Most Apple products come with a one-year limited warranty that covers hardware failures and manufacturing defects, and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support. To extend your coverage further, Apple offers AppleCare+ or the AppleCare Protection Plan. With the added initial cost, deductibles, and varying price points across the Apple product lineup, is AppleCare+ worth it?
In most countries and regions, customers have 60 days after an initial iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch purchase to upgrade to AppleCare+ For Macs and Apple TVs, AppleCare can be added up to one year after a device is first purchased, though this is only available in some countries and regions. AppleCare One, Apple's subscription plan, can cover devices that are up to four years old so long as those devices are in good condition.
For many Apple devices, the extended coverage can be activated via the Settings app. Subscription options are also now available and can extend AppleCare indefinitely.
AppleCare+ coverage varies slightly depending on your territory. For example, AppleCare+ with theft and loss coverage is unavailable outside of the United States and Japan. Before purchasing AppleCare+, you should look into the exact terms of coverage in your country because of these variations.
Standard Warranty
The standard warranty that comes free with your device is simply a limited warranty, the which is very common for consumer devices. This warranty guarantees that the product will work as expected for up to a year, or two years for the Apple Watch Edition. If something materially breaks within that timeframe, and it is through no fault of the user, Apple will fix it free of charge.
This warranty is also automatically applied no matter where you buy the product, and it is transferable to a new owner if the item is passed on within a year. To transfer the warranty, you simply need to provide the buyer with your proof of purchase. Some limitations apply and the length of the standard warranty may vary based on your country.
AppleCare and AppleCare+
Beyond the standard one-year warranty, Apple offers AppleCare service and support plans to provide additional coverage. Apple's extended warranty plan is known as AppleCare+, which provides up to two or three years (depending on the product) of hardware coverage, as well as unlimited coverage for accidental damage.
AppleCare+ Summary
- Extended warranty for up to two years (three years for Macs or Apple Displays), or longer with month-to-month
- Covers hardware failures and accidental damage, subject to service fees
- Priority access to Apple support by chat or phone
- Express replacement service
- Covers two incidents of theft or loss for an additional fee (available for the iPhone only)
AppleCare One
Apple in July 2025 introduced AppleCare One, a subscription AppleCare plan that covers multiple devices. If you have more than one device that you want to get protection for, AppleCare One can be a good deal.
Pricing for AppleCare One starts at $19.99 for three Apple products, with an option to cover additional devices for $5.99 per month per device. The plan includes all of the AppleCare+ benefits, including unlimited repairs for accidents, priority support, and battery coverage.
Subscribers are able to move their devices in and out of the plan at any time. AppleCare One allows users to add devices that they already own that are up to four years old, provided the devices are in good condition.
AppleCare+ can normally only be added within 60 days of when a device was purchased, but AppleCare One extends that timeline. With AppleCare One, theft and loss protection is available for the iPad and Apple Watch for the first time. It was previously limited to the iPhone.
Pricing on AppleCare One does not change based on device, so any combination of devices can be covered. Apple says that a customer who signs up for AppleCare One for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch can save up to $11 per month compared to separate AppleCare+ plans for each device.
As of right now, AppleCare One is limited to the United States.
AppleCare One Summary
- Extended warranty for devices for as long as the subscription is active
- Covers hardware failures and accidental damage, subject to service fees
- Includes theft protection, with up to three replacements per year and a deductible (limited to iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch)
- Priority access to Apple support by chat or phone
- Express replacement service
AppleCare Features
AppleCare significantly extends standard limited warranty and expands its remit. For most Apple products, such as the iPhone and iPad, AppleCare provides two years of coverage from the date the service was purchased, and for Mac or Apple Displays, it adds an additional three years of coverage. This extended duration is one of the main benefits of AppleCare. AppleCare also extends phone and chat support for the duration of the coverage, and adds priority access.
Apple in the U.S. and a few other countries offers month-to-month AppleCare+ and AppleCare One payments that extend coverage for more than two years.
Repairs and Accidental Damage
AppleCare covers the costs of any repairs your device may need for the duration of the coverage, even if the damage was accidental. Liquid damage, broken screens, and more are covered. There is no limit on the number of accidental damage repairs you can get, but there is a fixed deductible that varies based on the device and the type of damage.
Although you still have to pay the deductible, the deductible pricing with AppleCare is generally much cheaper than the pricing of standard repairs through Apple. For example, if you break your iPhone's screen, a replacement is only $29. If the iPhone has other damage in addition to the screen, the fee is $99. If you lose your iPhone and need a replacement, you'll pay $149. Out of warranty, a screen replacement can cost up to $329, and a full device repair is even more expensive. In this instance, AppleCare+ significantly reduces the costs of repair, and with the Express Replacement Service, the process should be reasonably effortless.
iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches are also eligible for the Express Replacement Service, which allows you to request and receive a replacement device before you send your original damaged device in for repair.
AppleCare Repair Deductibles:
- Standard Apple Watch - $69
- Hermes and Apple Watch Ultra - $79
- iPhone screen or back glass - $29
- Other iPhone accidental damage - $99
- iPad screen damage - $29
- iPad accidental damage - $49
- iPad Air, A17 mini, and iPad Pro accidental damage - $99
- iPad accessory damage - $29
- AirPods accidental damage - $29
- Apple TV accidental damage - $15
- Apple Vision Pro accidental damage - $299
- HomePod accidental damage - $39
- HomePod mini accidental damage - $15
- Mac display or enclosure damage - $99
- Other Mac damage - $299
- Apple Display screen damage - $99
- Other Apple Display damage - 299
Loss or Theft
AppleCare+ and AppleCare One offer coverage against loss or theft, which allows you to get a replacement device if needed. With AppleCare One, loss and theft coverage is available for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, as long as you pay the deductible fee.
AppleCare+ with theft and loss that's separate from AppleCare One is more expensive than the standard AppleCare+ plan, and it is only available for the iPhone.
Theft and loss options allow for two incidents of theft or loss coverage every 12 months, providing you keep Find My enabled on your lost device. There are also still deductibles for replacing a lost or stolen iPhone.
AppleCare Theft Replacement Deductibles:
- iPhone - $149
- Apple Watch - $119
- iPad - $129
AppleCare Availability and Pricing
Apple offers AppleCare plans on a range of devices, and the cost of the plan varies depending on which device it covers. Generally, the more expensive the device, the more AppleCare costs. AppleCare One is priced at $19.99 per month for three devices, but AppleCare+ pricing varies based on device.
There is a one-time purchase option when buying a new device, but Apple also offers AppleCare+ through a monthly recurring payment plan.
Other Coverage Options
If you are considering AppleCare, it may be worth exploring insurance plans offered by other companies for your device. Many banks, cell phone service providers, and renter's and homeowner's insurance policies cover devices. Some third-party Apple retailers may also offer an extended service plan with your purchase.
Other third-party warranty providers and insurance companies may offer device insurance policies that offer equivalent or better coverage than AppleCare, so it is worth exploring what policies are available for your Apple device in your jurisdiction. Many of these are also available via a monthly subscription and may beat the cost of AppleCare.
Is AppleCare Worth It?
Whether or not you should purchase AppleCare depends on how you use your Apple device, and how much risk and expense you are willing to take.
If you are prone to dropping or damaging your device, the argument moves towards adding AppleCare+. Similarly, additional loss and theft coverage will be dependent on how likely you believe you are to lose your device or have it stolen. Ultimately, some users are simply more careless with their devices, and for those people, AppleCare+ is worth it. If you have more than one device you want to protect, AppleCare One is worth considering.
In general, the editors at MacRumors feel that AppleCare is worth getting for Apple laptops that you plan on keeping for longer than one year, and iPhone, iPads, and Apple Watches due to the accidental damage coverage. For Apple TVs and HomePods, we generally don't see the need, and for desktop Macs and displays it becomes more of a personal judgement call.
Overall, AppleCare significantly reduces the stress and cost of accidental damage repairs or replacement devices, and eliminates the cost of repairing hardware failures, but it is a notable extra expense for coverage that still has some deductibles and limitations on claims. AppleCare is certainly not essential, and can be worth the additional peace of mind.
