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What AppleCare+ covers—and what it does not
Apple’s U.S. overview describes AppleCare+ as adding hardware service and technical support. It advertises unlimited accidental-damage repairs per covered device, subject to service fees, and battery service if battery capacity falls below 80% of its original capacity. Available repair routes can include an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider, mail-in service, and—on some products—express replacement. Benefits and service options are not identical for every product or plan, so check the terms for your exact device.
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Accidental-damage coverage is not general-purpose insurance. Apple’s U.S. terms describe covered damage as resulting from an unexpected and unintentional external event. They exclude normal wear and tear, theft, misplacement, and damage tied to reckless, abusive, willful, or intentional conduct. Apple may repair or replace a device on an approved claim after the applicable service fee is paid. Read the contract for your own plan and location: AppleCare+ terms.
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How much an AppleCare repair can cost
A service fee is what you pay for an eligible claim; it is separate from the plan premium. Apple’s current U.S. fee schedule gives these examples, accessed in 2026. Fees depend on the model and plan, so use Apple’s service fee page to confirm the amount for your device.
#1 Best Overall
- BEST VALUE: Protect all your eligible Amazon purchases including: tech, tools, appliances, furniture and more. All for one low monthly price.
- PAST AND FUTURE PROTECTION: Covers malfunctions and failures, plus drops or spills for eligible portable items. Protection begins immediately for eligible purchases from the past 90 days, plus all eligible future purchases (products used commercially are excluded).
- TRUSTED CYBERSECURITY: Digital security with scam detection for emails and texts.
- EASY CLAIMS: File in minutes at www.asurion.com/amazon for fast repair or reimbursement - up to the purchase price.
- NO HIDDEN FEES. CANCEL ANYTIME: Up to $5,000 in total claims per 12-month period. Your plan renews monthly until canceled (coupons applied at checkout don’t renew monthly).
| Device or claim | Example U.S. service fee |
|---|---|
| iPhone screen and back-glass damage | $29 |
| iPhone other accidental damage | $99 |
| iPhone theft or loss | $149 |
| Specified current iPad models: screen damage | $29 |
| Specified current iPad models: other accidental damage | $99 |
| iPad theft or loss | $129 |
| Many Mac models: screen or enclosure accidental damage | $99 |
| Many Mac models: other accidental damage | $299 |
| MacBook Neo: screen or enclosure accidental damage | $49 |
| MacBook Neo: other accidental damage | $149 |
| Apple Watch accidental damage | $69; $79 for Ultra and Hermès |
| Apple Watch theft or loss | $119 |
The iPad examples apply to specified current models; other iPads use a different fee schedule. Mac fees also vary by model. Do not treat a low screen-repair fee as the full cost of coverage: add premiums and any fees for plausible claims over your ownership period.
Does AppleCare cover theft and loss?
Only plans that include theft-and-loss coverage do. Do not assume standard AppleCare+ includes it. In Apple’s current U.S. legal overview, AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss allows up to two theft-or-loss incidents per 12 months. AppleCare One allows up to three such incidents per 12 months for eligible iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch devices. An eligible loss claim also has a deductible; the U.S. fee examples above list $149 for iPhone, $129 for iPad, and $119 for Apple Watch. Check the plan’s eligibility rules and exact terms at Apple’s legal overview.
Rank #2
- No Additional Cost: You pay nothing for repairs – parts, labor, and shipping included.
- Coverage: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Malfunctions covered after the manufacturer's warranty. Power surges covered from day one. Real experts are available 24/7 to help with set-up, connectivity issues, troubleshooting and much more.
- Easy Claims Process: File a claim anytime online or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. If we can’t repair it, we’ll send you an Amazon e-gift card for the purchase price of your covered product or replace it.
- Product Eligibility: Plan must be purchased with a product or within 30 days of the product purchase. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Terms & Details: More information about this protection plan is available within the “Product guides and documents” section. Simply click “User Guide” for more info. Terms & Conditions will be available in Your Orders on Amazon. Asurion will also email your plan confirmation with Terms & Conditions to the address associated with your Amazon account within 24 hours of purchase.
Compare the plan with your real alternatives
Apple’s U.S. plans and fees are not universal prices. The public overview varies by product and billing term, and local prices and terms may differ. For an exact comparison, use Apple’s current offer for your model and country: AppleCare product overview. Apple’s U.S. overview lists AppleCare One at $19.99 per month for up to three eligible products, with each additional eligible product at $5.99 per month. Its family option is $49.99 per month for eligible products belonging to up to six Family Sharing members. Those bundle prices are useful only if you have multiple eligible devices and the terms suit your household.
Apple’s U.S. disclosure dated March 2, 2026 specifies fixed-term theft-and-loss insurance premium components of $70 for iPhone, $40 for iPad, and $20 for Apple Watch. Those are components, not the full plan prices; use the disclosure only for the fixed-term offer it describes: Apple’s U.S. disclosure and terms.
Rank #3
- No Additional Cost: You pay nothing for repairs – parts, labor, and shipping included.
- Coverage: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Malfunctions covered after the manufacturer's warranty. Power surges covered from day one. Real experts are available 24/7 to help with set-up, connectivity issues, troubleshooting and much more.
- Easy Claims Process: File a claim anytime online or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. If we can’t repair it, we’ll send you an Amazon e-gift card for the purchase price of your covered product or replace it.
- Product Eligibility: Plan must be purchased with a product or within 30 days of the product purchase. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Terms & Details: More information about this protection plan is available within the “Product guides and documents” section. Simply click “User Guide” for more info. Terms & Conditions will be available in Your Orders on Amazon. Asurion will also email your plan confirmation with Terms & Conditions to the address associated with your Amazon account within 24 hours of purchase.
Before choosing, compare the dimensions that can change the outcome:
- Coverage: Confirm the exact device, country, plan, and duration, and whether theft or loss is included.
- Total cost: Add every premium during the period you expect to keep the device, then add the service fee or deductible for each plausible covered claim.
- Repair needs: Consider the potential repair or replacement bill without coverage, not just the cheapest covered repair fee.
- Convenience and support: Decide how much you value Apple’s available service routes and technical support for your product.
- Other protection: Check any card or insurance policy contract directly. Do not assume it covers accidental damage, theft, your specific device, or its full replacement value.
A practical way to decide if AppleCare is worth it
- Identify the exact offer. Confirm your device model, country, AppleCare plan, billing term, and coverage duration on Apple’s current product page.
- Calculate premiums for your ownership period. If you expect to keep the device for two years, for example, total the premiums you would actually pay across those two years rather than comparing one monthly payment with one repair fee.
- Add plausible claim fees. Use the fee for the type of damage you are considering. For theft or loss, include a plan that actually covers it and its applicable deductible.
- Compare against going uncovered. Weigh that total against plausible repair or replacement costs and ask whether you could comfortably pay those costs yourself.
- Check for overlap. Read the terms of any existing card benefit or insurance policy before treating it as a substitute; coverage varies by contract.
This calculation is a way to compare choices, not a prediction that you will make a claim or save money. AppleCare may still make sense when its cost is higher than the amount you expect to recover: protection from a bill you cannot comfortably absorb has value of its own.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- No Additional Cost: You pay nothing for repairs – parts, labor, and shipping included.
- Coverage: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Malfunctions covered after the manufacturer's warranty. Power surges covered from day one. Real experts are available 24/7 to help with set-up, connectivity issues, troubleshooting and much more.
- Easy Claims Process: File a claim anytime online or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. If we can’t repair it, we’ll send you an Amazon e-gift card for the purchase price of your covered product or replace it.
- Product Eligibility: Plan must be purchased with a product or within 30 days of the product purchase. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Terms & Details: More information about this protection plan is available within the “Product guides and documents” section. Simply click “User Guide” for more info. Terms & Conditions will be available in Your Orders on Amazon. Asurion will also email your plan confirmation with Terms & Conditions to the address associated with your Amazon account within 24 hours of purchase.
Rank #4
- No Additional Cost: You pay nothing for repairs – parts, labor, and shipping included.
- Coverage: Plan starts on the date of purchase. Malfunctions covered after the manufacturer's warranty. Power surges covered from day one. Real experts are available 24/7 to help with set-up, connectivity issues, troubleshooting and much more.
- Easy Claims Process: File a claim anytime online or by phone. Most claims approved within minutes. If we can’t repair it, we’ll send you an Amazon e-gift card for the purchase price of your covered product or replace it.
- Product Eligibility: Plan must be purchased with a product or within 30 days of the product purchase. Pre-existing conditions are not covered.
- Terms & Details: More information about this protection plan is available within the “Product guides and documents” section. Simply click “User Guide” for more info. Terms & Conditions will be available in Your Orders on Amazon. Asurion will also email your plan confirmation with Terms & Conditions to the address associated with your Amazon account within 24 hours of purchase.
When AppleCare is more or less compelling
It may be worth considering when
- A major repair or replacement would be difficult to pay for out of pocket.
- Your use or circumstances make accidental damage, theft, or loss a meaningful concern.
- You want Apple’s available repair and support options and understand the service fees.
- You need coverage for theft or loss and are comparing a plan that explicitly includes it.
Self-insuring may suit you better when
- You have savings to handle a repair or replacement without financial strain.
- You have low exposure to damage and plan to keep the device for a short time.
- A policy you already hold provides relevant protection, confirmed in its contract.
- The premium plus plausible service fees does not justify the protection for your situation.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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