Owning a Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 is often marred by one unpleasant incident: a broken screen. Despite the sturdy glass of Gorilla Glass, this model often suffers critical damage to the matrix or touchscreen when it falls on the pavement. Owners are immediately faced with the dilemma of whether to carry the device to the service, look for parts for self-repair or perhaps buy a new gadget. Understanding the real cost of components and work is necessary to make an informed decision so as not to overpay or get a low-quality part.
The mobile parts market is now oversupplied with three to four times the price. The range of cost depends on the quality of the matrix, the availability of the frame, the brand of the module manufacturer and the region in which you are located. It is important to realize that the display module is the most expensive component of a smartphone after the motherboard, and its replacement is the lion's share of the replacement cost of the device. In this article, we will discuss in detail what the total amount is made up and what to look for when choosing.
The cost of repairs is not a fixed value and depends on a variety of variables, which we will discuss below. You will learn how the original part differs from the quality copy and whether it is worth saving on the touch screen.
Factors affecting the final cost of repairs
The first thing that determines the price is the type of damage. If only the outside glass is cracked, and the image and sensor work perfectly, it is theoretically possible to reglaze the glass. However, for the Redmi Note 7 model, this procedure is practically not carried out in official services due to the high labor intensity and the risk of damage to the matrix. So in 95% of cases it is a complete replacement of the display module assembled, the cost of such a part varies from 1500 to 5000 rubles depending on quality.
The second important factor is the spare part configuration: the module can be sold separately (only screen with or without a frame) or assembled with a battery and a body. Replacing the module without a frame requires repainting the old screen to a new frame, which increases the time of the wizard and, accordingly, the cost of the service. Finished modules in a frame (OEM Copy) are cheaper than the originals, but require careful installation.
The third aspect is the location of the repairs: Official authorized Xiaomi centers use only original components, which ensures that water protection (although it is nominal in the Note 7) and perfect color reproduction. Private workshops and services at home often offer lower prices using restored or analog parts. The difference in the price for a master’s work can be from 500 to 2000 rubles depending on the qualifications of the specialist and the warranty.
Types of display modules: Original, OEM and Refurbished
Understanding screen classification is key to saving without losing quality. The original module is a part made in factories that supply components to Xiaomi assembly lines. These screens have perfect color reproduction, high brightness and a sensitive sensor. They cost the most, but they are completely consistent with the factory specifications of the device.
Category OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer is often confusing.In the context of parts, these are usually quality copies produced by third-party factories. They may have a slightly cooler or warmer shade of white, but are fully functional. 7 There are OEM-copies that are visually almost identical to the original, but stand on the 30-40% It's a middle ground for most users.
And we also have Refurbished modules, which are the original screens that have broken glass, but the entire matrix, and the glass is changed in the factory, and the module goes back on sale, and these parts are often labeled as "Original Refurbished." They're cheaper than the new originals, but they can have micro-scratches or less brightness, and you only have to buy them from trusted suppliers with a warranty.
How to distinguish good OEM from bad OEM?
Comparative table of prices for parts and work
So you can get your budget straight, we've prepared a table with the current average prices in the market, and you can see that the price varies depending on the currency rate and the region of purchase, and you can see the prices for a full display unit assembled with a frame, because this is the most common replacement option.
| Type of module | Cost of the part (ruble) | Cost of work (ruble) | Total (roughly) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Original (Service Pack) | 3500 - 4500 | 1000 - 1500 | 4500 - 6000 |
| OEM (Quality Copy) | 1800 - 2500 | 800 - 1200 | 2600 - 3700 |
| Budget Copy (Low Copy) | 1000 - 1400 | 600 - 1000 | 1600 - 2400 |
| Refurbished (Refurbished) | 2200 - 2800 | 800 - 1200 | 3000 - 4000 |
And you can see from the table that the savings on the type of matrix can be substantial, but if you choose the cheapest option, you run the risk of getting a low-brightness screen that doesn't read well in the sun. Touchscreen in budget copies often works less accurately, which is especially noticeable when typing or in games. 500-700 rupee OEM-The module is often justified by comfort of use.
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The optimal choice for the ratio of price / quality for Redmi Note 7 is a quality OEM-module with a frame, which visually almost does not differ from the original.
The cost of self-replacement: is the risk worth it?
If you have the technical skills and the right tool, replacing the screen with the Xiaomi Redmi Note 7 can be done yourself, which will save you on the work of the wizard, which is a significant part of the check, but it will require not only the module itself, but also consumables: glue B-7000 or special stickers, and possibly a new battery if the old one is worn out.
The process of disassembling this smartphone is not the easiest one, the back cover is glued around the perimeter, and you need a hair dryer or a heat pad to remove it, and there are many plumes inside that are easily damaged by inexperienced hands, and you need to work especially carefully with the display plume and the fingerprint scanner plume, and breaking any one of them will lead to additional costs.
- 🛠️ Necessary tool: set of screwdrivers (cross, star), plastic spatula, sucker, hair dryer, tweezers, glue.
- 💰 Savings: You only pay for the part, saving 800 to 1500 rubles at work.
- ⚠️ Risks: high probability of damage to plumes, break a new part with a careless assembly or lose leakage (although it is already weak).
⚠️ Warning: Before disassembling, be sure to completely discharge the battery to 0% or turn it off immediately after removing the back cover. Working with the connected battery when changing the screen can lead to a short circuit and failure of the power controller.
If you decide to repair yourself, carefully study the video analysis of your model. The design of the Redmi Note 7 has its own peculiarities of the location of the plumes. You should not try to unstick the screen without heating, since the glass can burst in your hands. It is also important to clean the frame of the old glue, otherwise the new module will hang out or peel off in a week.
☑️ What you need for a self-replacement
Where to buy spare parts: risks and guarantees
Buying a screen is a lottery if you don't know the places you've checked. Xiaomi's official service centers order parts directly from the manufacturer, so the risk of getting married is minimal. However, the prices there will be the highest. If you buy a part yourself for repairs in a third-party service or for yourself, it's important to choose reliable suppliers.
Popular marketplaces and Chinese marketplaces offer a wide variety of options, but often hide the real type of matrix under big names. The phrase "Original Quality" can actually mean a mediocre copy. Read reviews, see photos of real products and pay attention to the seller's rating. A good sign is the presence of a video review of the product from the seller.
Local radio parts stores in your city may offer less choice, but you can visually inspect the product before you buy it. Check the screen for broken pixels by including white and black pictures. Make sure the touchscreen responds to multi-touch (simultaneous touch with multiple fingers).
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When buying a screen online, always ask the seller to check and photograph the screen before sending, turning on a white background.
Frequent questions and problems after replacement
Once a new display is installed, users may be faced with a number of questions, often with color calibration or sensitivity concerns. In modern versions of MIUI, automatic calibration works well, but on cheap copies, the colors can be distorted. This is virtually impossible to fix software, since the characteristics of the matrix are physically different from the factory ones.
Another problem is the fingerprint scanner. In the Redmi Note 7, it's built into the back cover, but its plume goes under the display. In poor-quality assembly, the plume can be squeezed or poorly connected, which will lead to a read error. There's also a problem with the proximity sensor: if the protective film on the new screen covers the sensor, the phone will extinguish the screen during a conversation.
- 📉 Autonomy: a new high-quality screen consumes as much power as the old one. Cheap copies can land the battery faster because of less efficient backlighting.
- 🎨 Brightness: Maximum brightness on copies is often lower, making it difficult to use your phone outdoors.
- 🖐️ Multi-touch: Check the 10-finger multi-touch immediately after installation, as this is a frequent defect of cheap touchscreens.
⚠️ Note: If the phone has stopped seeing after the screen has been replaced SIM-If you're not making a card or you're missing a speaker, you probably have a bad motherboard connector or a bad lower board plume when you're building it.
If you notice a "ghost touch" when the phone opens the apps itself, it's a touchscreen defect, in which case you should immediately contact the master or seller to replace the part under warranty.