So, you just bought a new iPhone or iPad (or are planning to buy one). That’s great! Now it’s time to think about protecting and taking care of your new device. No matter how careful you are, things can happen to your device, and AppleCare is one way to make sure all your bases remain covered.
Is AppleCare+ worth it?
The answer to this question is almost always yes. The $99 AppleCare+ plan offered for the iPhone (4S and later) and the iPad (3rd-gen and later) not only extends your warranty to a full two years, but also covers up to 2 incidents of accidental damage protection (with a $79 fee per each claim). If you’re at all accident prone, or think there’s even a remote chance that your iPad may encounter problems (like a stuck home button) after the first year, it would be wise to purchase AppleCare.
At $99, AppleCare+ is a very affordable extended warranty, and you’ll most likely see its value time and time again as you use your device. In the real world, devices break. People drop their iPads. These things happen. You may as well be prepared when they do.
While there are other options, like a third-party warranty through SquareTrade, having both your device support and accidental damage policies with Apple has its benefits, as they’re likely to be the first number that you call when something foes wrong with your device anyway.
It’s also worth noting that you don’t have to make your decision right away – you have up to 30 days to purchase an AppleCare plan from the time your online order shipped, or from your date of purchase in the Apple Store.
My advice is to buy an AppleCare+ policy. You just spend hundreds of dollars on a new device, so you may as well pay the extra $99 to protect your device. Your plan will pay for itself, and then some, after breaking your device (or making an out-of-warranty service call) just one time. That’s a smart way to ensure your peace of mind.
* Updated for the iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s (9/17/2013)
