iPhone 8 Glass Back Replacements Are Very Expensive

If you are planning to purchase an iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus, then putting it inside a case has never been more important due to the prices Apple is set to charge for repairing damage to the glass casing.

Opting to buy AppleCare+ for your new iPhone entitles you to two years of coverage and two incidents of accidental damage. Screen repair costs $29 and other damage costs $99 as part of that allowance. However, the new glass back on the iPhone 8 ($319.99 at Best Buy) and iPhone 8 Plus ($699.99 at T-Mobile) does not count as a screen replacement, and so will cost $99 to repair under AppleCare+.

According to AppleInsider, it gets worse. If you want the glass back repaired beyond those two incidents of accidental damage, Apple will charge $349 for the iPhone 8 and $399 for the iPhone 8 Plus. If the damage is viewed as "mass destruction" by Apple, you may be asked to pay those prices regardless of your AppleCare+ status.

The reason for the high cost is due to how Apple decided to manufacture the phones. The glass back is fused to the back of the phone using a lot of glue, meaning it's not an easy process to replace it. So it's a difficult fix because Apple made it difficult.

To avoid these costs on what is already an expensive couple of handsets, invest in a good case. It will add thickness and hide the handset, but you won't mind after the first time your iPhone drops to the floor and the glass casing doesn't crack saving you at least $99.