Whether those prices are worth it depends on what kind of phone you have and how much risk you’re comfortable with.
Let’s say you lose your iPhone 17 Pro within the first year of owning it. The cost of replacing it is $288 (a $149 deductible, plus the $139 you paid for the AppleCare+ plan). That’s a significant savings when you’re talking about a $1,100 phone.
But the savings aren’t as substantial in every scenario. If you lose your iPhone 17 Pro in the second year of owning it, for example, and sank another $139 to extend AppleCare+ coverage, you’ll spend $427 in all to have your iPhone 17 Pro replaced.
If you drop your iPhone 16e and crack the screen, you’ll have to pay a $29 deductible to get the screen replaced. Add the $100 fee for AppleCare+, and your total cost is $129. If you don’t have the protection plan and need that repair, you’ll be paying $229. That’s a difference of only $100. If that level of risk seems acceptable to you, you’re probably better off skipping AppleCare+, especially if you protect your phone in a case and rarely drop it.
In CR’s annual smartphone survey, members reported that the most common reason they had their iPhones repaired was to replace the battery. For the iPhone 16, 15, and 14 models (and presumably the new iPhone 17, once Apple updates its repair prices), that costs $99 without AppleCare+; replacing the battery on an iPhone 13 costs $89.
These prices are less than the $120 annual fee for AppleCare+, so if your main concern is the battery wearing out, it’s cheaper to just have the battery replaced without the plan.
Keep in mind that every iPhone automatically comes with a one-year limited warranty, but this only covers hardware problems that aren’t the result of accidental damage. You’ll still be on the hook for, say, a cracked screen or broken camera from dropping your device.
Coverage under AppleCare+ also has restrictions. The plan doesn’t cover damage caused by “reckless, abusive, willful, or intentional conduct.” So if you were planning to test out your new phone’s toughness by running over it with a car, don’t. And you can’t collect on a theft or loss claim if you don’t have Find My iPhone activated at the time your device disappears.
Also, the repair costs we’re citing here are for work done by Apple. You might be able to get cheaper battery or screen replacements, for instance, at an independent shop. And if you’re not afraid to take apart your expensive phone, Apple now offers a self-service repair option that gives you access to genuine Apple parts, the repair manual, and rental tools. But the process is . . . difficult. Most people are better off leaving the repairs to professionals.
