- Apple provides a standard 1-year warranty (or 2 years for Apple Watch Edition/Hermès) covering hardware issues not caused by the user, plus 90 days of free technical support.
- Express Replacement Service is included with AppleCare+, so you get a replacement device first, before sending yours in.
- Buying AppleCare+ is recommended if you tend to use devices long-term, travel often, or have a history of accidental damage or theft.
Apple care is the security that can be purchased to cover accidents and hardware failures of the Apple products. Apple usually offers one year of standard warranty with Apple products (2 years in the case of Apple Watch Edition or Hermès), which covers issues within the products which are not from the end of users. They also offer 90 days of complimentary technical support.
AppleCare and AppleCare+ protection plans are like cherry on the top which covers the limitation of the standard warranty and protects your devices from any hardware failure or accidents. But is it worth paying for in 2025? Let’s discuss the AppleCare protection plan and is it worth paying for or not.
What is the Standard Warranty Of Apple Products?
Apple standard warranty is just like the warranty you get over your products from one year of purchase. The standard warranty on Apple products comes free of cost for a year. The warranty can be for 2 years for Apple Watch Edition or Hermès. Within the warranty period, if the product breaks or is faulty, and it is not through the fault of the user, then Apple will fix it for free.
You get this warranty irrespective of the place from where you buy it and can be transferred to the owner if you plan on selling it to someone within the warranty period. However, the warranty can vary and may have some limitations depending on the country you live in.
The standard warranty does not cover any accidental damages done to the products. It does not cover theft of device, screen or body cracks, and liquid spilled, or any other physical damage. Moreover, if there are some issues in the device due to the physical damage from the fault of the user or if you want to bypass iCloud then you can take their help, this may lead to voiding the standard warranty of the Apple products.
What are Apple Care and Apple Care+?
AppleCare and AppleCare+ are added protection plan which can be bought after purchasing the products. These protection plans don’t come with the product but have to be purchased separately within 60 days of buying the product (in some cases 1 year if you’re in Japan or some EU countries).
Both these protection plans cover additional damage that can be done to the products. These are added to the standard warranty and protect the devices for up to two to three years, or even longer if you go for monthly subscription option, which keeps renewing until you cancel.
| Device | Monthly Plan | Annual Plan | 3-Year Plan | Theft & Loss Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max | $13.99 | $139.99 | N/A | ✅ Included |
| iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max | $13.99 | $139.99 | N/A | ✅ Included |
| iPhone 14 Pro / Pro Max | $13.99 | $139.99 | N/A | ✅ Included |
| iPhone 16 / 15 / 14 | $11.99 | $119.99 | N/A | ✅ Included |
| MacBook Pro 14-inch (M3) | $9.99 | $99.99 | $279.00 | ❌ Not Available |
| MacBook Pro 16-inch (M3 Max) | $14.99 | $149.99 | $399.00 | ❌ Not Available |
| MacBook Air 13″ (M3) | $7.99 | $79.99 | $229.00 | ❌ Not Available |
| MacBook Air 15″ (M3) | $8.99 | $89.99 | $249.00 | ❌ Not Available |
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | $4.99 | $49.99 | N/A | ❌ Not Available |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | $3.99 | $39.99 | N/A | ❌ Not Available |
| Apple Watch SE (2nd/3rd Gen) | $2.49 | $24.99 | N/A | ❌ Not Available |
What Is Covered In Apple Care And Apple Care +?
Apple Care+ extends the features of the standard warranty and provides furthermore protection to the devices or the products that you use. Let’s discuss what is covered in Apple Care.
Cost Of Repair
AppleCare covers the repairing of the products, no matter what the cost of the repair may be. However, know that AppleCare only covers hardware failure and not the accidental damage done to the device.
With AppleCare+, the repair fees are much lower than out-of-warranty prices. iPhones, Apple Watches, and iPads can also request Express Replacement Service, and receive the device before sending the original device for repair.
Accidental Damage
Accidental damages are covered in the AppleCare+ protection plan. There is a fixed deductible depending on the damage and the device.
- Broken iPhone screen: $29
- Other accidental damage: $99
- MacBook screen damage: $99
- Other MacBook accidental damage: $299
Without AppleCare+, the same repairs can cost $400–$800, or even more for high-end MacBooks.
Loss Or Theft
Loss or Theft of the device is covered only if you buy the AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss. If your iPhone is lost or stolen, you can get a replacement device after paying a deductible:
- Loss/Theft Replacement Fee for iPhone: $149–$269
- You must have Find My iPhone turned on at the time of loss to be eligible.
ALSO READ: How To Cancel Apple Free Music Trial
Is Apple Care Different From Apple Care +?
Yes, both are different.
- AppleCare (original) was mostly extended hardware coverage.
- AppleCare+ is the newer and more complete plan that includes accidental damage and, optionally, theft/loss.
- AppleCare+ now also includes battery service if your battery drops below 80% capacity.
AppleCare+ covers 2 incidents of accidental damage every 12 months, and if you get the Theft & Loss version, that includes 2 theft/loss replacements too.
ALSO READ: How to Get Apple Music Premium Free for Lifetime iOS
Opinion: Should You Go For Apple Care?
Well, this depends on how you use your product.
If you’re rough with your devices, tend to drop your phone a lot, or already broke a few screens in the past… yes, get it. Apple repair charges without coverage are sky-high in 2025.
For iPhones, especially the Pro models, AppleCare+ with Theft & Loss is 100% worth it if you’re out and about often or travel a lot.
For MacBooks, which are expensive and usually used for 3–5 years, getting AppleCare+ makes total sense. One bad drop or liquid spill, and your repair bill could cost more than AppleCare+ itself.
But if you’re someone who babies their devices, use a case and screen protector, don’t drop phones, and don’t plan to keep the product more than a year, then maybe you can skip it.
