Repair Glossary
Clear explanations of the parts, display technologies, diagnostics, and repair terms used throughout the site.
- Aftermarket part
- A compatible replacement made by a third party rather than the device manufacturer. Compare part and pricing options →
- Original-quality part
- A high-grade replacement intended to closely match the original part's performance and appearance. Compare part and pricing options →
- Genuine or OEM part
- A part produced by or for the original manufacturer; availability and programming requirements vary. Compare part and pricing options →
- Refurbished-original display
- An original display panel restored with replacement outer glass or related components. Compare part and pricing options →
- LCD
- A liquid-crystal display that uses a separate backlight.
- OLED
- A display whose pixels produce their own light.
- Soft OLED
- A flexible OLED replacement designed to better tolerate impact than rigid hard-OLED construction.
- Hard OLED
- A rigid OLED replacement that can offer lower cost but may be more vulnerable to impact.
- Digitizer
- The touch-sensitive layer that translates finger input.
- Display assembly
- The combined screen components replaced as one unit.
- True Tone
- Apple display color-temperature functionality that may require transfer or programming during some screen repairs.
- Battery health
- A device estimate of remaining battery capacity and performance compared with new condition.
- BMS
- The battery-management system that monitors and controls battery operation.
- Charging flex or daughterboard
- An internal assembly that may contain the charging port, microphones, antennas, or other components.
- HDMI retimer or encoder
- A console board component involved in processing the HDMI video signal.
- Microsoldering
- Precision soldering performed on small board-level components and connections.
- Liquid-damage stabilization
- Cleaning and controlled work intended to reduce active corrosion and assess a liquid-damaged device; long-term reliability cannot be guaranteed. Review liquid-assessment services →
- Diagnostic fee
- A charge for disassembly, specialized testing, or extended troubleshooting beyond a basic intake inspection. Review diagnostic pricing →
- Data transfer
- Copying accessible files from one storage device or system to another.
- Logical recovery
- Attempting to recover data from functioning storage when files are deleted, corrupted, or inaccessible through normal software.
- IMEI, serial, or model number
- Identifiers used to confirm the exact device and compatible parts. For phones, the IMEI can also be checked to see whether a carrier has reported the device lost or stolen. Check a phone with CTIA →
- Installed price
- The listed customer price for the described part and installation unless the service note states otherwise. Review repair pricing →