Screened electronics are always at risk of getting cracks that can range from being annoying to rendering the device unusable. It's why screen protectors exist, but those are still not enough in some cases and the actual screen still gets hairline cracks. You might think Apple devices are covered under warranty for such damages, but that's not the case anymore.

Hairline Cracks Removed Under Free Warranty Repair

Since smartphones are handheld devices, there is always the possibility that the user may drop it from a dangerous height, resulting in its screen being cracked. Smartwatches have the same problem, especially since users wear them on their wrists, which see a lot of movement in a day. 

With that said, there is a probability that the screen will be cracked at some point, but not to worry since hairline cracks are minor and can be repaired for free because of the warranty, right? Well, that won't be covered anymore. 

Apple is said to be advising Apple Stores and other Authorized Service Providers to consider hairline cracks as accidental damage, as per The Verge, which means that owners will have to pay for the repair if they want to get rid of it. 

While that comes as bad news, the change doesn't seem to affect other Apple devices such as iPads and Macs, so there's a silver lining there somewhere. Just keep in mind that these are rumors, so take them with a grain of salt. 

Without the warranty, iPhone screen repairs could cost you between $129 to $379, depending on the model of the device. If you have Apple Care+, that price can be significantly reduced to just $29 for all models.

Apple Watches are much more expensive to repair, unfortunately. There is no price range listed on the website either, so customers will just have to be prepared to pay between $249 to $800 for repairs, or up to $79 if they have Apple Care+. 

Even without the change, hairline crack repairs have already been tricky to deal with. Some stores consider it as a screen defect, which affords the user a free repair. That's not the case with others where hairline cracks, no matter how small, are already considered cosmetic damage.

Read Also: Worried About Your iPhone Cracked Screen? 5 Temporary Fixes, Repair Options and Costs

How to Protect Your Phone from Screen Damage

You can always be careful to never have to bring your phone in for repair in the first place, and there are already several accessories that can help you with that. For starters, you might want to install a screen protector so that it can take the damage instead of your screen.

Gorilla Glass is among the most recommended screen protectors along with tempered glass. You will also want phone cases that do a good job of absorbing shocks as well. Some cases have bumpers around the screen so that it will never touch a flat surface when you drop it.

Of course, you should be careful where you store your phone. Never put it in a bag where you have other hard objects stored. In case you don't know, heat can also cause your phone screen to crack, so never leave your phone in or near hot places, and avoid letting it overheat from excessive use.

Related: You Can Now Repair Your Broken iPhone With Apple's Self-Service Repair Store