The difference between an incell LCD and an OLED iPhone screen comes down to how the picture is made. An incell LCD needs a backlight that stays on behind the whole panel, so blacks look dark grey, contrast is lower and battery drain is slightly higher. An OLED screen lights each pixel individually, giving true blacks, richer colour and better battery life, and it is the technology every flagship iPhone from the X to the 17 Pro Max shipped with from the factory. That is why screen repair quotes come in different price grades: a Value incell LCD is the budget fix, a Premium soft OLED restores the original look and feel, and a Genuine Apple display is a factory-perfect match. Here is exactly how they differ, model by model, and which one is worth your money.
In this article
- What is an incell LCD screen?
- What is an OLED screen, and what is soft OLED?
- Which iPhones came with OLED from the factory?
- How do the three screen repair grades compare?
- What about 120Hz ProMotion iPhones?
- Frequently asked questions
What is an incell LCD screen?
"Incell" describes how the screen is built, not a brand. In an incell display, the touch sensor is manufactured directly inside the LCD cell instead of sitting as a separate layer on top. That makes the assembly thinner and much cheaper to produce, which is why incell LCD is the entry grade for iPhone screen replacements.
The catch is that it is still an LCD. It needs a constant backlight behind the panel, so it can never show a true black: the backlight is always glowing, even behind dark pixels. You get lower contrast, slightly washed-out colour next to an OLED, and a little more battery drain. On the plus side, LCD panels tend to shrug off drops better than glass-based OLED panels, and the price is hard to argue with.
Backlight glows behind everything, so blacks look grey
Each pixel makes its own light, so black pixels are simply off
What is an OLED screen, and what is soft OLED?
On an OLED display every pixel emits its own light. Black pixels are switched off completely, which is why OLED gives true blacks, effectively infinite contrast and lower power use on dark content. Apple has used OLED on every flagship iPhone since the X (branded Super Retina and Super Retina XDR).
Replacement OLED panels come in two builds. Hard OLED sits on a rigid glass substrate: the picture is close to original, but the panel is brittle and the bezel ends up slightly thicker. Soft OLED uses a flexible substrate, the same approach as Apple's own panels, so it matches the original fit, bezel and shock absorption most closely. Soft OLED is the grade we fit as Premium OLED on our repairs, because under a lifetime screen warranty a brittle panel is a false economy.
Which iPhones came with OLED from the factory?
Almost all of them. Only the XR, the iPhone 11 and the SE models shipped with LCD. That matters, because on those three an incell LCD replacement is a like-for-like repair, while on everything else it is a downgrade from what came out of the box.
| Model | Original panel | Refresh rate |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone X, XS, XS Max | OLED | 60Hz |
| iPhone XR, iPhone 11 | LCD (Liquid Retina) | 60Hz |
| iPhone 11 Pro / Pro Max, 12 series, 13 / 13 mini, 14 / 14 Plus | OLED | 60Hz |
| iPhone 13 Pro / Pro Max, 14 Pro / Pro Max | OLED (LTPO) | ProMotion 120Hz |
| iPhone 15 / 15 Plus, 16 / 16 Plus, 16e | OLED | 60Hz |
| iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max, 16 Pro / Pro Max | OLED (LTPO) | ProMotion 120Hz |
| iPhone 17, 17 Air, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max | OLED (LTPO) | ProMotion 120Hz, all models |
How do the three screen repair grades compare?
There is not just one kind of replacement screen, which is why two quotes for the same phone can be $100 apart. Here is the honest menu we use for our own on-site screen repairs, and how the grades stack up:
| Value (incell LCD) | Premium OLED (soft OLED) | Genuine Apple | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blacks and contrast | Grey blacks, lower contrast | True blacks | True blacks, factory calibrated |
| Battery impact | Slightly higher drain | Like original | Original |
| Fit and bezel | Slightly thicker | Matches original | Original |
| Best for | XR and 11, older phones, trade-ins | Most OLED iPhones (X to 16) | Newer phones you plan to keep |
| Relative cost | $ | $$ | $$$ |
Three quick rules of thumb. If you have an XR or 11, the Value grade is the same technology your phone shipped with, so take the savings. If you have any OLED iPhone you plan to keep for a year or more, Premium soft OLED is the sweet spot: original look and feel at well under genuine pricing. And if you have a newer Pro model, genuine is worth a serious look.
Choose Value, Premium OLED or Genuine Apple. Every repair includes a lifetime screen warranty and a free $29.95 tempered glass protector.
What about 120Hz ProMotion iPhones?
From the 13 Pro onward, Pro models refresh at up to 120Hz (ProMotion), and with the iPhone 17 lineup every model has it. This is where screen grade matters most. Many basic aftermarket panels run at 60Hz, which is an immediately noticeable step down in smoothness on a phone that shipped with 120Hz, and Always-On display may not survive the swap either. 120Hz replacement panels do exist for these models; if you own a ProMotion iPhone, ask any repairer, including us, which refresh rate the quoted panel actually runs at before you book.
Two more things to expect with any non-genuine screen, at any shop. Your iPhone will show an "Unknown Part" notice in Settings, and True Tone can be lost unless the original screen's chip data is transferred across during the repair. Neither affects how we warranty the screen, but you should hear it before the repair, not after. For a sense of total repair costs across grades and models, see our guide to phone screen repair costs in Australia.
Frequently asked questions
Is an incell LCD screen bad?
No, it is just a different tier. A quality incell panel has good colour and touch response, and on the XR and iPhone 11 it is the same technology the phone shipped with. On phones that came with OLED it is a visible downgrade, mainly in blacks, contrast and battery life, which is why it is priced as the budget option.
Will my iPhone say "Unknown Part" after a screen replacement?
With any non-genuine display, yes: iOS shows an "Unknown Part" notice under Settings, General, About. It is informational, the phone keeps working normally, and it appears regardless of which repairer does the work. Genuine Apple displays fitted with correct pairing avoid it.
Will I lose True Tone with an aftermarket screen?
You can, because Apple calibrates every panel individually. A good repairer transfers the original screen's chip data across during the repair to keep True Tone working. It is worth asking about before you book, at any shop.
Is OLED worth the extra cost over incell LCD?
If your iPhone came with OLED and you are keeping the phone, usually yes. You get back the true blacks, colour and battery behaviour you paid for originally, and soft OLED typically costs far less than a genuine panel. If the phone is older or about to be traded in, a Value incell LCD is the rational choice.
Does a screen replacement affect battery life?
It can. An LCD replacement on an OLED phone draws more power because the backlight is always on, and poorly made panels can also fail to sleep properly. A quality soft OLED or genuine panel keeps battery behaviour essentially at original levels.
One last tip: whichever grade you choose, protect it. A tempered glass protector takes the everyday scratches and pocket grit so the new panel does not have to, and it is far cheaper to replace than any screen.
Case plus tempered glass protection to keep your fresh screen looking brand new.
Cracked screen? We come to you
On-site iPhone screen repairs across Melbourne's eastern suburbs. Pick your grade, get an instant price, and most repairs are done in 30 to 60 minutes at your home or workplace.
Book your screen repair →Lifetime screen warranty and a free tempered glass protector with every screen repair. Call or text 0474 188 802.