What Incell means on the iPhone XS Max
Your iPhone XS Max shipped with a 6.5-inch Super Retina HD display, which is OLED. Incell is LCD. That is the trade that makes it cheaper, and it is worth being clear about what it means before you order:
- Blacks show as a very dark grey rather than true black, because an LCD lights the whole panel from behind.
- The black border around the picture is a little wider than on the original, most noticeably at the rounded corners.
- Everything you use day to day works as normal: touch, 3D Touch, True Tone and Face ID.
Incell is the screen grade we stock for the iPhone XS Max.
iPhone XS Max Incell replacement screen overview
This iPhone XS Max Incell replacement screen is a complete front display assembly for the iPhone XS Max, fitting models A1921, A2101, A2102, A2103 and A2104. It replaces a cracked, blacked-out or unresponsive screen.
Released in 2018 as the first Max, putting a 6.5-inch panel into the X-generation design.
Important information
- This is an aftermarket replacement display, not an Apple original part.
- GA Tech NZ is not affiliated with, authorised by, or endorsed by Apple Inc.
- Apple, iPhone, Super Retina HD, True Tone, Face ID and 3D Touch are trademarks of Apple Inc., used here only to identify the device this part fits.
Which faults this screen fixes
- Cracked or shattered glass, whether or not touch still responds
- A black screen on a phone that still rings, vibrates or charges
- Dead zones, ghost touch, or touch landing in the wrong place
- Vertical lines, dead pixels or blotches in the picture
- Glass lifting away from the frame
Rule out first: a phone showing no sign of life at all is more likely a battery or logic board fault than a display one, and glass that lifts without a drop usually means a swollen battery pushing it out.
iPhone XS Max Incell replacement screen specifications
| Specification | Detail |
|---|
| Product type | Replacement front display assembly |
| Grade | Incell |
| Display technology | LCD, with the touch layer built into the display cell |
| Original display | 6.5-inch Super Retina HD (OLED) |
| Compatible model | iPhone XS Max (A1921, A2101, A2102, A2103, A2104) |
| Display size | 6.5-inch |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz, the same as the original panel |
| Touch | 3D Touch retained |
| True Tone | Retained via True Tone write-in |
| Face ID | Works as normal once the sensor assembly is transferred |
| Transfers from your old screen | Front camera, earpiece and sensor assembly |
| Display adhesive | Not included, sold separately |
| Warranty | 12 months against manufacturing defects |
| Dispatch | Same day on weekday orders before 2pm, NZ stock |
Will my iPhone report an unknown part?
No. The iPhone XS Max does not check whether its display is genuine. Apple added display tracking to Parts and Service History with the iPhone 11, so on this model there is no Unknown part message to trigger, whichever screen is fitted.
Compatible iPhone XS Max model numbers
This screen fits A1921, A2101, A2102, A2103 and A2104. They are the same phone sold in different regions, sharing identical panel dimensions, so one screen covers all of them.
It does not fit the iPhone X, XS or XR. It is the only 6.5-inch phone of its generation, so nothing else in the range substitutes. Check your model number in Settings > General > About before ordering.
How to fit the iPhone XS Max Incell replacement screen
For reference if you are doing it yourself. Work on a clean bench with proper tools, and take your time on steps three and four.
- Prepare the workspace. A clean, dust-free surface, a precision screwdriver set, plastic picks and a suction cup.
- Open the phone. Warm the edges of the display to soften the adhesive, then lift with suction and work picks around the perimeter. Disconnect the battery before anything else.
- Transfer the sensor assembly. Move the front camera, earpiece and sensor bracket from the broken screen to this one without straining the flex cables.
- Protect the earpiece flex. It carries sensors that Face ID depends on, and damaging it is the most common way a screen repair on these phones goes wrong.
- Write in True Tone. Copy the True Tone data from your original screen to the new panel with a programmer.
- Reassemble and test. Connect the display, check touch, 3D Touch, True Tone and Face ID, then apply fresh adhesive and close the phone.
A panel this size needs heat spread right around the edge, or the glass flexes before the adhesive lets go.
We recommend having it fitted unless you have done this model before. In-house iPhone XS Max screen replacement is available if you would rather hand it over, and we stock the iPhone accessories you will want afterwards.
What is in the box
- 1 x iPhone XS Max Incell replacement screen, front display assembly
Tools, display adhesive, the front camera, the earpiece and the sensors are not supplied. Those transfer from your existing screen.
Warranty and returns
Supplied with a 12-month warranty against manufacturing defects in the panel. It does not cover physical damage after delivery, damage caused during fitting or while transferring parts, water damage, or wear from repeated removal.
Change-of-mind returns are accepted on unopened parts in new, unused condition within 7 days of delivery, in line with our terms and conditions.
Frequently asked questions
Is an Incell screen as good as the original?
It works just as well, but it does not look identical. The iPhone XS Max shipped with OLED and Incell is LCD, so blacks are a dark grey rather than true black and the border around the picture is slightly wider. Touch, 3D Touch, True Tone and Face ID all work normally.
Will my iPhone show an Unknown part message?
No. iOS only began checking displays with the iPhone 11, so the iPhone XS Max has no such message to show.
Will True Tone still work?
Yes. True Tone is copied from your original screen to the new one with a programmer during the repair.
Will Face ID still work?
Yes. Face ID depends on the front sensor assembly, which is attached to your original display and paired to your phone rather than to the screen. Transfer it undamaged and Face ID carries on working.
Does 3D Touch still work?
Yes. 3D Touch, pressing harder on the screen to open extra options, works on this screen just as it did on the original.
Will this screen fit my iPhone XS Max?
If your model number is A1921, A2101, A2102, A2103 or A2104, yes. Check it in Settings, then General, then About.
Do I need anything else to complete the repair?
Display adhesive for this model, which is not included, plus a programmer if you want True Tone written across. Tools if you do not already have them.
What warranty comes with it?
12 months against manufacturing defects, plus change-of-mind returns on unopened parts within 7 days. Fitting damage, physical damage and water damage are not covered.
Will my iPhone still be water resistant after the screen is replaced?
Not reliably, and that applies to any screen replacement rather than this part in particular. Apple seals the display with factory pressing equipment that a repair bench cannot match, so treat a phone that has been opened as no longer water resistant. Fresh display adhesive holds the screen firmly to the frame, which is what it is there for, but keep the phone away from water afterwards.
Will replacing the screen void my iPhone warranty?
Our 12-month warranty covers this panel against manufacturing defects. It does not cover damage caused while fitting, physical damage after delivery, or water damage. Cover on the phone itself is between you and Apple, since this is not an Apple part, so check with them first if your iPhone is still inside its Apple warranty.
How much do you charge to fit it?
We replace iPhone screens in our Queenstown workshop, and the price for each model is listed on our iPhone repair prices page.
How long does a screen replacement take?
About an hour, generally, when we fit it in our Queenstown workshop. If you are fitting it yourself, allow longer: the component transfer is the fiddly part rather than the panel itself.
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