How to Tell If Your Phone Screen Is Original or Has Been Replaced

Bought a second-hand phone? Had a repair done at another shop and wondering what screen they put in? Or just curious whether your current screen is the original one that came with the phone? There are several ways to check — and some are more reliable than others.

Here's a practical guide for both iPhone and Samsung.

Checking on an iPhone

Apple has built-in checks that make this relatively straightforward on newer models.

Settings check (iPhone 12 and newer)

Go to Settings → General → About and scroll down. If the screen has been replaced with a non-genuine Apple part, you'll see a message that says "Important Display Message" or "Unknown Part." If you see nothing about the display, either the screen is genuine or your iPhone is older than the 12 series.

On iPhone 15 and newer, Apple expanded this — it now also flags whether the screen was replaced by an Apple authorised service provider or a third party.

True Tone

True Tone is Apple's technology that adjusts the white balance of the screen based on ambient lighting. Go to Settings → Display & Brightness and check if the True Tone toggle is present. If True Tone is missing entirely on a model that should have it (iPhone 8 and newer), the screen is almost certainly a non-genuine replacement. Some high-quality aftermarket screens restore True Tone functionality; cheaper ones don't.

ProMotion (120Hz)

If you have an iPhone 13 Pro, 14 Pro, 15 Pro, or newer and your scrolling doesn't feel as smooth as it should, check Settings → Accessibility → Motion → Prefer Cross-Fade Transitions is off, then test how smooth scrolling feels. A genuine or high-quality Soft OLED screen will feel noticeably smoother than a budget aftermarket replacement.

Checking on a Samsung

Samsung doesn't have the same built-in warning system as Apple, so you have to rely more on visual and physical checks.

Colour and brightness

Samsung OLED displays are known for deep blacks, vivid colours, and high brightness. Go to Settings → Display → Screen mode and set it to Vivid. If the colours look dull, washed out, or the blacks look grey rather than true black, you're likely looking at a budget LCD aftermarket replacement rather than the original OLED.

Always On Display

On Samsung models that support Always On Display (most Galaxy S and A series from the last few years), check if the feature works properly in Settings → Lock screen → Always On Display. Some cheaper aftermarket screens don't support AOD correctly.

Refresh rate

Higher-end Samsung Galaxy phones support 120Hz refresh rates. Go to Settings → Display → Motion smoothness. If the option to set 120Hz is missing on a phone that should have it, or if scrolling feels choppy despite being set to the highest rate, the screen may have been swapped for a lower-grade replacement.

Visual and Physical Checks (Both Brands)

Regardless of the phone brand, these physical checks can reveal a lot:

Look at the edges

A properly fitted original or quality replacement screen will sit perfectly flush with the frame — no gaps, no raised edges, no uneven lines. If you can feel a ridge where the screen meets the frame, or see a thin gap around the edges, the screen has been replaced and may not have been fitted correctly.

Check for adhesive residue

Look closely around the perimeter of the screen, especially at the corners. Old adhesive marks, uneven lines, or slight discolouration around the edge can indicate the screen has been removed and refitted.

Test the touch sensitivity

A genuine or premium aftermarket screen responds instantly and uniformly across the entire display. Run your finger slowly across different areas — particularly the corners and edges. If touch feels less responsive in certain areas, or there's a slight delay, the replacement screen is likely a lower-grade unit.

Look at the colours in person

Open a photo you know well — ideally one with a mix of colours including white and black. A quality screen will show whites as neutral and bright, and blacks as deep and rich (on OLED). A budget replacement often shows a slightly yellow or blue tint to whites, and blacks that look more like dark grey.

Brightness at maximum

Crank the brightness to full and take it outside or hold it under a bright light. Original and quality screens maintain good readability in sunlight. Budget aftermarket screens often look much dimmer by comparison.

Does It Matter If the Screen Has Been Replaced?

Not necessarily — it depends entirely on the quality of the replacement. A premium aftermarket screen (Soft OLED for iPhones, or a quality OLED for Samsung) fitted correctly is barely distinguishable from the original in everyday use. A cheap budget LCD replacement is a noticeable downgrade.

If you've bought a second-hand phone and the screen turns out to be a poor quality replacement, it's worth getting it properly replaced. The difference in daily usability is significant.

What We Fit at Voltrex

When we replace a screen at our Clapham Junction counter, we're always upfront about what grade of screen we're fitting. For iPhones we offer budget aftermarket, Full HD aftermarket, Soft OLED (as close to original as possible), and genuine Apple screens on request. For Samsung we offer budget aftermarket, OLED aftermarket, and genuine service pack screens.

We never fit a screen without telling you what it is first — and we never fit budget screens without making that clear upfront.