Is AppleCare+ Worth the Investment for Your New Apple Device?

Merry Christmas! The big day is here, and if you’ve been fortunate enough to find a shiny new Apple product under the tree today — perhaps an iPhone 17 Pro, the sleek new iPhone Air, or an M5 MacBook Pro — you’ve likely already unboxed it and started enjoying it.

However, you’ll also want to get off to a good start on setting it up and ensuring it’s well taken care of. That may mean following our essential tips for setting up your new Mac or checking out our recommended cases for style and protection or utility.

Many iPhone fans debate whether you really need a case for your iPhone. The iPhone isn’t as fragile as you might think, thanks to Apple’s Ceramic Shield glass, while it doesn’t make your iPhone indestructible, it can certainly help protect it against the bumps and scrapes of everyday life. On the other hand, Apple’s choice to go with a unibody aluminum design on this year’s iPhone 17 Pro models has resulted in them being more vulnerable to nicks and scratches.

Still, the cosmic orange iPhone 17 Pro is enough of a looker that you may decide it’s worth living with the risks of drops and scratches to avoid covering up its vibrant and fun finish. Plus, many standard glass screen protectors nullify the new anti-reflective coating on the Ceramic Shield 2. If you value that glare reduction, you’re often better off going case-free with AppleCare+ or seeking out specialized (and expensive) AR-compatible protectors.

Either way, the good news is there’s another way to get some good peace of mind: purchase an AppleCare+ plan.

While AppleCare+ is available for nearly all of Apple’s products, it’s an especially great buy for iPhone users, as those are the devices most likely to face drops and scratches. For a relatively low monthly fee, you can have peace of mind that Apple will fix your iPhone for a much more affordable price should it suffer an unfortunate accident — and even replace it for a nominal fee if it’s lost or stolen.

AppleCare+ is also an option worth considering for your new MacBook, especially if you’re on the go all the time. It offers the same kind of accidental damage protection, although there’s no theft or loss coverage. However, it can also be valuable for the long term, as you can keep on paying for it even after Apple’s standard warranty expires, ensuring that future problems with things like you battery or keyboard — things that tend to wear out one way or another — will be covered without the need to spend a bundle on repairs.

If Santa already added AppleCare+ to your new iPhone or Mac, you’ll be good to go, but if not, you still have up to 60 days to purchase it, and you can do so right from the Settings app.

If you’re in the US, you also now have the option of AppleCare One, a bundle that will let you cover several of your Apple products for a single monthly fee. This starts at $19.99 for three Apple devices, which can be any combination of an iPhone, MacBook, iPad, AirPods, and more, and you can add coverage for additional devices for $5.99 per device. Theft and Loss coverage is also included for those classes of devices where it’s available: the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. AppleCare One not only saves money for anyone who’s heavily invested in the Apple ecosystem, but it also avoids the fatigue of multiple subscriptions.

AppleCare+ for iPhone

Whether you buy it standalone or as part of AppleCare One, AppleCare+ has evolved far beyond a simple extended warranty. It’s now a robust insurance policy against everything from accidental damage to theft. If your iPhone dies due to a manufacturing defect, the standard one-year warranty covers it, but if you drop it on the sidewalk, that’s where AppleCare+ comes in.

• Unlimited Accidental Damage Repairs: As long as your plan is active, you can break your screen as many times as you want (though we don’t recommend it).
• Monthly or Annual Subscriptions: You no longer need to pay $200+ upfront. You can subscribe monthly or annually through the Settings app.
• Battery Coverage: If your battery health drops below 80%, Apple replaces it for free.

It also extends the warranty on the iPhone and other Apple products for as long as you continue paying for it, and includes virtually unlimited tech support and an “Express Replacement” service where Apple will ship you a new device right away, before you send yours in for repair. They’ll place a temporary authorization hold on your credit card for the replacement’s value, which is released once they receive your damaged unit.

The Math: Is it Worth It?

For an iPhone 17 Pro Max, a screen replacement without coverage typically costs around $379. With AppleCare+, that price drops to a flat $29. Even when you factor in the monthly subscription fee, cracking your screen just once every two years makes the plan pay for itself.

Of course, like any insurance plan, Apple and its insurer hopes most folks will pay for AppleCare+ and never make a single claim. If you’re the type of person who’s extremely careful with your iPhone, then you may end paying for nothing more than a little bit of extra peace of mind. Still, accidents do happen.

On the other hand, if you tend to be clumsy or accident-prone, AppleCare+ could pay for itself in no time. Unlimited means unlimited, so you can crack your screen every week and get it repaired for $29 each time. The folks at the local Genius Bar might be tempted to report you for iPhone abuse, but you’ll still be covered.

Still, that all assumes that you’re only worried about screen damage. AppleCare+ will cover other types of accidental damage for a flat $99 deductible — a repair cost that can run up to $799 otherwise — and replace the battery for free if it drops below 80% health, versus a $119 standard battery replacement fee.