AppleCare+ for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch Now Covers Batteries That Retain Less Than 80% of Original Capacity

Apple has updated the terms of its AppleCare+ Protection Plan for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch to cover batteries that retain less than 80% of their original capacity within the extended warranty period, whereas it previously covered batteries that retained less than 50% of their original capacity. The change applies to AppleCare+ purchased for iPhone, iPad, iPod and all Apple Watch models on April 10, 2015 or later.

AppleCare+ Apple Watch iPhone
Apple will replace defective batteries that do not live up to the 80% specification free of charge as long as the device is within its AppleCare+ coverage period. Otherwise, the iPhone maker charges $79 for out-of-warranty battery service for all Apple Watch batteries that retain less than 80% of their original capacity per Apple's diagnostic testing, plus a $6.95 shipping charge if required.

The new battery terms of AppleCare+ for iPhone, iPad, iPod and Apple Watch:

"If during the Plan Term, you submit a valid claim by notifying Apple that (i) a defect in materials and workmanship has arisen in the Covered Equipment, or (ii) the capacity of the Covered Equipment’s battery to hold an electrical charge is less than eighty percent (80%) of its original specifications, Apple will either (A) repair the defect at no charge, using new parts or parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability, or (B) exchange the Covered Equipment, with a replacement product that is new or equivalent to new in performance and reliability."

AppleCare+ for iPhone, iPad and iPod

AppleCare+ for iPhone extends the smartphone's warranty coverage to two years from the original date of purchase and provides up to two incidents of accidental damage coverage for a $79 service charge each time. Without AppleCare+, iPhone customers are covered by a limited one-year warranty and 90 days of complimentary phone support.

AppleCare+ iPhone iPad iPod
AppleCare+ for iPad and iPod have the same terms and conditions, although the accidental damage service charges are $49 and $29 per incident respectively.

AppleCare+ for Apple Watch

Apple has designed the Apple Watch battery to retain up to 80% of its original capacity at 1000 complete charge cycles, which gives the watch's battery a lifespan of about two-and-a-half to three years based on fully charging the wrist-worn device once per day. Apple Watch has all-day battery life of 18 hours on a single charge based on mixed usage, and lasts up to 72 hours in Power Reserve mode.

AppleCare+ extends an Apple Watch's warranty coverage to two years from the date of purchase for the Sport and Watch, and three years for Edition, and provides accidental damage coverage for up to two incidents. Without AppleCare+, purchases of the Apple Watch Sport and the stainless steel Apple Watch are covered by a limited one-year warranty and 90 days of complimentary phone support.

Apple Watch AppleCare
AppleCare+ costs $49, $59 and $1,500 for the Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch and Apple Watch Edition models respectively, while accidental damage coverage is subject to an additional service charge of $69 for Sport, $79 for Watch and $1,000 for Edition. Apple also sells AppleCare+ combo plans for Apple Watch and iPhone for $149 (Sport and iPhone), $169 (Watch and iPhone) and $1,600 (Edition and iPhone).

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Top Rated Comments

Medic311 Avatar
134 months ago
Anyone who pays $1,500 for two years of insurance for his watch is a fool.

I pity him.
most people who bought the $17K Watch Edition and then the $1,500 insurance likely know how to manage money better than you ever will, which gives them the spending power to drop that on a watch and not even care. they're the type of people who will probably buy the next one when that comes out too

if anything, i bet they pity someone like you who whines on a macrumors thread about how expensive it is
Score: 18 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeyondtheTech Avatar
134 months ago
Anyone who pays $1,500 for two years of insurance for his watch is a fool.

I pity him.
So, what you're saying is that you pity the fool?
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbeagle Avatar
134 months ago
So, you have to BUY an extended warranty to get service on a battery DESIGNED to last 2.5-3 years should the battery fail before that? And Apple makes it sound like they are doing YOU a favor by selling you AppleCare...
Sounds like you've never bought anything in your life. EVERYTHING you buy now comes with the option to buy an extended, or improved warranty.

I went to best buy to buy a $10 video game and they offered to sell me an extended warranty on it for like $1.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bbeagle Avatar
134 months ago
Interesting they announce it 2 months after the watch release (so early adopters can't now buy it) .
It's retroactive, so everyone who bought AppleCare+ in the past 2 months will have this new, better warranty.
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Kaibelf Avatar
134 months ago
They should have been doing this in the first place.
And yet here we are, with no one who purchased yet even out of the base warranty. Why are you complaining again?
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
DEMinSoCAL Avatar
134 months ago
So, you have to BUY an extended warranty to get service on a battery DESIGNED to last 2.5-3 years should the battery fail before that? And Apple makes it sound like they are doing YOU a favor by selling you AppleCare...
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)