Apple
Apple just launched a new product coverage plan called Apple Care One, offering consumers comprehensive accident coverage on up to three Apple devices for $20 a month. That includes iPhones, MacBooks, iPads, and Apple Watches and AirPods.
The plan’s benefits include unlimited repairs for damage, 24/7 live support from Apple experts, battery replacement at no extra charge, and theft coverage for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch.
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The coverage service launches at a time when consumers are looking at their devices with longevity in mind. Economic uncertainties mean not everyone is going to be springing for the latest iPhone year after year, and Apple knows this all too well.
Apple MacBook Air M4 (15-inch)
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
If you’re wondering how this stacks up against current Apple Care coverage, Apple Care One consolidates coverage into one flat rate, instead of associating them with individual products. The result is that consumers with multiple devices could save money with the single flat fee – around $10 on average – especially if they’re prone to accidents.
There are some caveats, of course. The most important being that not every Apple device is eligible for coverage. In order to be added to the plan, the device must be less than four years old and in “good condition.” If that sounds a little vague, it is, but a good rule of thumb here is to consider whether or not the device is in good enough condition to be resold.
This means that scratches, dents, and cracked screens could disqualify a device from being eligible for coverage. But if you’re just facing cosmetic damages, you could simply have it repaired, significantly improving its chances for coverage.
A product’s software and hardware can be checked through Apple’s diagnostic tool, which will determine a device’s eligibility. During this process, you may also need to provide photos of the device to verify its condition.
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The limit on four year old products might also be a tough pill for some consumers to swallow, since that draws the line at the MacBook M2 as the oldest eligible laptop. For the iPhone, the 13 series would be the earliest, with any prior models not able to be covered.
Apple iOS 26 with Liquid Glass (from the Developer Beta).
Jason Hiner/ZDNET
Notably, however, Apple doesn’t care where you got the device and whether or not it’s new. That means refurbished products from third party resellers like Amazon are eligible for coverage, as long as they’re less than four years old and in good condition.
Is it worth it?
It depends. Look at regular Apple Care coverage, which costs $10 a month for a single iPhone. If you’re paying for three different Apple Care subscriptions for three phones ($30 a month), then yes, you’d save by going with the Apple Care One plan.
If you’re just paying for a single MacBook, however, that $3.49 monthly fee might not warrant the benefits of the Apple Care One and extra monthly fees (although that free battery replacement is tempting).
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It also depends on how hard you use your devices. If you’re someone who is slightly more accident prone (hey, no judgments) it might be worth the extra coverage for your iPhone, particularly if it’s a newer model you intend on keeping for several years.
If you have older Apple devices, they aren’t eligible for Apple Care One, and you’ll have no choice but to stick with your existing Apple Care plan.
How do you get it?
Apple Care One plans will now be offered to anyone purchasing a new Apple product at the point of sale, but it’s also available online, or through the settings app on associated devices. Once you purchase the plan, you choose the devices you want to add, whether they’re new or old (up to four years, or one year for AirPods). You can also add or remove eligible products from the plan at any time.
Whether you have one device or three, the monthly fee remains at $20, so I would say the plan works best for people who have three devices to cover. If you have more, you can add more to the plan at $5.99 a pop, although that quickly inflates the price.
