When you’re buying a new Apple product, a lot of enthusiasts will say the same thing: “Just get AppleCare+.” This adds a significant outlay to an already expensive purchase, but it’s also cheaper than paying to repairs an Apple product that’s out of warranty. Like any insurance, there’s no guarantee that the money you spend on the coverage is going to pay out in the end, but if anything happens to your expensive Apple product, you might be happy in that initial investment.
What is AppleCare+?
AppleCare+ is like an insurance policy with a deductible for your Apple products. When you buy a new iPhone, MacBook, or any other Apple product, you usually get a one-year limited warranty that protects you against manufacturing defects. If you buy AppleCare+, you’re also protected against accidental damage, such as cracked displays and the like. The catch is that you have to pay a service fee to get the device repaired, but these fees are far less expensive than fixing a device without protection.
There’s a more expensive version of this plan—AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss—which lets you replace your lost or stolen Apple device up to twice in a year. I’ll explore this plan a bit more when I discuss AppleCare+’s costs.
Is AppleCare+ different from AppleCare?
Even though the names sound similar, these two are totally different options. AppleCare is the name for the limited warranty that comes with your device when you buy it. It entitles you to 90 days of complimentary technical support from Apple, along with the one-year warranty. The duration of this warranty may be longer in some regions where the law requires it, but in the U.S., it’s one year.
The AppleCare limited warranty, however, does not protect against accidental damage. If you crack your iPhone display, or drop your MacBook, you’ll need to pay Apple full price for the repair. On the other hand, AppleCare+ is your bet against accidental damage.
How do I check if I have AppleCare+?
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To check your AppleCare+ status, go to Apple’s My Support page, sign in to your Apple Account, choose your device from the list, and see if it has AppleCare+. You’ll also be able to see this in your Apple product’s settings page (usually Settings > General > AppleCare & Warranty) or in the plan confirmation email that Apple sends when you buy AppleCare+.
What AppleCare+ does and does not cover
When you’re buying AppleCare+ coverage for any product, you should always check the terms and conditions to see what’s covered and what’s not. Coverage usually includes accidental damage to the device’s display, keyboard, external enclosure, buttons, and internal parts. The specific components and types of covered damage varies by device, so it’s best to read up on the policy for your particular device.
For instance, AppleCare+ for Mac will cover your Mac and any Apple-branded accessories you purchased along with the device. Apple states that if the device requires a hardware service for any defect in the components, such as the battery health dropping below 80%, then Apple will either repair the device at no extra cost or exchange your Mac for a new or equivalent repaired device. In cases that involve accidental damage, you can pay the specified service fee and Apple will repair or replace the device for you.
The service fee varies quite a bit depending on the device and the amount of damage to it. Again, let’s look at the Mac policy: If it’s what Apple defines as “Tier 1” damage, such as a cracked screen or a damaged enclosure, you’ll pay $99 (plus taxes) to get it repaired. More extensive damage, such as a cracked screen and damaged enclosure, could be classified as “Tier 2,” which costs $299 (plus taxes) to repair.
As important as it is to know what AppleCare+ does cover, it’s equally important to know what it doesn’t cover. In the case of a Mac, Apple says that your AppleCare+ plan doesn’t cover cosmetic damage, preventative maintenance, excessive damage, repairing a device that’s been serviced by anyone other than Apple or an authorized representative, in addition to a few other exceptions. If your MacBook is damaged in an extreme accident, don’t expect AppleCare+ to help with repair or replacement, according to these terms.
Even if you have AppleCare+, the company doesn’t guarantee that it’ll be able to help you recover or back up data in a damaged device. The terms and conditions also mention that Apple may restrict AppleCare+ coverage to the country where the plan was originally purchased.
In theory, this really limits what AppleCare+ covers. However, it never hurts to ask. Even if your device is damaged or affected in a way that goes beyond these terms, it’s worth taking it to an Apple Store and politely stating your case.
How much does AppleCare+ cost?
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There’s no single answer to this question. The cost of AppleCare+ varies by product and it gets more expensive as the cost of your product rises. AppleCare+ costs as little as $15 for two years of coverage for the $99 HomePod mini and it goes all the way up to $499 for two years for the $3,499 Apple Vision Pro. You have the option of paying upfront, or choosing a monthly or annual payment plan. Note that paying upfront is the most cost-effective option. The other options involve a smaller initial payment, but continuing them until the end of the tenure is more expensive.
You can use Apple’s repair estimates (Mac, iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple TV, Apple Vision Pro and HomePod) as a marker to check how much it’ll cost to repair different types of damage with or without AppleCare+. For example, Apple’s repair estimate for a cracked screen on an iPhone 16 Pro Max is $379 without AppleCare+, and with the plan, it’s $29. AppleCare+ for iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $199. This means that you’ll spend $228 for repair with AppleCare+ and about $150 more if you don’t have coverage. Apple’s repair estimates website doesn’t always show the cost of repairs for every product, but you could always speak to an Apple representative online or offline to get an idea of the costs involved.
If you’re buying an iPhone, you also have the option of opting for AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss. This is an insurance if your iPhone is lost or stolen, and costs more than getting basic AppleCare+. As an example, for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, you can get theft and loss bundled into your plan for $269 (as opposed to $199 without it). When you’re making a claim for a replacement, you’ll have to pay $149, which brings the total to $418 to get a new iPhone, vs. $1,199 if you were to buy the same device again. Apple can ship the device to countries where this plan is available, namely Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.
How long does AppleCare+ coverage last?
AppleCare+ offers coverage for up to two years for most Apple devices, with the only exception being Macs and the Studio Display, both of which are covered up to three years. Yes, you can extend your AppleCare+ coverage too, but it requires you to have paid upfront for coverage. If you signed up for a monthly or an annual payment plan, you can’t extend AppleCare+ beyond the term limit. AppleCare+ extensions are applicable only if you are in one of these countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, and United States.
You’ll have to purchase the extended AppleCare+ plan within 45 days after the original plan expires, depending on your region. Once you extend AppleCare+ on your device, it’ll automatically renew either monthly or annually until you cancel the plan. It’s worth remembering that AppleCare+ extensions are only applicable for your iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Watch, and Mac.
Is AppleCare+ worth it?
Although I always buy AppleCare+ coverage, I can’t say that it’s worth it every time. It’s been very useful for my Apple Watch, which I wear practically all the time, but I’ve never made a claim for my Apple TV or iPhone. I’ve used AppleCare+ to get the cracked display on my Apple Watch fixed, and Apple gave me a brand new unit when I did so. I paid around $350 for the watch and made two claims (one in each year, to replace cracked screens), and the total cost of those claims and AppleCare+ was around $190. I could have lived with a cracked screen because it wasn’t major damage, but it would’ve stopped me from using the device to track swimming workouts, and the repairs were significantly cheaper than buying a new watch.
You may not need it for certain devices that are far less likely to be damaged. I’ve owned an Apple TV where I never used the AppleCare+ warranty and which I probably could’ve easily replaced even if it conked off. But, on the other hand, I find AppleCare+ to be excellent value for MacBooks, since Apple’s computers are expensive to repair on their own and covered for three years instead of the usual two. You need to consider how likely a device is to encounter damage (portable devices like iPhones and MacBooks are more likely than stationary devices like iMacs and Apple TVs), as well as how expensive that device would be to repair.
Generally, I prefer to get AppleCare+ for expensive devices to guard against a massive unexpected spend that derails my budget. If you’re buying such a device from Apple, I’d say you should probably pay for AppleCare+.
