Screen Replacement Guide

LCD Copy vs
Soft OLED Screens

Two different replacement screen types — and the wrong choice makes a noticeable difference. Here is an honest, plain-English guide to help you choose the right screen for your repair.

64 Crossbrook Street, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire EN8 8JQ Mon–Fri 9am–6pm · Sat 10am–5pm · Home visits available across Hertfordshire
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At a glance

Three screen types, clearly explained

Every screen repair involves a choice. Understanding the difference takes less than two minutes.

LCD Copy
Backlit liquid crystal display — the budget-friendly option
Very affordable
Durable and robust
Good everyday visibility
~Colours slightly less vibrant than original
No true black — backlit grey instead
Lower peak brightness
Slightly thicker panel
Best for LCD phones (iPhone 6–11, budget Android)
Genuine / OEM
Original or OEM-sourced panel — the perfect-match option
Perfect match to factory display
Full True Tone support (iPhone)
No colour calibration difference
Maximum brightness and accuracy
Significantly higher cost
~May require longer wait for sourcing
Best for: when only the original will do — ask us for a quote

LCD Copy Screens — What You Need to Know

Budget Option

LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screens work by shining a white backlight through a layer of liquid crystals, which act as shutters to produce colour. "Copy" simply means it is an aftermarket replacement rather than an original Apple or Samsung panel — the technology itself is identical to what the phone shipped with, if it shipped with LCD.

For phones that originally had LCD displays — every iPhone from the 6 up to and including the iPhone 11, and the iPhone SE (1st and 2nd generation), as well as most budget Android handsets — a copy LCD screen is perfectly matched to the original technology. The colour, brightness and feel will be very close to what you had before. Any minor differences are typically unnoticeable in everyday use.

Advantages

Most affordable screen type
Correct match for LCD phones
Very durable — LCD panels are robust
No risk of burn-in
Wide availability, fast turnaround

Limitations

Blacks appear dark grey, not true black
Colours less saturated than OLED
Lower maximum brightness
Slightly thicker than OLED panel
Noticeably worse on OLED phones
If your phone originally had an OLED screen (iPhone X and newer flagship models), fitting an LCD copy will result in a noticeably inferior display. We will always advise you of this and recommend Soft OLED instead.

Soft OLED Screens — What You Need to Know

Recommended for Flagship Phones

OLED (Organic Light-Emitting Diode) screens produce light from each pixel individually — there is no backlight. When a pixel displays black, it simply switches off, producing a true, pure black that LCD cannot match. This also means the panel is thinner and uses less battery when displaying dark content.

"Soft" OLED refers to the flexible substrate the panel is built on. This is the same underlying construction used by Apple and Samsung in their flagship phones. Aftermarket Soft OLED panels are sourced from the same supply chain and produce displays that are extremely close to the original in everyday use.

Advantages

True black levels — pixels switch off
Rich, vivid colours very close to original
Brighter — better outdoor visibility
Thinner, lighter panel profile
Less battery drain on dark UI

Limitations

Costs more than LCD copy
Minor colour calibration difference from factory original
Potential for burn-in with very long static image display (rare in normal use)
Face ID, Touch ID, True Tone, all gestures and auto-brightness all work normally after a Soft OLED replacement. The only minor difference you may notice is a fractionally warmer or cooler colour calibration compared to the factory original.
Know your model

Which phones have LCD — and which have OLED?

The type of screen your phone originally shipped with determines the right replacement. Here is a quick reference for the most common models we repair.

LCD screens
Repair with LCD copy
iPhone 6 / 6 Plus
iPhone 6s / 6s Plus
iPhone SE (1st generation, 2020)
iPhone 7 / 7 Plus
iPhone 8 / 8 Plus
iPhone XR
iPhone 11
Samsung Galaxy A-series (budget)
Most budget Android phones
An LCD copy screen on these models will look and feel virtually identical to the original.
OLED screens
Repair with Soft OLED
iPhone X / XS / XS Max
iPhone 11 Pro / 11 Pro Max
iPhone 12 / 12 mini / 12 Pro / 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13 / 13 mini / 13 Pro / 13 Pro Max
iPhone 14 / 14 Plus / 14 Pro / 14 Pro Max
iPhone 15 / 15 Plus / 15 Pro / 15 Pro Max
Samsung Galaxy S series (S20 and newer)
Samsung Galaxy Z Fold / Z Flip
Google Pixel 6 and newer
Using an LCD copy on these models results in noticeably worse colour and black levels. Soft OLED is always the correct replacement.
Decision guide

Which screen should you choose?

Answer three simple questions and the right screen type becomes obvious.

01
My phone originally had an LCD screen
iPhone 6–11, iPhone SE, or a budget Android? The original screen was LCD, so a copy LCD replacement is the like-for-like choice. You will not notice a difference. This is also the most affordable option.
Choose LCD Copy
02
My phone originally had OLED (iPhone 12+, Samsung S series)
Fitting an LCD on an OLED phone looks immediately and noticeably worse — grey blacks, flat colours, reduced brightness. Soft OLED is the correct replacement and keeps the quality you are used to.
Choose Soft OLED
03
I want the absolute best quality — identical to original
If you simply will not accept any difference from the factory screen — including the exact colour calibration — a genuine or OEM-sourced panel is the answer. Ask us for availability and pricing — we can source genuine screens for most iPhone models.
Ask Us for Genuine
Our standards

How Tech Revive approaches screen repairs

Grade A panels only

We use Grade A aftermarket screens — top-tier panels from reputable suppliers. We do not fit cheap Grade B or Grade C screens that show lines, dead pixels or discolouration.

Tested before fitting

Every screen is powered on and tested for dead pixels, touch response, and colour uniformity before it goes anywhere near your phone. If it is not perfect, we do not fit it.

Honest advice, every time

If your model needs Soft OLED, we will tell you — and explain why. We will never fit an inferior screen type just because it is cheaper, without your full knowledge.

12-month warranty

All screen repairs come with a 12-month parts and labour warranty. If the screen develops a fault within that period, we replace it free of charge — no arguments.

Price confirmed before we start

You are told the exact cost for your specific model and screen type before any work begins. No surprises, no hidden fees added at the end.

Same-day screen repairs

Most screen replacements are completed within the hour. Drop in, and you will usually leave with a fully working phone the same morning or afternoon.

Can we come to you?
Home visit screen repairs across Hertfordshire
We carry both LCD copy and Soft OLED stock in our mobile kit. Enter your postcode to see if a home repair is available in your area.
Common questions

Screen replacement FAQ

The most common questions we get asked before a screen repair.

LCD copy screens use a backlit liquid crystal display — the same technology as budget phones. Each pixel is lit from behind, which means blacks appear as a dark grey rather than true black. Soft OLED screens work by having each pixel produce its own light. When displaying black, OLED pixels switch off completely, producing a much deeper, true black. The result is richer colours, higher contrast, better outdoor brightness, and a thinner panel. The two types look noticeably different side by side on any OLED phone — we always recommend Soft OLED for phones that originally shipped with OLED.
Very close, yes. High-quality aftermarket Soft OLED panels are around 90–95% of the original's peak brightness and colour accuracy. The main practical difference is that colour temperature may be fractionally warmer or cooler than the factory screen, and Apple's True Tone adaptive brightness does not function (this is a software restriction Apple applies to all non-genuine parts). All other features — touch, Face ID, auto-brightness, gesture navigation — work perfectly. For everyday use, the vast majority of customers cannot tell the difference.
Technically yes — the connectors are compatible on most models — but we strongly advise against it. On an OLED phone such as an iPhone 12 or Samsung S21, an LCD replacement will look immediately and noticeably inferior. Blacks appear grey rather than true black, colours look flat and washed out, and outdoor brightness is significantly reduced. We always recommend Soft OLED for phones that originally shipped with OLED. If cost is a concern, speak to us — we can often find a solution that keeps quality high while being mindful of budget.
All iPhone X, XS, XS Max, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, and every iPhone 12, 13, 14 and 15 model (standard, mini, Plus, Pro and Pro Max) shipped with OLED displays and should be repaired with Soft OLED. The iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6s, 6s Plus, SE (1st gen), 7, 7 Plus, 8, 8 Plus, SE (2nd gen), XR and iPhone 11 all shipped with LCD and are correctly repaired with LCD copy screens. Not sure which yours is? Just call us or bring it in — we check for you.
True Tone — Apple's feature that adjusts the screen's colour temperature to match your ambient lighting — does not function after fitting an aftermarket screen, including high-quality Soft OLED replacements. You will see the True Tone toggle greyed out in Settings. This is a software restriction Apple applies to all non-genuine screens. Everything else works normally: brightness adjusts automatically, touch is responsive, and Face ID continues to function. If True Tone is important to you, ask us about genuine screen options.

Ready to get your screen repaired?

Tell us your model and we will recommend the right screen type, confirm the price upfront, and have it done in under an hour.