Specify the Panel Type First
The first line of any bulk screen order is the panel type: OLED or LCD. OLED panels are self-emissive with deeper blacks and higher contrast; LCD panels are backlit. They are not interchangeable — an iPhone 12 takes OLED, an iPhone 11 takes LCD. Mixing them up in an order is the most common sourcing error we see. Our OLED vs LCD inspection guide covers the technical differences and defect patterns per panel type.
Specify Assembly vs. Glass-only
Screen orders split into display assemblies (panel + frame + flex, ready to install) and glass-only service (for shops that refurbish their own assemblies). Assemblies carry a higher unit cost but predictable labour; glass-only requires lamination capability in-house. State which one your workshop is tooled for before comparing quotes — a glass-only price next to an assembly price is not a comparison, it is two different products.
Define Condition Tiers in Writing
The price difference between new and graded screens is real, and so is the temptation to describe graded stock as new. The defence is the same as with devices: a published grading standard and condition tiers agreed in writing before payment. For screens, condition tiering should state: new / graded-A (no visible defects, full function) / graded-B (minor cosmetic, full function) — and the tier mix of the batch should be agreed, not implied. See our screen wholesale page for how we list tiers per line item.
Check the Defects That Actually Matter
When sampling a screen batch, check in this order: (1) touch function across the full panel — a dead zone kills a repair job; (2) display uniformity — tint shift, backlight bleed (LCD) or green line (OLED); (3) lamination — dust under glass, lifted glass edges; (4) flex cable condition — kinks or creases on the connectors. The first three are cosmetic-to-functional; the last one is a silent failure. Our inspection guide walks through each check in detail.
Packaging Is Part of the Quote
Screens are fragile freight. A batch packed loose in a polybag arrives as a mixed lot of broken glass. Before ordering, confirm packaging: individual wraps, rigid trays or foam partitioning, and box crush ratings. Transport damage claims are decided by packaging evidence — if the packaging is not specified in the order, the claim is decided against the buyer.
Pair Screens With the Repair Capacity
If you are buying screens for your own repair queue, the unit economics only work when the screens and the repair capacity arrive together. This is why we supply parts and volume repair as paired lines: order the screens and the bench time in one quote, and the bottleneck is never inventory.