Why Does AppleCare+ Cost So Much (and Is It Worth It)?
It may be a handheld device, but it sure costs an arm and a leg. While Apple products are ubiquitous, they’re also expensive to maintain. Apple devices can cost hundreds to potentially thousands of dollars, and the high extra cost of AppleCare+ can seem like an unnecessary expense.
Why is AppleCare+ so expensive? There’s a clear answer to that question. Is it worth it? While this guide can advise you, you’re the only person who can answer that for yourself — but hopefully it helps.
What Is AppleCare+?
AppleCare+ is an extended service plan from Apple that extends your standard warranty, covers accidental damage, and reduces repair costs. It doesn’t make these repairs free, and customers are sometimes responsible for paying deductibles in the event of damage.
Depending on the tier, AppleCare+ covers your device’s screen, external casing, and its internal components, and will also allow you to replace your device in the event of theft and loss twice in a year-long period. For specifics of what AppleCare+ does and doesn’t cover, see Apple’s Terms and Conditions.
How Much Does AppleCare+ Cost?
The prices of AppleCare+ vary, and can cost anywhere from roughly $10 to $14 per month, or $100 to $140 annually.
How Does AppleCare+ Affect the Cost of Repairs?
AppleCare+ provides accidental damage protection, reduced repair fees, and extended coverage. With AppleCare+, a standard screen repair will cost around $30. Other accidental damage could cost around $100, and theft and loss replacement will cost roughly $150. Without AppleCare+, these repairs and replacements could cost hundreds of dollars more. Essentially, AppleCare+ protects against rare but costly accidents like cracked screens, water damage, and theft/loss.
Is It Worth It?
Like many insurance products, AppleCare+ is designed so customers may end up paying more in premiums than they would in repair costs. The enhanced coverage might make sense if you frequently drop your phone, you don’t use protective cases, you travel often, you buy the most expensive Apple products, or you want to know exactly how much a repair will cost in the event. If you were to extensively damage a top-of-the-line iPhone, the repair cost could exceed the annual cost of the AppleCare+ plan.
If you rarely damage your phone, you use a high-quality protective case, or you’re comfortable with paying for repairs as they come, you probably don’t need an AppleCare+ plan. While repairs could end up being pricier, you could run the risk of paying more in your insurance plan than you would for repairs themselves — assuming you rarely need repairs in the first place.
(featured image: Apple)
Have a tip we should know? [email protected]
