Every year, over 20 million smartphones are replaced in Germany — many of them due to defects that could be repaired for little money. Instead of putting the broken device in a drawer or throwing it away, it's worth looking at the actual repair costs. Here are the 5 most common smartphone defects and what you can expect to pay for repairs.
1. Display Damage — The Classic
Cracked displays are by far the most common smartphone defect. According to repair statistics, display damage accounts for over 50% of all repair requests.
Typical scenarios: Drop on asphalt, sitting on the phone in your pocket, falling off a table.
Repair costs:
- iPhone: €30–120 (part) / €150–400 (Apple Store)
- Samsung Galaxy: €25–90 (part) / €100–300 (Samsung Service)
- Pixel / others: €20–70 (part)
Difficulty: Easy to medium. For current iPhones and Samsung devices, there are numerous video tutorials. Important: When buying a replacement display, pay attention to quality — cheap displays often have worse colors and touch response.
2. Battery Defect — The Gradual Wear
Every smartphone battery loses capacity over time. After 500–800 charge cycles (about 2 years), capacity is often below 80%. The result: the smartphone barely lasts half a day or shuts down unexpectedly in cold weather.
Repair costs:
- iPhone: €15–40 (part) / €90–130 (Apple Store)
- Samsung Galaxy: €12–30 (part) / €50–80 (Samsung Service)
- Pixel / others: €10–25 (part)
Difficulty: Easy. Battery replacement is one of the simplest smartphone repairs and takes 20–30 minutes.
Tip: Many smartphones with "battery defect" are sold cheaply — even though the replacement only costs €15. These are the best bargains on ampario.
3. Water Damage — The Panic Repair
Smartphone dropped in the toilet, washed in the washing machine, or left in the rain — water damage is common and feared. But not every water damage is a death sentence.
First aid for water damage:
- Turn off immediately (don't check if it still works first!)
- Remove SIM card
- Don't use a hairdryer — heat causes more harm than good
- Put in rice? Better: silica gel packets or simply let it air dry for 48h
- Professionals clean the board with isopropyl alcohol (99%)
Repair costs: €30–80 for professional ultrasonic cleaning. Corrosion damage on the mainboard can be more expensive (€100–200). If only individual components are affected (speaker, microphone), parts cost €5–15 each.
Difficulty: Medium to hard. Professional cleaning recommended.
4. Charging Port — When Nothing Charges
Smartphone won't charge, or only when you hold the cable at a certain angle? In many cases, the charging port is simply dirty — lint from your pocket collects in the connector and prevents contact.
Solution 1 (free): Carefully clean the port with a toothpick or antistatic brush. This solves the problem in 50% of cases.
Solution 2 (part): If the port is actually defective, a replacement part costs €8–25. The repair takes 15–20 minutes.
Difficulty: Easy. One of the most rewarding repairs — quick to do, big impact.
5. Camera Module — When Photos Get Blurry
Blurry photos, black screen in the camera app, or visible spots on images — camera defects are annoying but repairable. Common causes: drop (lens scratched or module loosened), moisture, or software bugs.
Before you repair: Check if a software update or cache clear solves the problem. Sometimes a restart in safe mode helps too.
Repair costs:
- iPhone main camera: €20–60 (part)
- Samsung Galaxy camera: €15–50 (part)
- Front camera (all models): €8–20 (part)
Difficulty: Medium. Requires careful work as camera modules are delicate.
Repair Yourself or Have It Done?
The answer depends on three factors:
- Your skill level: Display and battery replacement are manageable for beginners. Leave mainboard repairs to professionals.
- Tools: A good repair kit costs €15–25 and is sufficient for many repairs. You can find used tools on ampario too.
- Time vs. money: Self-repair saves 50–70% compared to professional repair services. But: a botched repair can make the damage worse.
Our recommendation: Start with simple repairs (battery, charging port) and work your way up to harder ones. YouTube has detailed repair tutorials for almost every smartphone model.
Conclusion: Repair Is Almost Always Worth It
Most of the top 5 defects cost under €50 as self-repair — a fraction of the new price. Anyone who buys a defective smartphone cheaply and repairs it themselves saves money and gives electronics a second life. On ampario you'll find defective smartphones with detailed defect descriptions — perfect for your next repair project.