Every time you purchase AN iPhone (or AN iPad, or a Mac, or maybe a brand new HomePod), Apple can raise you if you wish to feature AppleCare+ to your purchase. however is it value it?

How AppleCare+ Works


In general, we’re not huge fans of extended warranties. you most likely have already got AN extended pledge amount through your mastercard, ANd gadgets don’t fail typically enough that it’s value shopping for an extended pledge for every one—you’ll most likely pay less within the long-term by simply repairing the few that get away of pocket.

But AppleCare+ is totally different than AN extended pledge. It’s additional like insurance designed for clumsy people that drop their phone tons. You pay a precise quantity up front—$129 for AN iPhone eight, $149 for AN iPhone eight and, ANd $199 for an iPhone X—and Apple can repair your device at heavily discounted rates if it breaks—even if the harm is accidental, sort of a shattered screen or water harm.

That doesn’t mean you get free repairs, though. Apple breaks down its costs on its repair and screen repair pages, except for the sake of example, let’s investigate the iPhone. Here’s what numerous repairs can price you, with and while not AppleCare+:


  • A broken screen prices $29 to repair if you have got AppleCare+. If you don’t, it will price anyplace from $129 for AN iPhone vi to $279 for AN iPhone X.
  • Other accidental harm, sort of a broken home button or water harm, can price $99 if you have got AppleCare+. If you don’t, it will price anyplace from $269 for the iPhone SE all the high to $549 for the iPhone X.
  • Non-accidental harm (that is, alternative random hardware failure through no fault of your own) is unengaged to repair as long as you’re lined by the initial pledge or by AppleCare+. If you aren’t, it’s subject to identical repair fees as higher than.

You’ll notice that, if you have got AppleCare+, repair costs square measure identical despite what model you have got. If you don’t have AppleCare+, however, repairs square measure dearer for dearer phones. which means if you have got, say, AN iPhone eight and or iPhone X, you pay more cash for AppleCare+, however you save additional too. And, of course, the additional typically you break your phone, the more cash you’ll save with AppleCare+. (Though  AppleCare+ solely offers discounts for up to 2 incidents of accidental damage—any over that, and you’ll pay full value.)

How Much can AppleCare+ price You? Do the mathematics




Whether AppleCare+ is worthwhile depends on 2 things: what phone you have got, and the way typically you tend to interrupt your phone (or alternative device).

Let’s say you purchase the most recent iPhone once a year, keep it for 2 years, and you’re a touch clumsy—you tend break the screen once on each iPhone you own throughout its life. If you paid $129 for AppleCare+ on every phone, and $29 for the screen repair, you’d be paying around $160 in total each 2 years for phone repairs. while not AppleCare+, you’d pay somewhere between $150 (if you stony-broke a regular-sized iPhone) and $170 (if you stony-broke a and model) for breaking the screen once. during this case, the semipermanent price of AppleCare+ is concerning identical as paying out of pocket for one repair each 2 years, therefore it’s just about a wash.

If you break your phone additional typically than that—like, once a year—or expertise worse harm than a broken screen (like dunking it in water, or syrup, or no matter alternative frightful stuff you will imagine), you’ll most likely economize within the long-term by getting AppleCare+.

If, however, you tend to interrupt your phone less typically than each 2 years, AppleCare+ is sort of undoubtedly not worthwhile. If you're taking excellent care of your phone and solely break it once in a very years, you’re essentially paying for one thing which will not even happen, that is crazy. Paying out of pocket can price you less within the long-term than paying $129 for AppleCare+ on each phone you purchase simply just in case one thing happens.

So do the mathematics. investigate your last ten years of smartphone possession, and raise yourself what number times you’ve had to require your phone certain  genuine  hardware repairs that you just caused. If it’s fewer than five times, you most likely aren’t a candidate for AppleCare+, unless perhaps you intend on doing additional base jumping this year.

The Alternatives: simply Get an honest Case



AppleCare+ isn’t the sole insurance game in city, either. you have got many alternative choices for safeguarding your purchase.


  • A Case: Seriously, if you’re the type of one who accidentally breaks your phone each single year, you must most likely suck it up and place a case thereon. an honest case can price you a little fraction of what you’ll buy AppleCare+ and repairs. you'll be able to even get some cases, swap them out for various things (like a water-resistant case for getting to the beach) and still begin ahead.
  • SquareTrade: If you fully refuse to induce a case for your phone, or somehow manage to interrupt it ANyway (might I recommend an Otterbox Defender?), you are doing have another insurance option: SquareTrade. It’s the same as AppleCare in value, however you'll be able to take your policy to a different phone (if you turn phones often), get your phone repaired elsewhere (if you have got a third-party search you actually like), and even have technicians return to you reception or work sure repairs.
  • Repair It Yourself: If you aren’t into the concept of insurance, or a case, however you continue to just like the plan of paying less for repairs, you'll be able to continuously save many usd by making an attempt to repair the phone yourself. This undoubtedly comes with some risk, since you possible have less expertise than trained professionals, and you'll mess it up worse. however with corporations like iFixit providing reasonable elements and guides for almost about each device out there, it’s AN possibility withal.
  • Insurance from Your Carrier: Don’t. Just don’t. The insurance plans offered by Verizon, AT&T, and alternative carriers square measure nearly always a frightful deal compared to your alternative choices.

We won’t choose you for breaking your phone—some individuals simply lead active lives, and phones have gotten very delicate. however if you recognize you’re getting to break it typically, an honest case is perhaps your most price effective possibility.