Screen replacement questions: OEM vs OEM locked vs non-OEM

Question

iPhone 13 Mini

Released on September 24th 2021, the iPhone 13 mini is a smaller version of Apple's iPhone 13 and is the second mini iPhone. It features a 5.4-inch OLED, an A15 Bionic processor, and dual rear cameras.

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Screen replacement questions: OEM vs OEM locked vs non-OEM

Hi community! My iphone 13 mini screen is unresponsive and I'd like to try replacing with a used OEM screen myself (I have successfully done a screen replacement on an older model). I'm getting a semi-working (touch works but there are a few lines on the display) OEM screen from eBay. This replacement screen looks like it's from an unlocked phone but Ir ealize that in the grey world of used parts, it may not be.

A few questions:

If screen is OEM and unlocked, can I do a straight swap and get the ability to use the screen again?
If screen is OEM and locked, what risks do I face?
If screen is non-OEM, what risks do I face?

I'm particularly interested in understanding if there's a risk of data loss with any of these scenarios.

Thanks!

Note: iOS 18. Also, I've opened up the phone and checked the connections. I suspect there's a digitizer/touch chip issue and would like to confirm/rule out before taking to reputable third party repair shop.

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score 2 · Answer 1 · 2025-09-20T18:43:36-07:00

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SMASHED IT @smashedit

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SMASHED IT, Auckland

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Hi there,
1. Yes, you should be able to just plug the new screen in and use it straight away. You’ll get an “Unverified part” message from iOS, but that’s about it.
Don’t forget to transfer the front flex from your original screen, or the screen might be very dim when you first use it.

2. Even if the screen is coming from a bricked phone, it should be functional. If you’re asking about the legal repercussions, this will depend on where you’re located. Of course, we’d recommend getting a brand new screen from a reputable place.

3. This will depend on the quality of the part, battery draining fast, and touch problems could be issues on lower-quality screens.

Your data shouldn’t be affected by a screen replacement, regardless of the quality or origin of the screen. That is, of course, unless something goes horribly wrong during the repair.

Follow the steps and take your time.

iPhone 13 mini Screen Replacement

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Thanks a lot, appreciate your guidance and expertise!

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score 2 · Answer 2 · 2025-09-20T18:48:01-07:00

I've been trying to keep up on Apple's anti-repair agenda, and here's the current state of my understanding.

Any genuine Apple screen, new or used, can be used as long as the phone it's from hasn't been reported lost or stolen. The state of any iCloud lock doesn't come into it.

Once the screen is installed, run the Repair Assistant to pair the screen to the phone, which will restore all functionality, including auto brightness and True Tone.

For an aftermarket screen, data must be transferred from the original screen (or downloaded from the phone) to the replacement in order to restore True Tone; I'm not sure about auto brightness. You will, however, get a pop-up message to the effect that the display cannot be determined to be a genuine Apple display; that'll bug you for a week or so, after which you'll stop getting it but you will have a similar message under Settings/Display and a permanent badge on the Settings icon.

There's really not a lot of testing you can do with an iPhone screen; frankly any kind of touch screen issue is pretty much always resolved by a screen replacement; any other fault is extremely rare.

In no case should you lose any data, unless you want to try a factory restore just to rule out the slight possibility of a software issue before replacing the screen.

iPhone 13 Mini

Screen replacement questions: OEM vs OEM locked vs non-OEM

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