Is AppleCare+ Worth Buying for Your iPhone?
AppleCare+ is the name of Apple’s extended warranty coverage plan. The plan provides customers with a warranty that extends beyond the provided one-year limited warranty that comes with the purchase of a new iPhone. Technical support is also included in the plan.
If you are thinking about purchasing AppleCare+, you may be wondering if the investment is really worth it or if could you honestly just say pass. In general, most customers have a total of 60 days AFTER the initial purchase of their Apple product to purchase the AppleCare+ plan. The plan can be used on the iPhone, Apple Watch, or iPad.
Okay, so back to your question as to whether AppleCare+ is worth it. Well, let’s dive into it a bit more and provide you with relevant info to assist you in making your decision.
What Is Apple’s Standard Warranty?
Apple does provide a standard limited warranty with the purchase of its products. This warranty will basically provide reassurance that your device will work as you expect it to for the first year after your purchase. If you do find that something malfunctions or breaks during this time, Apple will cover the device and fix it for you without charge.
What is AppleCare+?
Once your limited one-year warranty is up, you will then have no coverage for your device unless you choose to purchase an extended warranty plan, such as AppleCare+.
Depending on the product you have, AppleCare+ will extend your warranty coverage for a period of two to three years. The warranty protects against accidental damage and hardware issues. When it comes to accidental damage, Apple does allow an unlimited number of incidents, but customers are required to pay a deductible.
Here are some things you can expect to receive when you purchase AppleCare+:
- Accidental damage coverage
- Hardware failure coverage
- Two years of extended coverage
- Rapid replacement service
- Access to Apple support via phone or chat
- Coverage for theft (limited to two incidents with an additional fee)
Should you reach the two-year mark with your AppleCare+ plan and want more coverage, you can extend this coverage on a month-to-month basis.
Hardware Failure vs. Accidental Damage
When it comes to coverage with AppleCare+, it is important to understand the difference between hardware failure coverage and accidental damage coverage.
Hardware Failure
With hardware failure, AppleCare+ covers any issues that arise for the time you are covered under the plan. The repairs are done for free, and you will receive rapid replacement services, which means you do not have to go long without your phone.
Accidental Damage
With accidental damage, AppleCare+ will cover an unlimited number of incidents that you experience. These incidents can include dropping your device in water, cracks, and other issues that arise as a result of something other than hardware failure.
The biggest difference between hardware failure and accidental damage is that with accidental damage, you WILL pay a deductible to have your phone repaired or replaced. AppleCare+ has a fixed deductible in place and the deductible will vary based on the type of damage and your device.
Another big thing to note is that you will pay the deductible, but you will still also need to pay for the repair itself. With AppleCare+, the repair costs are generally lower than with Apple. For example, a screen replacement through AppleCare+ is $29 while it is $99 through Apple.
What Is The Cost of AppleCare+?
The cost of AppleCare+ will vary depending on your Apple device. The current cost of the plan is as follows:
- iPhone – $129 to $199
- Mac – $99 to $399
- iPad – $69 to $129
- Apple Watch – $49 to $149
Is AppleCare+ Worth It?
The end-all question presents itself again – is AppleCare+ worth it? Well, it is entirely up to you. If you are someone who is always dropping their device or someone who is prone to accidents, then yes, it is probably worth it for you to make the investment. However, if you are someone who takes good care of their device and has never had to replace one due to damage, then no, it is probably not worth it for you.
Remember, you do have 60 days AFTER your initial purchase to buy AppleCare+, so give yourself some time to think about it.
If you are in need of an iPhone repair, turn to the experts at I Repair Cracked Screens. We do offer Apple repairs here in our repair center and do so at an affordable price. If you do not have AppleCare+, we can help you. Give our team a call today to schedule an appointment.