Why You Should Probably Buy AppleCare+ for Your iPhone

It’s no secret that iPhones are some of the most expensive phones on the market — and not without good reason — as Apple is one of the best in the business. But, with that pricey tech comes the worry that something might happen to your iPhone and whether there is a way to cover the costs of damage, repair, or a lost phone. That’s why you might Buy AppleCare+ for your new iPhone.

Well, having an additional warranty status or insurance always come in handy if you’re in a trouble with the device. It may be related to the physical damage of the device, software-related issues, display or battery regarding common issues, etc.

Obviously, the extended warranty or insurance can also give you peace of mind when it comes to accidental damage or loss without a second thought. However, the extended warranty or insurance does come with a higher cost mostly.

In some cases, it doesn’t even cover everything related to the device damage because the terms and conditions are tagged with a couple of specific issues or parts. So, spending extra costs on insurance may not be worth always, depending on the condition.

So, AppleCare+ might be Apple’s own official service of product insurance. But does it mean that it’s a perfect solution for your iPhone? Right-to-repair services and cheaper alternatives are always there for you.

So, why choosing AppleCare+ is the right decision for you as of now? Let’s find out. Here in this guide, we’ll take a brief look at the AppleCare+ service and whether it’s worth buying for your newly purchased iPhone model or not.

What’s AppleCare+?

AppleCare+ is an added (extended) warranty protection service that can also be considered insurance. AppleCare+ service is applicable for iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple Watches, etc items that are in Apple’s ecosystem.

It’s a one-stop solution for all technical support, hardware service, and even software support for all Apple devices. We all know Apple makes the hardware, the operating system, and other applications for its products.

Therefore, AppleCare+ can be a total service solution for you directly from Apple experts in a single call. Now, the actual part comes into the light which is its additional cost.

It offers you unique customer service more than the standard 90 days of service support by Apple for each device. It also covers hardware malfunction for up to three years and some accidental coverage as well something like breakage or water damage, etc.

But when it comes to the cost sum-up or the comparison of the expenditure, most Apple iPhone users don’t want to get involved with AppleCare+. We should also mention that AppleCare and AppleCare+ are slightly different and offer the same additional 90 days of phone support.

But it also provides additional bot phone support and an extended hardware warranty for up to three years. Subscribers can also get some lower-cost options for the routine repairs and replacement services of their Apple devices whenever required (subject to the service fees and taxes).

How AppleCare+ is Different from a Manufacturer’s Warranty?

AppleCare+ costs differently depending on your iPhone model. Meanwhile, after the launch of the all-new iPhone 14 lineup in 2022, Apple has also announced the AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss service additionally for interested users.

• For AppleCare+:
  • iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Mini, and iPhone 12 will cost you $149/two years ($7.99/monthly).
  • iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max costs $199/two years ($9.99/monthly).
  • Apple iPhone 14 Plus will cost $179/two years ($8.99/monthly).
  • iPhone SE (3rd generation) will cost $79 for 2 years and $3.99 (monthly).

• For AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss:
  • iPhone 14, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, and iPhone 12 will cost $219/two years ($11.49/monthly).
  • iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max cost $269/two years ($13.49/monthly).
  • While iPhone 14 Plus will cost $249/two years ($12.49/monthly).
  • iPhone SE (3rd generation) costs $149 for two years & $7.49/monthly.

How to Buy AppleCare+?

Well, you can either purchase AppleCare+ with your newly purchased Apple iPhone together or buy it within 60 days of your iPhone purchase. So, not more than two months of the product purchase. It’s important.

• On your iPhone, go to Settings > Tap on General.
• Tap on About > Choose AppleCare+ Coverage Available.

• You may need to install the Apple Support app on the iPhone (if asked).
• Online purchase requires you to verify the serial number of the iPhone and run a remote diagnostic.
• Offline purchase at an Apple Store requires an inspection of your iPhone and proof of purchase for the verification process.
• You can also call on 800-275-2273 which requires you to run a remote diagnostic and the proof of purchase for the verification process.

Now, you’ve understood why it’s quite difficult and unusual for iPhone users to play those AppleCare+ prices upfront. Already the cost of iPhones is considerably high enough due to the premium segment of smartphones.

Additionally, the newly released iPhone models can go more than $1,000 in the market depending on the country, colour variant, storage options, available stocks, etc. Even though Amazon partners with Apple for online sales, the cost may vary sometimes.

Now, talking about the AppleCare+ service, screen repairs aren’t free with it. Apple has already provided the fees chart where the screen repair cost will be $29 per incident for up to two incidents every 12 months. And $99 for other accidental damages while theft & loss will cost $149.

So, if someone breaks the iPhone screen accidentally then the repair cost will be almost the same as the service.

What If Someone Considers Repairing Through a Third-Party?

It’s where some people are taking advantage as well because local shops or third-party companies do offer iPhone repair services at a cheaper cost. But sometimes they also start monopoly policies in the name of parts availability, 100% original parts, original battery, original screen, and more.

Meanwhile, some local repair shops or third-party services are quite reliable for iPhone repair. It works faster and costs much less than Apple’s service in any way. Additionally, you’re also promoting the local service and business for sure.

Those who are passionate about technology and experts in iPhone repair should be promoted as well as appreciated without a second thought. Because repairing an iPhone is quite time-consuming and complex as compared to other Android smartphones on the market.

Right to Repair Service should be there

There is another option available for interested third-party technicians or experts to repair the Apple iPhone by themselves. Well, iFixit offers awesome dedicated information and tutorial guides for people to help repair their own iPhone devices.

You can simply get into the tutorial guides properly to start repairing your own or other iPhone devices. The guide will also help you in purchasing required items and tools whatever you’ll need to repair a specific model or parts.

You’ll have a beginner or intermediate level of technical knowledge and some additional patience to do the job properly. So, it’s not everyone’s cup of tea. So, mobile repair shops in your locality are fine enough.

What’s the Problem with the Right to Repair or Local Repair Services?

It’s quite controversial for several reasons why Apple offers costly AppleCare+ services for its products in this competitive market. Well, the answer is simple. Apple wants a monopoly business and market share capture in every aspect.

Apple doesn’t like to get iPhones repaired from any third-party services at any cost. The company is interested in generating more revenue and one single-stop option for all iPhone users through the AppleCare+ protection.

Now, you may ask why. Apple hates third-party repairs from a business point of view. As the company develops both the hardware and software for an iPhone after spending millions of dollars in Research & Development, they want a full capture of the market.

It seems that Apple has already started moving towards its goal because iFixit has reported that Apple has designed the iPhone 13 series in a way with the chipset which can disable the Face ID feature if a third-party screen repair is done.

Now, you can think about the big game of Apple. So, it’s almost impossible for third-party repair experts to bring back the disabled Face ID feature after repairing the screen of an iPhone 13 series or later. Whereas even non-authorized mobile stores can also do this mess.

Once more and more iPhone users come across this issue or the news has been officially announced, there will be no other option for a user to go back to the official Apple service centre or grab the AppleCare+ protection.

While repairing the screen, the chipset is remotely integrated with Apple so that the company can check whether the repair has been initiated officially or not. If the repair is not approved officially, the chipset will immediately disable the iPhone’s main security feature ‘Face ID’.

iFixit has claimed it was a wrong move by Apple and this is how the right-to-repair movement has been flagged online. Sadly, the chances are high that millions of iPhone users are still not aware of this.

It’s quite hard for local and third-party repair professionals to get involved with the thousands of dollars of equipment for microsoldering. Interested professionals can also enrol themselves in Apple’s repair program to get trained and access screen repair.

It’s killing local and third-party repair services by a huge margin. Some reports are claiming that luckily Apple has faced so much criticism regarding it and decided to remove this policy after the backlash.

So, we’re expecting Apple will soon announce an update ensuring there will be no bricking of Face ID during a screen repair or replacement by the third-party service anymore for the iPhone 13 series. We don’t know about the iPhone 14 lineup yet if Apple continue the same plan or not.

Right to Repair Service can be Ultimate

In conclusion, the right-to-repair service or program is one of the best options right now and it would be the right choice in the future too. In this scenario, iPhone users will have the best possible choices and cheaper options to get their devices repaired.

Additionally, iPhone users can pick alternative third-party insurance services every year at a much cheaper price. It’ll also allow both the users and repair professionals to get into face-to-face contact or phone calls as well as some bargaining deals.

Transparency in service fees, yearly contracts (AMC), cost of specific hardware parts, competition in cost-effectiveness, better service ratings & reviews, etc will also come in handy to the customers.

According to some sources, the right-to-repair progress is on its way as the honourable President Biden has signed an executive order indicating the FTC to make some useful rules and guidelines regarding the consumer’s benefit against tech brands.

So, Right-to-Repair is the only solution for third-party repairs if you want your iPhone to get repaired at your own choice and cheaper rates. However, we’re not sure when this thing will gonna change and apply to users worldwide.

Currently, AppleCare+ is the Best Choice

So, as of now, AppleCare+ is useful for you if you’re a careless person to handle your costly iPhone. iPhones are considered one of the investments that can cost more but run in long-term usage for at least 4-5 years without any issues.

Now, if you’re also planning to use your iPhone for a minimum of 3-4 years, and then you might be handing it over to your parents or children or even selling it, you should consider purchasing AppleCare+ for two years. It’ll be more than sufficient for you.

There is no need to go for advanced Theft and Loss protection which unnecessarily costs more. Apple’s brand value is on top and iPhones do have a better resale value history in the last decade.

That means you’ll get around 30%-40% of the minimum value as compared to the original selling price when you purchased it 3-4 years ago. That’s why you should probably buy AppleCare+ for your new iPhone.

Plus some iPhone users prefer to get it repaired from an officially authorized service center or Apple Store for better reliability. This is what they’re trained for.

Third-party repair professionals or shops lack responsibility in some worst cases. So, what else do you want?

Try Investing in Better iPhone Protections

Even after purchasing the AppleCare+ plan, if you’re still worrying about spending additional repair costs for an incident then don’t worry. You can spend a few bucks to get better protection for your iPhone.

Such as a better full-screen glass protector, camera lens rings, shockproof or rugged iPhone case (back cover), pop sockets, etc.

These protective accessories will do their job a lot better for a couple of years without any second thoughts. Once the accessories get old or physically damaged, get a new one.

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