Repairing Galaxy S24 Ultra is cheaper than iPhone 15 Pro Max: Here’s why

The Galaxy S24 Ultra's display is more than 50 per cent cheaper than that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Galaxy S24 Ultra in Titanium Gray finish (Image credit: Vivek Umashankar/The Indian Express)

Although the price of the Galaxy S24 Ultra has gone up by Rs 10,000 from its predecessor, its cost of repair has come down significantly. According to Samsung, it is cheaper to replace a display, back panel, or battery of a Galaxy S24 Ultra when compared to the Galaxy S23 Ultra. And, this also applies to the base Galaxy S24 and the Galaxy S24+.

According to the official listing, the OLED display assembly of the Galaxy S24 Ultra (review) is priced at Rs 11,300, while the same costs Rs 16,610 for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, which makes the display on the Galaxy S24 Ultra at least 30 per cent cheaper than the Galaxy S23 Ultra. In the case of an iPhone, the screen repairs are much more expensive, where the display of the iPhone 15 Pro Max (review) is priced at Rs 37,900, almost more than double that of the Samsung.

Component price analysis of the Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 Ultra (Express Photo)

The display on the Galaxy S24 Ultra is superior to the one on the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Despite being a flat panel screen, it has better protection along with a special anti-reflective coating powered by the Gorilla Armor and a higher peak brightness.

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Also read | Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra: Price in India compared to US, Dubai, Singapore, Vietnam and other regions

The same also applies to the back glass and battery replacement, where these components for the Galaxy S24 Ultra are cheaper than that of the Galaxy S23 Ultra. However, when it comes to the mainboard, the Galaxy S24 Ultra’s components cost a bit more with a starting price of Rs 32,380 for the 256 GB variant, while the same for S23 Ultra is priced at Rs 29,360. Do note that these are just component prices, and when you go for a repair, there will be additional costs such as GST and service fees.

With Samsung announcing seven years of software support for the Galaxy S24 series and the combination of lower component prices, one should be able to continue to use the Galaxy S24 series for years to come, and if something breaks, one should be able to get it rectified at a fraction of phone’s original cost, a step in the right direction even in terms of green initiatives.

Samsung Vs Apple

On the other hand, Apple repairs are reportedly set at Rs 9,800 for all models when it comes to battery replacement, while damage to the back glass ranges between Rs 14,900 to Rs 16,900. The repair of the rear cameras on the iPhone 15 Pro Max may cost around Rs 24,800. However, it needs to be noted that Apple also offers the AppleCare+ plan, which provides two years of service and support coverage for accidental damage. The cost of the plan depends on the specific model.

There are several factors contributing to the higher repair costs of an iPhone compared to a Galaxy. One aspect is Apple’s provision of insurance through Apple Care+, which encourages users to opt for additional services. Furthermore, by maintaining elevated repair costs, Apple can effectively promote supplementary offerings. Additionally, the manufacturing locations differ, with the iPhone Pro series produced outside India, while the Galaxy S24 Ultra is assembled within the country.