Does putting a wet phone in rice fix water damage?

No. Multiple independent studies show rice performs no better than open air at removing moisture from a phone. What rice does do is introduce starch dust into the charging port and speaker grilles, potentially creating new problems. Use silica gel packets if available, otherwise air-dry in a ventilated spot with the charging port facing down. Professional ultrasonic cleaning ($49–$99) within 24 hours gives the best recovery rate.

Does getting your phone repaired at a third-party shop void the manufacturer warranty?

Not in Australia. Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), a manufacturer cannot void your warranty simply because you had the product repaired by a third party. Apple and Samsung may claim otherwise, but this position is not legally enforceable in Australia. However, if a third-party repair causes a specific fault, the manufacturer is not responsible for that fault — only for unrelated issues covered by the original warranty.

Are aftermarket phone screens bad?

Not all aftermarket screens are equal. There are three tiers: budget screens ($89–$199, dim, poor touch, no True Tone/fingerprint support), quality aftermarket ('hard OLED', $199–$449, good brightness, decent touch, may support True Tone), and genuine/OEM refurbished ($349–$619, original manufacturer quality). A quality aftermarket screen is perfectly fine for most users. A budget screen is noticeably worse. The key is knowing which tier you're getting — ask the shop before they start.

Is my phone waterproof if it has an IP68 rating?

No phone is waterproof — they are water-resistant. IP68 means the phone survived a lab test in clean, still, room-temperature fresh water at a specific depth (typically 1.5m) for a limited time (30 minutes). This does not cover saltwater, pool water, soapy water, or drops from height into water. IP68 protection also degrades over time as seals wear. Neither Apple nor Samsung covers water damage under warranty, even on IP68-rated phones.

Do you need to replace the entire screen if only the glass is cracked?

On modern phones, yes. The glass, digitiser (touch layer), and display panel (LCD or OLED) are fused together as a single bonded assembly. You cannot replace just the outer glass without specialist equipment (glass-only or 'refurbishing' machines). Some very specialised shops offer glass-only repair at lower cost, but the failure rate is higher and the result may not match original quality. Standard screen replacement means replacing the entire bonded assembly.

Will a screen protector prevent screen cracks?

Tempered glass screen protectors absorb impact energy and can prevent cracks from minor drops — they work well for face-down drops onto flat surfaces. However, they cannot prevent cracks from edge or corner impacts (the most common drop type), which concentrate force on a small area and transmit it directly to the phone's glass. A good case with raised edges protects against more drop scenarios than a screen protector alone. The best protection is both: case with raised edges plus tempered glass protector.

10 phone repair myths debunked — what's actually true

Myth 1: "Put your wet phone in rice"

FALSE. Rice does not absorb moisture from inside a phone. Multiple studies confirm rice performs no better than open air. What it does do is push starch dust into your charging port and speakers. Use silica gel if you have it, otherwise air-dry with port facing down. Better yet, get it to a repair shop for ultrasonic cleaning within 24 hours — $49–$99 and the highest recovery rate. Full water damage guide →

Myth 2: "Third-party repair voids your warranty"

FALSE in Australia. Under the Australian Consumer Law, a manufacturer cannot void your warranty simply because a third party repaired the product. Apple and Samsung may state otherwise in their terms, but this is not legally enforceable here. The ACCC has been clear on this. The caveat: if a third-party repair causes a specific fault, the manufacturer isn't responsible for that fault — but they can't refuse warranty on unrelated components. Full consumer rights guide →

Myth 3: "Aftermarket screens are all bad"

PARTIALLY TRUE. Budget aftermarket screens ($89–$199) are noticeably worse — dimmer, less responsive, missing True Tone and fingerprint support. But quality aftermarket screens ("hard OLED", $199–$449) are genuinely good — 80–90% of original brightness, working touch, and often True Tone compatible. The problem isn't aftermarket parts — it's not knowing which tier you're getting. Always ask your shop what grade they'll use. Full screen quality tiers guide →

Myth 4: "Your phone is waterproof if it says IP68"

FALSE. IP68 means water-resistant, not waterproof. It was tested in clean, still, room-temperature fresh water at a specific depth for 30 minutes. Not salt water, not pool water, not a 2-metre drop into a toilet. And the seals degrade over time — a 2-year-old phone has significantly less water resistance than a new one. Neither Apple nor Samsung covers water damage under warranty, even on IP68 phones. Full water resistance explanation →

Myth 5: "You can just replace the glass, not the whole screen"

FALSE for standard repair. On all modern phones, the glass, digitiser, and display panel are fused as one bonded assembly. A standard repair replaces the entire unit. Some specialist "refurbishing" shops can do glass-only replacement using a separation machine, but the failure rate is higher and most regular shops don't offer it. For a standard screen replacement, expect the full assembly. Cracked screen decision guide →

Myth 6: "Phone repair shops swap your parts for cheaper ones"

RARE but possible. The vast majority of repair shops are honest. But parts-swapping does happen at dodgy shops — they take your genuine battery and replace it with a cheaper one, or swap internal components during the repair. How to protect yourself: photograph your phone before handing it over, and check that battery health reads 100% on a new battery (not 85% from a used one). Choosing a reputable shop with Google reviews eliminates this risk. How to find a good shop →

Myth 7: "Screen protectors prevent all screen cracks"

FALSE. Tempered glass protectors help with face-down drops onto flat surfaces — they absorb the impact and crack instead of your screen. But they do nothing for corner and edge drops, which is how most screens actually break. The force concentrates on a tiny point and transmits directly to the glass underneath. A case with raised edges plus a screen protector is far more effective than a protector alone.

Myth 8: "Battery calibration apps improve battery life"

FALSE. No third-party app can recalibrate or improve your phone's battery. Battery health is a physical property of the lithium-ion cells — it degrades with charge cycles and time, and no software can reverse it. Apps that claim to "calibrate" or "optimise" your battery are either doing nothing or running unnecessary processes that actually drain battery faster. When battery health drops below 80%, replace the battery ($69–$169). Battery health guide →

Myth 9: "Closing background apps saves battery"

FALSE. Both iOS and Android manage background apps automatically. Force-closing apps and reopening them actually uses MORE battery than leaving them in the background, because relaunching requires more CPU and RAM activity than resuming a suspended app. The real battery drains are screen brightness, poor cellular signal, and genuinely rogue apps that run in the background without permission. Battery drain troubleshooting →

Myth 10: "It's always cheaper to go to an independent shop than Apple/Samsung"

NOT ALWAYS. Independent shops are usually cheaper for screen and charging port repairs. But Apple beats independents on back glass ($119 via laser removal vs $199–$349 at indies). Apple and Samsung are competitive on battery replacement ($109–$129 vs $69–$149 at indies). And for under-warranty repairs, manufacturer service is free — you can't beat that. The smart approach: compare prices for your specific repair. iPhone vs Samsung cost comparison →

The one truth that isn't a myth

Phone repair is almost always cheaper than buying a new phone. A $249 screen repair on a phone worth $800 is a $551 saving compared to replacement. A $89 battery swap extends the life of your phone by 2 years. The repair industry exists because the maths genuinely works in your favour — and that's the one thing nobody needs to debunk.

For pricing on your specific model: Repair calculator | All 75+ models | Find a local shop

10 phone repair myths — debunked.