Cracked glass: why the model matters
Look at the edge of your iPad's screen with the display off. On some models there's a visible gap between the glass and the picture underneath; on others the picture looks like it's printed on the glass.
| iPad type | How the screen is built | What a cracked front means |
|---|---|---|
| Standard iPad (the base model) | The touch glass (the digitiser) is separate from the display underneath | Often only the glass needs replacing, if the picture underneath is undamaged |
| iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad Pro | Glass and display are laminated into one piece | The whole screen assembly is replaced |
Either way, check the picture: if there are lines, black patches or bleeding colour under the crack, the display is damaged too and will need replacing whatever the model.
Is it safe to keep using a cracked iPad?
Children's iPads take most of the knocks, and that's where a cracked screen matters most:
- Splinters. Cracked glass sheds tiny shards, especially at the corners. Cover the crack with clear packing tape or a screen protector until it's fixed, particularly if a child uses it.
- Touch problems. Cracks often stop touch working in patches, or cause "ghost" taps.
- It spreads. iPads flex more than phones, so cracks grow quickly.
The battery
iPad batteries last longer than phone batteries because they're bigger and charged less often, but they still wear. The signs:
- it no longer lasts a school day or a flight;
- it drops quickly below 20%, or switches off with charge left;
- it takes far longer to charge than it used to;
- the screen is lifting from the case at one edge — that's a swollen battery. Stop charging it and get it checked straight away.
Recent iPads and iPadOS versions show battery health in Settings → Battery on some models; if yours doesn't, the signs above are the best guide.
The charging port
iPads live in school bags and on couches, and their ports fill with lint just like phones. If the cable needs wiggling, only works at an angle, or doesn't click in firmly:
- Try another cable and charger, plugged into the wall.
- Shine a torch into the port and look for lint packed at the bottom.
- Don't dig with metal. A repair shop can clean it safely, and if the port is worn or damaged, it can be replaced.
Newer iPads use USB-C, older ones Lightning. Both wear the same way.
Is an older iPad worth fixing?
Ask three questions:
- Does it still get iPadOS updates? Apple lists the iPads each iPadOS version supports. If yours is on the current list, it's worth fixing for most repairs. If it's dropped off, it will still work, but apps and security updates will gradually leave it behind.
- What does it do for you? For reading, streaming, recipes and kids' apps, an older iPad with a new battery or glass works perfectly well.
- How does the repair compare with a replacement? If the repair is well under half the price of an iPad you'd be just as happy with, it's usually worth it.
Protecting it afterwards
- A case with a raised edge (a rugged one for kids) prevents most cracked corners.
- A tempered glass screen protector takes scratches and the first crack.
- Keep it out of a hot car: heat wears batteries and can lift screens.
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