulate on the market. Names vary from shop to shop (“original”, “pulled”, “refurbished”, “copy”, “soft OLED”), which makes comparison hard. We use three names and explain them below: Service Pack, OEM and aftermarket.

Genuine, in Apple packaging

Service Pack

The screen the authorized channel fits too, delivered new in the Apple service box with every factory layer. After fitting we calibrate it and iOS recognises it as a “Genuine Apple Part”. It is the only option that leaves the phone technically identical to a new one — which is also why it is the most expensive.

  • +Image, brightness, 120 Hz — factory
  • +Native True Tone
  • +iOS: “Genuine Apple Part”
  • +Resale value unaffected
  • Highest price
  • Not available for every older model

Genuine Apple, pulled intact

OEM (“pulled”)

A genuine Apple display removed intact from an iPhone that had a different fault — logic board, housing, liquid damage. Not refurbished: glass, panel and sensors are factory, the part has simply been fitted once before and does not come in Apple packaging. It is not paired to your phone, so iOS marks it “Unknown Part” — with no effect on how it works.

  • +Genuine Apple screen — same image, same glass
  • +120 Hz on Pro
  • +True Tone transferred
  • +15–30% cheaper than Service Pack
  • iOS: “Unknown Part”
  • Has been fitted once before — we test every one before fitting

Third-party

Aftermarket

A screen made entirely by another manufacturer. We only fit aftermarket screens with the same specifications as the original: OLED on OLED models, 120 Hz on Pro — not cheap LCD “incell” panels that change the technology. In daily use the differences are usually unnoticeable: colour tones, minor refresh differences, a marginally thicker part. The real difference is the glass: more fragile, it scratches and cracks more easily than the original. Rational on an old phone; not on a recent one.

  • +Lowest price (2–3× below Service Pack)
  • +Same specifications: OLED, 120 Hz on Pro
  • +Fully functional, Face ID fine
  • +Same warranty as the others
  • More fragile glass — scratches and cracks more easily
  • Slightly different colours and refresh (rarely noticeable)
  • Marginally thicker
  • iOS: “Unknown Part”

Side by side

Service Pack OEM Aftermarket
What it is Genuine Apple screen, new, in Apple service packaging Genuine Apple screen, “pulled” intact from another iPhone, no packaging Third-party screen with the same specifications (OLED, 120 Hz on Pro)
Image quality Identical to original Identical to original (it is a genuine screen) Very close; slightly different tones
Peak brightness Factory Factory Close to original
ProMotion 120 Hz (Pro) Yes Yes Yes (minor refresh differences)
True Tone Native, after calibration Transferred from old screen Transferred from old screen
Face ID Yes Yes Yes
What iOS shows “Genuine Apple Part” “Unknown Part” “Unknown Part”
Glass durability Factory Factory More fragile: scratches and cracks more easily
Thickness / fit Identical Identical Marginally thicker, no effect on fit
Resale value Unaffected Slightly affected (the iOS message) Affected
Our warranty 3 months 3 months 3 months
Price (from) from 1,500 lei from 500 lei from 350 lei

Prices per model, at our shop

Final price, VAT included, part + fitting, updated automatically from our stock. Where an option is missing, we don’t have it for that model and we don’t promise it. Fitting is done on the spot, in 30–60 minutes.

Model Service Pack OEM Aftermarket
iPhone 17 Pro Max 3,000 lei 2,500 lei 1,600 lei
iPhone 17 Pro 2,500 lei 2,200 lei 1,400 lei
iPhone 17 2,500 lei 2,000 lei 1,000 lei
iPhone iPhone Air 2,740 lei 2,440 lei 1,740 lei
iPhone 17e 1,800 lei 1,000 lei 800 lei
iPhone 16 Pro Max 2,600 lei 2,200 lei 1,400 lei
iPhone 16 Pro 2,400 lei 1,800 lei 1,200 lei
iPhone 16 Plus 2,400 lei 1,300 lei 1,000 lei
iPhone 16 2,000 lei 1,400 lei 800 lei
iPhone 16e 1,740 lei 1,000 lei 800 lei
iPhone 15 Pro Max 2,300 lei 2,000 lei 1,000 lei
iPhone 15 Pro 2,300 lei 1,800 lei 800 lei
iPhone 15 Plus 2,300 lei 1,300 lei 800 lei
iPhone 15 1,500 lei 1,300 lei 700 lei
iPhone 14 Pro Max 2,500 lei 1,600 lei 800 lei
iPhone 14 Pro 2,100 lei 1,300 lei 700 lei
iPhone 14 Plus 2,100 lei 1,200 lei 700 lei
iPhone 14 2,000 lei 1,000 lei 600 lei
iPhone 13 Pro Max 2,200 lei 1,200 lei 800 lei
iPhone 13 Pro 2,000 lei 1,000 lei 700 lei
iPhone 13 2,000 lei 700 lei 550 lei
iPhone 13 Mini 1,800 lei 899 lei 550 lei
iPhone 12 Pro Max 2,200 lei 1,200 lei 650 lei
iPhone 12 Pro 2,000 lei 700 lei 550 lei
iPhone 12 2,000 lei 700 lei 550 lei
iPhone 12 Mini 1,800 lei 899 lei 550 lei
iPhone 11 Pro Max 700 lei 500 lei
iPhone 11 Pro 600 lei 450 lei
iPhone 11 500 lei 350 lei
iPhone XS Max 800 lei 550 lei
iPhone X 600 lei 450 lei
iPhone XR 500 lei 400 lei
iPhone XS 600 lei 450 lei

Same prices as on our iPhone screen repair page and in Radical Store, where you can buy just the part if you fit it yourself.

How to verify yourself what was fitted

You don’t need us to check. Three steps — two on the phone, one on paper:

1

Parts and Service History

Settings › General › About › Parts and Service History. “Genuine Apple Part” next to Display = calibrated Service Pack. “Unknown Part” = OEM or aftermarket. The message does not affect function, but it is the most honest information you have.

2

The comparison test

Put the phone next to an identical iPhone, both at maximum brightness, on a white page. Service Pack and OEM look identical — they are genuine screens. Aftermarket may show a slightly different tone; often you won’t notice, which is exactly why step 3 matters.

3

The invoice

The option must be written on the invoice: Service Pack, OEM (genuine pulled) or aftermarket, with the warranty in months. If it just says “iPhone display”, ask before you pay.

Phrases that hide the option

“Original display” at 500–700 lei for a recent model

A Service Pack for an iPhone 14–16 costs more than that for the part alone. At that price it is OEM (if you are lucky) or aftermarket. Not necessarily a bad part — a wrong label.

“Refurbished” or “original” with no further explanation

Could mean a genuine screen pulled intact (what we call OEM / pulled), a genuine panel refurbished with third-party glass, or an aftermarket screen. Ask: “is it the Apple screen, unmodified, or has it been refurbished?”

“Just like the original, you can’t tell the difference”

You can tell in Settings, and sometimes at maximum brightness. It may be fine for you — but it should be your decision, not the seller’s.

“Lifetime warranty on the screen”

Nobody warrants a supplied part for life. The real warranty is the supplier’s, passed on — 3 months at our shop, on the invoice.

How we work — honestly

We fit all three options and write on the quote which one it is, with its price, before you leave the phone. We don’t call OEM “genuine new” and we don’t call aftermarket “just like the original”. Our default recommendation: Service Pack on recent phones, OEM (pulled) when you want a genuine screen without paying for the new part in Apple packaging, aftermarket only on older phones — and only with the same specifications as the original; we do not fit LCD “incell” screens on OLED phones.

Fitting takes 30–60 minutes, on the spot, with the old screen kept for the True Tone transfer. You check in Settings before you leave.

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Choose your model and the issue, then pick a drop-off time — we confirm by email in minutes.

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Frequently asked questions

What is a “Service Pack” iPhone screen?

It is the genuine Apple display — the same part fitted through the authorized channel — supplied new in Apple service packaging. Panel, glass, ambient-light sensors and every layer are factory Apple. After fitting and calibration, iOS lists it as a “Genuine Apple Part” under Parts and Service History. It is the most expensive option and the only one that leaves the phone 100% as it was when new.

What is an OEM (“pulled”) screen and how does it differ from Service Pack?

At our shop, OEM means a genuine Apple display that was pulled intact from an iPhone with a different fault (logic board, housing, liquid damage) — not refurbished. Glass, panel and sensors are all factory Apple; the part has simply been fitted to a phone before and does not come in Apple packaging. Image quality, brightness and 120 Hz are the originals, and True Tone is transferred from your old screen. The difference from Service Pack: iOS flags it as “Unknown Part” (it is not paired to your phone), and it costs 15–30% less.

Is an aftermarket iPhone screen worth it?

It depends on the model and how long you will keep it. We only fit aftermarket screens with the same specifications as the original (OLED on OLED, 120 Hz on Pro) — never cheap LCD “incell” panels on phones that had OLED. They cost 2–3 times less, work normally and carry the same warranty. The compromises are usually unnoticeable in daily use: slightly different colour tones, minor refresh differences, a marginally thicker part. The real one is the glass: it scratches and cracks more easily than the original under the same conditions. Plus the “Unknown Part” message in iOS. On a 4–5-year-old iPhone it is a rational choice; on a recent, high-value phone you lose more at resale than you save.

How do I check which screen was fitted?

Settings › General › About › Parts and Service History. “Genuine Apple Part” next to Display means a calibrated Service Pack. “Unknown Part” means OEM or aftermarket — hard to tell apart by eye: OEM looks identical to the original (it is one); aftermarket may show a slightly different tone next to an identical iPhone on a white page. An honest shop writes the option on the invoice, so you should never have to guess.

Do Face ID and True Tone still work after a screen replacement?

Face ID yes, with all three options — the Face ID sensors are in the phone, not the screen, and are left untouched. True Tone: on a calibrated Service Pack it works natively; on OEM and aftermarket we transfer it from the old screen with a programmer, as long as the old screen is present (even cracked). If the old screen is missing or no longer communicates, True Tone cannot be transferred.

What warranty do I get on an iPhone screen?

3 months on part and labour, written on the invoice, for all three options. It is the warranty we receive from the part supplier, passed on in full. It does not cover later cracking or liquid damage.

Cracked screen? We quote all three prices upfront

You pick the option, we fit it on the spot in 30–60 minutes, you check in Settings before you leave.

Strada Aristotel Pappia 40, Sector 1, Bucharest · Mon–Fri 08:30–17:30