Your phone hit the ground, and there’s now an unsightly crack on the screen. We’ve all been there, so don’t panic yet.
The real question is: is this a situation that requires immediate repair or just something superficial you may safely ignore?
Here’s how to assess the severity of the damage and determine if your cracked screen warrants an urgent fix or can wait.
1. Touchscreen Malfunction
The most annoying problem a cracked screen creates is when it starts messing with your touchscreen. If you notice that parts of your screen are not registering your taps, swipes, orghost touching, that’s a red flag that something is wrong.
Certain areas of your screen might become completely unresponsive, or taps might register in totally random spots.
This touchscreen malfunction indicates the crack has damaged one of the digitizer layers that detects your gestures and finger taps. That’s not good news, as it means the crack is more than skin deep, and the screen will likely continue having issues or failing.
At this point, it’s pretty clear the crack is not just a cosmetic nuisance. You’ll want to look into a replacement screen before things get worse.
2. Glass Shards
When you can physically see glass pieces or splinters poking out, the crack has completely shattered throughthe multiple layers of your phone screen.
At this point, it’s only going to get worse fast. Those glass shards will likely fall out or cut your fingers when swiping.
Don’t even think about using the phone in this condition! Get that cracked screen replaced as soon as possible before the damage gets worse or causes you harm.
Visible shards are no joke, so take them seriously and deal with them promptly.
3. Distorted Display or Colors
Cracked screens can do a number on your display quality. One day you’re watching videos in perfect HD; the next day, everything looks pixelated and blurred. What gives?
Those visual glitches are signs the crack reached deeper than the surface glass and is interfering with the inner workings. The pixels, backlight, and other components can’t operate smoothly with cracks running through them.
It may start as barely noticeable distortion, but it worsens over time. So, plan to get a new screen before permanent display corruption sets in.
4. Moisture Intrusion
We all know electronics and water don’t mix. So when phone screens crack, moisture getting inside becomes a real worry.
Once the protective glass barrier is broken, there’s an open door for rain, splashes, and humidity to seep in. Even tiny droplets in the wrong spots can create big issues.
Keep an eye out for fogginess or condensation around the cracked area, which shows fluid invasion is already underway. Also, be wary of any muffled or distorted speakers, unresponsive buttons, or glitchy charging–potential signs of water damage.
Moisture, where it shouldn’t be, can corrode connections, fry circuits, and wreak liquid havoc within your phone. Don’t give it a chance! Cracks that let in wetness need quick fixing.
Prevent further seepage as soon as possible by keeping your phone away from all liquids until you can replace the screen.
And if you’ve got moisture in,don’t put the phone in rice; it will only worsen matters. There are better ways you can get the moisture out of it.
5. Decreased Performance and Battery Life
A damaged display puts extra strain on your phone’s processor to keep visuals going. And it takes more juice to power that sluggish chip. It’s a vicious cycle!
The more effort it takes to light up a busted screen, the faster your battery drains. And as your battery weakens, performance takes a nosedive too.
Over time, expect more crashy apps, laggy typing, and dismally short battery life.Your phone might get stuck in a boot loopand stop working.
The cracked screen will keep dragging things down. So, get it fixed as soon as possible!
Prevention Is Better Than a Cure
Minor cosmetic cracks on your smartphone likely don’t need immediate action. But if you notice any wild glitches, overheating, moisture seepage, or shards falling out, it’s time to take action. Don’t let the issue snowball.
Also, stay vigilant with protective cases and keep that phone away from high drops!
