Soft OLED vs InCell: Which iPhone Replacement Screen Should You Use?

When an iPhone comes in with a dead screen, the replacement you choose shapes the repair: what it costs, how it looks, and whether the customer comes back happy. The two most common aftermarket options are Soft OLED and InCell LCD. Here is how they differ and when to use each.

The short version

InCell LCD Soft OLED
Cost Lowest Higher
Blacks and contrast Backlit, so blacks look grey True blacks, like the original OLED
Refresh rate on Pro models Typically 60Hz 120Hz options available
Battery use Higher — backlight is always on Closer to original
Thickness Slightly thicker Thin and flexible, like the original
Best for Budget jobs, older phones, resale units Customers who want it to look like new

What InCell LCD is

An InCell screen is an LCD with the touch sensor built into the display layer itself, rather than as a separate layer on top. That keeps it thin enough to fit OLED iPhones, and keeps the cost down.

Because it is an LCD, it needs a backlight. The backlight glows behind every pixel, so black areas show as a dark grey rather than true black, and contrast is lower than OLED. It also draws more power, so a customer who lives in dark mode may notice their battery drains a little faster than before.

What Soft OLED is

OLED pixels make their own light, so a black pixel is simply switched off. That gives true blacks, high contrast and lower power use on dark content — the same way the original iPhone OLED screens work.

"Soft" refers to the flexible substrate the panel is built on, the same type of construction Apple uses. It makes the screen thinner and lets it fold at the bottom edge the way the original does, so the fit and bezels look much closer to factory. On Pro models, look for Soft OLED screens rated at 120Hz to keep the smooth scrolling customers are used to.

You will also see Hard OLED screens, built on a rigid substrate. They sit between InCell and Soft OLED on price and are a little thicker than Soft OLED.

The detail customers actually notice

  • Refresh rate. iPhone 13 Pro and later Pro models run up to 120Hz. Drop to a 60Hz screen and scrolling feels noticeably less smooth to someone who has used the phone for a while.
  • Dark mode and night use. Grey blacks are most obvious in a dark room.
  • Battery. A small but real difference, especially for heavy users.
  • Side-by-side with a friend's phone. Colour and contrast differences stand out most when compared directly.

Things that apply to any replacement screen

Whichever type you fit, a few points are the same:

  • The display message. On iPhone 11 and later, fitting a non-genuine screen brings up a message in Settings saying the display could not be verified as genuine. Set that expectation with the customer before the job, not after.
  • True Tone. Transfer the True Tone data from the original screen with a screen programmer before the old screen goes in the bin.
  • Test before you close up. Check touch across every edge, brightness, and Face ID before sealing the phone.

A special case: iPhone 11 and XR

The iPhone 11 and XR shipped with LCD screens, not OLED. On these models an InCell LCD is the same basic display type as the original, so the gap in blacks and contrast is much smaller than on an OLED model. That is why InCell is such a common choice for iPhone 11 repairs.

Which one should you fit?

Choose InCell when

  • The customer wants the lowest-cost repair
  • It is an iPhone 11 or XR
  • It is an older phone, a kid's phone or a backup
  • You are repairing a trade-in for resale

Choose Soft OLED when

  • The customer wants it to look like the original
  • It is a Pro model and they will miss 120Hz
  • They use dark mode or the phone at night a lot
  • It is their main phone and they plan to keep it

A simple habit that saves disputes later: when you quote, give the customer both options and a price for each. Most people are happy to pay for Soft OLED once they understand the difference — and the ones who choose InCell know exactly what they are getting.

Is only the glass broken?

If the display underneath still works, you may not need a new screen at all. Read our guide to glass-only refurbishing vs full screen replacement.

Stocked in Brisbane

We carry InCell and Soft OLED screens across the iPhone range, from iPhone 11 through iPhone 17 Pro Max. Browse iPhone parts.

Order before 5pm on a weekday for same-day pickup at our Coopers Plains trade counter — about 15 minutes from the Brisbane CBD and easy to reach from Sunnybank, Logan, Ipswich and the Gold Coast.

Questions about which screen suits a job? Call 04 7888 7212 or email smartstation.au@gmail.com.

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