AppleCare

All new Apple products come with a one-year limited warranty and 90 days of free technical support. If customers want more coverage for their new devices, they can pay for AppleCare+ extended warranty plans directly from Apple.

Customers have 30 to 60 days to activate AppleCare+ from the time of purchase. For many Apple devices, the coverage can be activated from the Settings app.

How AppleCare Works

Apple's basic device warranties cover manufacturer defects or failures, like bending, dents, or dead pixels. AppleCare builds on this by adding accidental damage repair and remote software support. It functions like car insurance, where you pay for the extended coverage upfront then pay a deductible when needed.

AppleCare doesn't cover user-created damage like unauthorized repair or modification, illegal software manipulation or download, or other non-accident-related events. In these cases, Apple will turn customers away or require full device replacement.

Apple will not provide support on devices that have not been updated to the latest software version.

Price and Coverage

Mac

Devices covered by this plan:

• Mac computer
• The battery when less than 80% capacity
• Accessories included in the box
• Apple memory
• AirPort devices if purchased within two years of the Mac
• Apple USB SuperDrive

Screen or enclosure damage costs $99 to repair, and any other damage costs $299. Customers only get two out-of-warranty repairs covered by AppleCare+. After using those up, they will have to pay full price.

AppleCare+ is available for all modern Macs and gets you three years of coverage.

• MacBook at $249
• MacBook Air at $249
• 13-inch MacBook Pro at $249
• 14-inch MacBook Pro at $279
• 15-inch MacBook Pro at $379
• 16-inch MacBook Pro at $399
• Mac mini at $99
• iMac at $169
• iMac Pro at $169
• Mac Pro at $299

Exclusive AppleCare Deals

Adorama is offering AppleInsider readers $80 off AppleCare+ for the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Use coupon code APINSIDER with our special 16-inch MacBook Pro pricing links to get your discount on an eligible 16-inch MacBook Pro.

Adorama is also offering a $60 discount on AppleCare+ for the 14-inch MacBook Pro and $50 off AC for the 2022 M2 13-inch MacBook Pro. Use the same coupon code APINSIDER to get the bonus discount alongside exclusive 14-inch MacBook Pro prices and 13-inch MacBook Pro prices (Need help? Here are step-by-step activation instructions).

iPhone

Devices covered by this plan:

• iPhone
• The battery when less than 80% capacity
• Accessories included in the box

Screen damage costs $29 to repair, and any other damage will cost $99. Customers only get two out-of-warranty repairs covered by AppleCare+ and will pay full price after using those up.

AppleCare+ is available for all currently supported iPhones. There is an additional theft and loss program exclusive to iPhone. Only the models sold by Apple can have a subscription-based AppleCare+ service.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $149 standard
• $219 with theft and lost protection

Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:

• $7.99/mo. standard
• $11.49/mo. with standard theft and loss protection

iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $199 standard
• $269 with theft and lost protection

Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:

• $9.99/mo. standard
• $13.49/mo. with standard theft and loss protection

iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $149 standard
• $219 with theft and lost protection

Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:

• $7.99/mo. standard
• $11.49/mo. with standard theft and loss protection

iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $199 standard
• $269 with theft and lost protection

Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:

• $9.99/mo. standard
• $13.49/mo. with standard theft and loss protection

iPhone 11

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $149 standard
• $219 with theft and lost protection

Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:

• $7.99/mo. standard
• $11.49/mo. with theft and loss protection

iPhone SE

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $79 standard
• $149 with theft and lost protection

Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:

• $3.99/mo. standard
• $7.49/mo. with theft and loss protection

iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $199 standard
• $299 with theft and lost protection

Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:

• $9.99/mo. standard
• $14.99/mo. with theft and loss protection

iPhone XR

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $149 standard
• $249 with theft and lost protection

Up to 5 years of coverage with monthly payments:

• $7.99/mo. standard
• $12.99/mo. with theft and loss protection

iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $199 standard
• $299 with theft and lost protection

iPhone 8 and iPhone 7

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $129 standard
• $199 with theft and lost protection

iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone 7 Plus

2 years of AppleCare+ with one-time payment:

• $149 standard
• $249 with theft and lost protection

Deductibles paid for loss or theft depend on the model affected:

• $149.00 for iPhone SE
• $199.00 for iPhone 8, iPhone 7, and iPhone 6s
• $229.00 for iPhone 11, iPhone XR, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 7 Plus, and iPhone 6s Plus
• $269.00 for iPhone 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone XS, iPhone XS Max, and iPhone X

iPad

Devices covered by this plan:

• iPad
• The battery when less than 80% capacity
• One Apple Pencil
• One Apple-branded iPad Keyboard
• AirPort devices if purchased within two years of the iPad
• Accessories included in the box

All repairs for the iPad cost $49 for any accidental damage and $29 for Apple Pencil or Apple-branded keyboard. AppleCare+ covers two incidents.

The insurance is available for all modern iPads and gets you two years of coverage.

• 11-inch iPad Pro at $129 or $5.99/mo.
• 12.9-inch iPad Pro at $129 or $5.99/mo.
• iPad Air at $69 or $3.49/mo.
• iPad mini at $69 or $3.49/mo.
• iPad at $69 or $3.49/mo.

Apple Watch

Devices covered by this plan:

• Apple Watch
• The battery when less than 80% capacity
• Accessories included in the box

Repairs cost $69 for the standard Apple Watch and Apple Watch Nike. The more expensive Apple Watch Edition and Apple Watch Hermes can be repaired for $79.

AppleCare+ is available for all modern Apple Watches and covered two accidental damage repairs over two years.

• Apple Watch Series 6 at $79
• Apple Watch SE at $49
• Apple Watch Series 5 at $79
• Apple Watch Series 4 at $79
• Apple Watch Series 3 at $49
• Apple Watch Nike at $79
• Apple Watch Edition at $149
• Apple Watch Hermes at $149

Apple Display

Devices covered by this plan:

• Apple display
• Included power cord
• One Apple-branded display stand and one Apple-branded mount when purchased at the same time

Service costs $99 for a damaged screen or enclosure, and $299 for any other damage. Two incidents are covered by insurance.

AppleCare+ is available for the Pro Display XDR for a 3-year plan at $499.

HomePod

Devices covered by this plan:

• HomePod
• AirPort devices if purchased within two years of the HomePod

Repairs will cost $39 for any HomePod incident or $15 for any HomePod mini incident, and the insurance will only cover two incidents.

AppleCare+ is available for two years of coverage at $39 for the HomePod and $15 for the HomePod mini.

Headphones

Devices covered by this plan:

• Your headphones
• The battery when less than 80% capacity
• Included accessories in the box

All repairs cost $29 for any damage to any model.

AppleCare+ is available for all Apple and Beats by Dre headphones, covering two years at $29 for most models:

• AirPods
• AirPods Pro
• Beats EP
• Beats Pro
• Beats Solo Pro
• Beats Solo3 Wireless
• Beats Studio3 Wireless
• BeatsX
• Powerbeats
• Powerbeats Pro
• Powerbeats3 Wireless

The only exception is the $549 AirPods Max, which costs $59 for two years of coverage.

Apple TV

Devices covered by this plan:

• Apple TV
• Included accessories in the box

Apple TV has a unique plan called the "AppleCare Protection Plan" at $39. There are no associated fees for repair because this isn't an insurance plan, but a warranty extension with better support options.

Apple does not expect accidental damage to come to a TV box that doesn't need to be moved or touched at any time after installation.

AppleCare is available for the current Apple TV 4 and Apple TV 4K.

Self Service Repair Program

Apple's Self Service Repair Program gives users a chance to repair their own iPhones using certified parts and tools. Rather than take the broken device to an Apple Store or Authorized Service Provider, users can contact Apple to rent tools, order parts, and perform the repair at home.

This program exists partially as a response to the Right to Repair movement that has been clamoring for Apple-sourced tools for home repair. While it has finally arrived in some part, it comes at a high cost and moderate risk.

If you rent Apple's 80 pounds of equipment to repair an iPhone, it'll cost you only $50 but a $1,200 hold will be placed on your card in case of damage or failure to return. You get the tools for exactly one week with penalties applied for late returns.

Apple says the parts are priced exactly the same as if an Apple Store were buying them. However, you'll need plenty of space and technical skill to perform the repair. Not to mention it'll take up your personal time and you risk breaking your device further.

The Self Service Repair Program is a fair alternative for those who don't live near an Authorized Service Provider or tinkerers looking to self-repair. Though the cost of paying Apple to repair the device for you may be the cheaper, more simple option.

The program is limited to iPhones for now with plans to expand into M-series Macs at a later date.

AppleCare+ Review

In early 2021, AppleInsider looked at the pros and cons of AppleCare+ for iPhone.

Calculations

Assuming Apple believes that you really are this unlucky, AppleCare+ could cover you for four screen repairs, four other damages, or four battery replacements. Or if you have AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss, it could cover you for four incidents of your iPhone being stolen.

It's four incidents in total, whichever they are. So maybe you could smash the screen, break an internal connection, crack the housing, and then have it stolen.

Unquestionably, Apple has calculated the costs, and it's also added up the odds. Apple knows just how many people buy AppleCare+, and it knows too how many of those ever make any claim on it.

You need to make the same calculation, at least as far as you are able. Maybe you've never cracked an iPhone screen in all the years you've had one, or maybe you always break them.

If you're the most prone to breaking screens, and you have a 2020 iPhone SE, then four repairs outside coverage would cost you $516. Four repairs with the standard AppleCare+ would add up to either $195 or $211.76, depending on whether you pay monthly or not.

Four repairs on the iPhone SE screen under AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss would add up to $265 or $295.76.

Taking just the one-off AppleCare+ cost, without theft and loss, gives a similar picture over all the eligible iPhones. Four screen repairs on the iPhone 11 would total $265, instead of an out-of-coverage total of $796.

With the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, four screen repairs under AppleCare+ would cost you the same $265, but without the coverage would be $916 for the iPhone 12, and $1,116 for the iPhone 12 mini.

Four screen repairs on the iPhone 12 Pro would cost you $315 with cover, and $1,116 without. And for the iPhone 12 Pro, the total would be the same $315 with AppleCare+, but without it you'd be paying $1,316."

Costs

If you never claim on AppleCare+, then it would appear to be wasted because you got no benefit from the fee. Equally, if you have one incident then under most circumstances, the total cost of repair is less if you have AppleCare+.

That would mean that if you're likely to have more than two incidents of damage in the first two years after buying an iPhone, AppleCare+ is worth it.

Of course, you can't really predict whether you're going to need AppleCare+ or not. But as well as meaning taking out AppleCare+ is a gamble, there is another side to it.

Rather than thinking about the specifics of how many times you can get your screen repaired, for instance, you could think about the peace of mind. Having AppleCare+ does mean the hit you will take if something goes wrong is less.

Then as well as the measurable benefits of repairs, AppleCare+ does include 24/7 technical support. You're perhaps going to have to want quite a lot of that to be worth the cost, but what you're paying for is the fact that it's available.

That's the real benefit of AppleCare+ overall. Knowing this, and knowing how prone you are to accidents, means that AppleCare+ might make you less nervous about this expensive device you've bought.