When you buy a replacement screen, you'll see terms like INCELL, OLED, and OEM — and prices that vary wildly for the "same" model. Choosing the right tier is the single most important decision in a DIY screen repair.
INCELL LCD — the budget tier
A modern LCD with the touch layer fused in. Bright, responsive, most affordable. Best for iPhone 7–11 and older/budget models. Trade-offs: blacks are dark grey, lower contrast than OLED. Important: does not support the in-display fingerprint sensor on Samsung S-series.
Soft OLED — the best-value tier ⭐
A brand-new third-party OLED. The sweet spot most customers choose. Strengths: vivid colours, true blacks, smooth touch, supports Samsung fingerprint. Trade-off: some iPhone soft-OLED panels are slightly dimmer at max brightness than genuine Apple.
Refurbished OEM — original, reconditioned
A genuine original panel with new outer glass bonded on. Strengths: original calibration, preserves True Tone. Trade-off: availability varies by model.
OEM Service Pack — premium original
Brand-new, factory-sealed original screen — identical to the factory part. Strengths: perfect colour, brightness and full biometric compatibility. Trade-off: most expensive.
Which should you choose?
- Older iPhone, tight budget: INCELL.
- Most people, most models: Soft OLED.
- You want genuine colour/True Tone: Refurbished OEM.
- New flagship, no compromises: OEM Service Pack.
- Any Samsung S-series: never INCELL.
Every SelfRepairKit listing lets you pick your tier at checkout. Find your model: iPhone, Samsung, OPPO, Google Pixel.