It’s fair to say the majority of Apple users will purchase extra cloud storage – but not many go on to buy AppleCare+. Today, we explore one of Apple’s lesser-known products and decide whether or not it’s worth the cost.
What is AppleCare+?
AppleCare+ is an insurance product sold by Apple to help protect your Apple products. It’s currently only available for a range of iPhone models – going from the 15 Pro Max to the iPhone SE (3rd generation).
Like all insurance products, you pay a premium to gain coverage. In this case, you’re receiving the following:
- Unlimited coverage for incidents of accidental damage
- Battery services
- Express replacement services
- 24/7 access to Apple experts
- Software and hardware support
Additionally, you can purchase a Theft and Loss cover to help replace your phone for free if it gets stolen or lost. You can do this up to two times per 12 months.
How Much Does AppleCare+ Cost?
It depends on the iPhone you want to cover and the type of coverage you want:
- iPhone 15 Pro & 15 Pro Max – $9.99/month or $199 for two years (Standard AppleCare+). $13.49/month or $269 for two years (AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss cover)
- iPhone 15 Plus – $8.99/month or $179 for two years (Standard AppleCare+). $12.49/month or $249 for two years (AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss cover)
- iPhone 15, iPhone 14 & iPhone 13 – $7.99/month or $149 for two years (Standard AppleCare+). $11.49/month or $219 for two years (AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss cover)
- iPhone SE (3rd Generation) – $3.99/month or $79 for two years (Standard AppleCare+). $7.49/month or $149 for two years (AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss cover)
Is AppleCare+ Worth It?
In all honesty, it’s probably not worth the cost.
Apple might make it seem worthwhile by looking at the cost of repairs at an Apple Store. Here, you could save money with AppleCare+, even if your screen needed replacing once in two years. However, if you go to a phone repair shop that handles iPhones, you can fix any problem for a fraction of the cost. The cost of repairing your phone will be less than the overall AppleCare+ subscription, so it’s genuinely not worth it.
Moreover, what if you have multiple Apple devices? You’ve got AppleCare+ for an iPhone, but what if your Apple Watch Series 10 has a fault? You’d need to take out another AppleCare+ plan specifically for that device, so the costs are quickly adding up.
It’s also worth noting that electronics are included in a lot of home insurance policies anyway. So, if your items are damaged or stolen from your home, you can normally claim compensation for them this way.
All in all, AppleCare+ is an interesting product from Apple, though its value is yet to be seen. Most customers fair well without it – particularly if they take good care of their devices and use screen protectors or cases.