The back glass in iPhone has been glass since iPhone 8, and it's glued to the housing frame. You can replace it separately — the glass is removed and a new one is installed without changing the frame or internal components. This is important because the official way usually means replacing the entire housing, which costs more.
Why cracked back glass is not just cosmetic
- Dust and moisture get inside through cracks: the phone loses its seal, and the next failure won't be just the glass.
- Fragments break off and cut your hand, and leave scratches on the table.
- A crack over the camera module often extends further — across the camera glass; we wrote about the consequences in the article blurry photos and spots on the camera.
- Wireless charging may work worse if not only the back glass but also the coil underneath is damaged.
How it's replaced
The old glass is softened and removed, adhesive residue is completely cleared — this is where phones get damaged from rushing. Then the new glass is installed and pressed until the adhesive fully cures. On iPhone 12 and newer, special attention is paid to the MagSafe magnets and the wireless charging coil: they are either transferred from the old back glass or installed together with the new one — otherwise the phone will no longer hold magnetic accessories.
What's worth doing at the same time
The housing is opened anyway, so it makes sense to check the battery condition at the same time: if capacity has already dropped, you won't need a second disassembly. And definitely — new adhesive around the perimeter: the original one is single-use, and without it the next rain will get in where the cracks just were.
How long it takes
The work takes several hours: most of the time is not removing the glass but waiting for the adhesive to cure. So the phone is usually left at the service center for a day. You can book in advance to avoid waiting in line.