Hey there! So you just got a shiny new iPhone, iPad, MacBook or other Apple device. Congratulations! But now you‘re wondering about protecting your investment with an extended warranty. Do you need coverage in case your phone takes an unfortunate fall? Or will the standard AppleCare plan suffice?
I‘m here to help explain the key differences between AppleCare and AppleCare+ so you can decide which option best fits your needs and budget. Let‘s dive in!
What Exactly Are These Warranty Plans?
First, a quick overview.
AppleCare is the 1-year limited warranty that comes standard with all new Apple products. It covers only manufacturing defects for 1 year after purchase. So if there’s a problem caused by how your device was made, AppleCare has you covered with free repairs or replacement.
AppleCare+ builds on top of that basic coverage in two key ways:
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It extends the warranty period to 2 years total from your original purchase date
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It also covers accidental damage, with lower repair fees compared to paying out-of-pocket
So AppleCare+ gives you an extra year of coverage plus protection in case you drop or spill on your device. Pretty handy!
Coverage Comparison: AppleCare vs. AppleCare+
Let‘s take a closer look at what’s included and not with both plans:
| AppleCare | AppleCare+ | |
| Length | 1 year | 2 years |
| Manufacturer defects | Yes | Yes |
| Accidental damage | No | Yes |
| Cracked screen | No | Yes ($29 fee) |
| Water damage | No | Yes ($99 fee) |
| Theft & loss | No | Optional add-on |
Clearly AppleCare+ opens up more repair options. For example if you crack that screen or spill coffee on your laptop keyboard, instead of paying $500+ out of pocket for full device replacement, you‘d pay a $29 or $99 service fee under AppleCare+. Not bad!
But when exactly does that accidental damage coverage apply? According to Apple‘s terms, AppleCare+ covers:
- Cracked screens from drops or impacts
- Liquid contact like spills, splashes, accidental submersion
- Unintended fires not due to product defects
- Power surges from electrical faults
So you get protection from quite a few common mishaps. Now let‘s explore the optional theft and loss benefits…
Getting Coverage For Theft or Loss
While it doesn‘t come standard, you can add theft and loss protections onto your AppleCare+ plan. Here are those pricing tiers:
- iPhone: $219 for 2 years
- iPad: $109 for 2 years
- Mac: $269 for portable models, $109 for desktops over 2 years
With this add-on, you‘ll get up to two replacements over 12 months if your device is stolen or misplaced. So bumping into someone on the train and watching your iPhone disappear onto the tracks would cost you $169 vs. $1000+.
The same goes if you simply lose or misplace that iPad somewhere in your home. Peace of mind for $109 instead of another painful Apple Store run.
But naturally there are limits — you can‘t claim a loss every 2 months. Check Apple‘s terms closely for country-specific policies on replacements allowed. Theft claims often require you to file a police report as well.
Still, compared to no protection at all, AppleCare+ with loss/theft makes total financial sense if it fits your budget.
Does AppleCare+ Pay For Itself?
Okay, so AppleCare+ isn‘t free like the standard warranty. Let‘s crunch some numbers to see if those monthly fees give you a good ROI.
Say you paid $99 for a iPhone 14 Plus 512GB. Here are your unfortunate fates and repair costs:
Without AppleCare+
- Cracked screen replacement: $329
- Water damage repair: Full $999 device replacement
- Lost device: Purchase another $999 phone
With AppleCare+
- Cracked screen replacement: $29 fee (saved $300)
- Water damage: $99 fee (saved $900)
- Lost device: $169 replacement (saved $830)
Based on typical Apple repair costs, you‘d make up the $144 annual AppleCare+ fee in a single screen or water damage incident. And that ignores the extra year of defect protections too.
In fact Consumer Reports surveys show 25% of iPhone owners damage their screen within the first two years. So your odds aren‘t trivial.
For MacBooks, portable models also see over 20% breakage rates by year 2. And average Apple laptop screen repairs run $500-600 without extended coverage!
So across your Apple ecosystem — especially expensive flagship items like iPhone Pros or high-end MacBooks — AppleCare+ can often pay for itself the first time disaster strikes. And getting reliable service through Apple Stores instead of shopping around third-party repair shops for the best deal is convenient and stress-free.
How Does AppleCare+ Compare to Carrier Plans?
Okay, one more math check. On the phone side, your cell carrier may also sell protection plans…so how do those stack up next to AppleCare+?
Let‘s use AT&T‘s Mobile Insurance as an example. Here are monthly costs for an iPhone 14 Pro:
- AT&T Mobile Insurance: $15/month
- AppleCare+: $9.99/month
Now the damage claims and deductibles:
- AT&T Screen Replacement: $99 fee
- AppleCare+ Screen Replacement: $29 fee
So AppleCare+ gives you lower monthly payments, lower repair fees, access to Apple Stores, and coverage for iPads/Macs too. Unless you need AT&T‘s tech support specifically, AppleCare+ likely wins out.
Check your own carrier‘s fine print, but the value math commonly checks out in Apple‘s favor here too.
Tips to Maximize Your AppleCare Protections
To ensure you get every penny‘s worth from AppleCare plans, keep a few best practices in mind:
📝 Know your coverage start/end dates — AppleCare warranties expire even if you didn‘t use any incidents, so mark your calendar a month ahead to avoid surprise claim denials right after coverage ends.
📝 Get repairs done at Apple Stores — Technicians there can validate warranty coverage and service history instantly so repairs go smoothly. Avoid unauthorized shops.
📝 Have your device inspected first if possible — Get an expert Genius Bar opinion on what caused your issue before submitting your incident claim to have the best shot at approval.
👓 Read Apple‘s policy documents — Every last detail for country-specific terms, extended US warranty laws, excluded damage types, etc. is essential reading to avoid surprises later!
Following those best practices will ensure you maximize the value of your protection plan.
When Does AppleCare Make Sense vs. AppleCare+?
Finally, let‘s explore a few sample scenarios to illustrate when basic AppleCare would cover you sufficiently vs. cases where AppleCare+ is worth the extra investment:
When AppleCare May Suffice
Lisa buys an iPad Pro 12.9 mainly for media streaming on her couch. She already has a phone and laptop, and doesn’t travel much with her tablet. The iPad itself lives on her coffee table without much movement risk day-to-day. The basic manufacturing defect protections from AppleCare give Lisa enough peace of mind against the rare recall event for a largely stationary device.
Chris has a company-provided MacBook Pro 16" for his home office job. He also received a durable protective case and generally uses the laptop in one spot. While not impossible, Chris estimates low odds of serious drops or spills. Saving payroll deduction fees with AppleCare alone seems reasonable here as well.
Jake picks up AirPod Max headphones for weekend listening. While not cheap at $549, typical headphone damage risk also seems lower day-to-day. As long as Jake stores them properly in the included Smart Case when not in use, AppleCare by itself should sufficiently cover any unlikely issues like strap defects.
When AppleCare+ Is Worth It
Nina upgrades to an iPhone 14 Pro Max 512GB for $1100. She‘s flipped over concrete stairs twice with past phones cracking $1000 screens. Nina travels internationally for her consulting job as well. For less than $16/month, AppleCare+ let‘s her stop worrying about cracks, spills in airport lounges, or theft abroad. Complete mobile peace of mind.
Latif buys his dream Mac Studio desktop plus pricey Pro Display XDR for his freelance video production business. Total investment: $6000. Damage, defects, or leaks/spills on his office desk could be catastrophic. For roughly $10/month, AppleCare+ means costly production delays and equipment replacement costs are no longer a concern. Peanuts compared to the financial risks.
Hope buys AirPods Pro 2 for her daily train commute. At one point she spilled coffee which fried a previous headset. Her bag also gets very cramped hauling her computer and work materials. A single destroyed AirPod would cost nearly 50% the price of global AppleCare+ coverage! Added protections are clearly prudent for transport risks.
So in general for portable devices moving through risky real-world conditions, AppleCare+ can pay dividends on peace of mind. Whereas more occasional-use or safely stored products may safely rely on basic AppleCare.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully this breakdown gives you clarity around AppleCare vs. AppleCare+ and how to choose what‘s right for your new device! To recap:
AppleCare is free and covers manufacturing defects for 1 year. If you won‘t travel with a device and accept paying full accidental damage costs later, saving monthly fees upfront makes sense.
But for portable products at risk of life‘s dings plus the benefit of 2 full years of extended coverage, AppleCare+ is often money well spent. Those low repair deductibles can literally save you hundreds from a single incident. Check the terms for your country and device pricing tiers — then cover your tech and stop worrying!
Let me know if any other questions come up. Happy to help explain finer points or real-world scenarios. Enjoy that new machine!
