Check If Your Phone Screen Is Original or Replaced

How to Check If Your Phone Screen Is Original or Replaced.

When buying a used smartphone or after getting your screen repaired, it’s important to make sure the display is still original (OEM) and not a cheap replacement. 

A non-original screen may look fine at first but can affect color accuracy, brightness, touch sensitivity, and even battery life.

Here are the most effective ways to check whether your phone screen is original or not.

1. Check the Display Quality.

An original screen usually has:

Natural color tones (not too warm or cold)

Consistent brightness across the display

Deep blacks and strong contrast (especially for AMOLED)

Smooth touch response with no delay

A replaced or fake screen often shows:

Oversaturated or dull colors

Uneven brightness or small light leaks around the edges

Lower sharpness or pixel density

Slight delay when scrolling or typing

You can test this by comparing your screen with another identical model that’s confirmed to be original.

2. Test the Touch Sensitivity

Go to Settings - Developer Options - Pointer Location (on Android) or open a drawing app on any phone.

Move your finger slowly across the screen:

On original screens, the touch input is smooth and precise.

On replacement screens, you might notice lag, missed touches, or dead spots (areas that don’t respond properly).

For iPhones, you can test with the Touch ID or True Tone feature (see below).

3. Check the True Tone or Adaptive Display Feature (for iPhone & Samsung)

On iPhones, go to Settings - Display & Brightness - True Tone.

If True Tone is missing, it’s a clear sign that the screen has been replaced.

Original iPhone screens always support True Tone and automatically adjust color based on lighting.

On Samsung or other Android phones, check Adaptive Brightness or Eye Comfort Shield.

If these features no longer work correctly after a screen repair, it’s likely not an original display.

4. Inspect the Screen Physically

Pay attention to small physical details:

Original screens are perfectly aligned with the frame and have smooth edges.

Fake or non-OEM screens might have:

Slight gaps around the corners

Uneven bezels or misaligned edges

Different texture or color around the borders

Poorly fitted front glass or thicker glass layer

Shine a light from the side of the phone - an original screen looks seamless, while a replacement may reflect unevenly.

5. Check the Display Serial Number or Code

Each smartphone screen has a unique serial number that can reveal if it’s genuine.

For iPhone:

Go to Settings - General - About - Parts and Service History (available on iOS 15.2 and newer).

If it says “Genuine Apple Part”, your screen is original.

If it says “Unknown Part” or “Replaced Screen”, the display has been changed with a non-original part.

For Android (Samsung, Xiaomi, etc.):

Dial the service code:

Samsung: *#0*# - Tap on “Touch” or “Display” test.

Xiaomi: *#*#6484#*#* - Check display info and response.

If the test fails or shows “3rd-party part detected,” it means the screen is not original.

6. Check for Warranty or Repair Records

If your phone has ever been repaired, you can check it through:

Apple: support.apple.com/repair

Samsung Members App - Service Info - Repair History

Or by scanning your IMEI on the official manufacturer’s website.

If there’s a record of screen replacement and it wasn’t done by an authorized service center, the screen is likely non-original.

7. Use a Screen Diagnostic App

There are free apps that help test your display:

Dead Pixel Test and Fix (Android)

Phone Doctor Plus (iOS/Android)

Display Tester

These apps can detect:

Dead pixels

Touch delay

Color accuracy problems

- all of which might indicate a replacement screen.

Final Thoughts

An original screen not only looks better but also protects your phone’s value, performance, and eye comfort.

Before buying a used phone or after a screen replacement, always:

Test the display quality and touch response

Check True Tone or adaptive features

Verify the parts history from the settings menu

If any of these don’t match up, your screen is most likely not original.