iPhone 13 Pro Max Broken Screen & iPhone 11 Pro Max Cracked Screen: My Guide to Picking the Right OLED or LCD

I've broken enough phones in my life to know that the panic hits before the phone even lands. That tiny moment where the screen faces the ground always feels slow-motion, and you already know what's coming. The first time I cracked my iPhone screen, I didn't even want to pick it up. I just stared at it, hoping the cracks somehow weren't real. But they were-and over the years, the same thing happened to my iPhone 13 Pro Max and my iPhone 11 Pro Max.

Those moments taught me a lot about repairs, especially the cost differences, the screen types, and how to avoid getting scammed by low-quality replacements. If you're dealing with an iPhone 13 Pro Max broken screen, an iPhone 11 Pro Max cracked screen, or just searching "I cracked my iPhone screen-what now?", this is the guide I wish I had earlier.

When My iPhone 13 Pro Max Broken Screen Happened?

The most painful one was definitely my iPhone 13 Pro Max broken screen disaster. I had it in my hoodie pocket, forgot it was there, and it slid out onto concrete. The moment I picked it up, I saw the dreaded green vertical line-one of the classic signs that the OLED panel was gone.

With an iPhone 13 Pro Max broken screen, you almost always deal with:

bright green or purple lines

black spots spreading across the display

flickering or ghost touch

Face ID modules at risk if the impact was hard

When I asked for repair prices, the numbers were all over the place. One shop quoted a price that felt reasonable, but the screen looked dull and off-color. Another shop told me the screen was "OEM," but after holding it, I knew it wasn't even close. That's when I learned how important it is to understand screen types, especially for newer models.

By the time I repaired two different iPhone 13 Pro Max broken screen incidents, I could finally tell the difference between real soft OLED, cheap hard OLED, and LCD conversions that some shops secretly try to sell.

The iPhone 11 Pro Max Cracked Screen Reality

Before the 13 Pro Max, I dealt with an iPhone 11 Pro Max cracked screen-twice. Both times, the cracks started small but spread fast. One fall hit the corner perfectly, and the glass shattered like a spiderweb. The second time, the screen stayed mostly intact, but half of the display turned into dark patches.

Getting an iPhone 11 Pro Max cracked screen fixed taught me two things:

1. Not all OLEDs are the same
Shops love to use words like "premium," "AAA," and "high copy." None of these mean anything. What matters is whether the display is soft OLED, hard OLED, or refurbished OEM.

2. Prices vary wildly because quality varies wildly
Some screens look great on day one but fade after a month. Others have touch issues right away, especially on the 11 Pro Max.

If you're repairing an iPhone 11 Pro Max cracked screen, always test the display with:

full white background

brightness slider

outdoor visibility

typing speed

dark mode (cheap OLEDs show color shifting)

Those simple tests saved me from another bad repair.

What I Learned After I Cracked My iPhone Screen Multiple Times?

Over time, I got used to saying the same sentence:
"I cracked my iPhone screen… again."
And it wasn't always dramatic. Some breaks happened from small drops off the bed. Other times, the phone slipped from the car seat while I braked. Each time, the damage was slightly different, but the lesson stayed the same: you don't really understand screen quality until you've compared good and bad screens side by side.

The more I cracked my iPhone screen, the more I realized that repair shops rarely explain the differences unless you ask directly. And if you don't ask, they usually install the cheapest screen they have.

Here's the mindset I developed after repairing my phones too many times:

Don't choose the lowest price first

Don't believe "OEM" unless you know the shop well

Always test brightness before paying

Never ignore ghost touch or slight delays

Don't settle for a dim or washed-out display

Those mistakes cost me time, money, and more cracked screens later on.

Screen Types: What Works for Each Model

Here's what actually works well based on my experience:

iPhone 13 Pro Max broken screen → Soft OLED or refurbished OEM

Hard OLED can break faster on this model. LCD conversions ruin the quality.

iPhone 11 Pro Max cracked screen → Soft OLED or high-end refurb

Hard OLED works but colors look slightly off.

When I cracked my iPhone screen on older models → LCD is fine

Older iPhones were originally LCD, so replacements look close to original.

Why Prices Change So Much?

After repairing so many screens, I finally understood why shops charge differently:

screen type (biggest factor)

repair skill

warranty length

part testing process

whether the shop uses random factory stock or stable suppliers

When you're fixing an iPhone 13 Pro Max broken screen, these differences matter even more because the display tech is expensive and newer.

How I Now Choose a Repair Shop?

I only trust shops that can answer these five questions clearly:

What screen type are you installing?

Can I check brightness first?

Does the touch respond instantly?

How long is the warranty?

Do you have a test device for comparison?

If they hesitate, I walk away.

Final Thoughts: What I Tell Anyone With a Cracked Screen

If you're dealing with an iPhone 13 Pro Max broken screen, an iPhone 11 Pro Max cracked screen, or you're saying "I cracked my iPhone screen-help!", here's the truth:

You don't need the most expensive repair, but you definitely don't want the cheapest one either. Understanding your screen options is the difference between a repair that lasts a week and one that lasts years.

And once you've repaired as many phones as I have…
you stop accepting anything less than proper clarity, brightness, and touch response.