AppleCare+ drops prepaid options | Logo Credit: Apple
Just days after it was rumored to happen, Apple has officially killed off prepaid multi-year AppleCare+ plans — at retail locations, at least.
On Sunday, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman announced on X that Apple would be shifting its AppleCare+ extended warranty program to a subscription model. Gurman postulated that the change would take place sooner, rather than later.
And, as anticipated, Apple has done just that.
Buyers could previously add AppleCare+ at the point of purchase, or online through Apple within 60 days of purchase. They were also given the chance to extend coverage up to 45 days after they expire in select countries.
But, as of Tuesday, prepaid options have been dropped at all retail outlets. If you purchase your product at Apple’s website, you can still buy a prepaid two-or-three year AppleCare+ plan — for now.
Some products, like all AirPod models, HomePod and HomePod mini, and Apple TV lack a subscription option for AppleCare. Instead, customers can purchase two-or-three year long coverage, depending on the device.
Small products, like AirTag, and accessories like keyboards, mice, and the Apple Pencil are ineligible for AppleCare+ coverage.
Apple introduced the indefinite-length AppleCare+ subscription option in 2021.
The subscription option offers buyers the flexibility to cover their purchases for as long as they want. Essentially, it serves as product insurance.
AppleCare+ subscriptions cover many Apple devices, like iPhone, iPad, Mac models, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, and Apple Displays. It is a separate service from AppleCare, which comes gratis with all new Apple products.
AppleCare is a one-year limited warranty and 90 days of free technical support. It covers manufacturer hardware defects or failures, like bending, dents, or dead pixels. It does not cover accidental damage from handling, such as cracked screens.
AppleCare+, however, covers accidental damage, battery depletion, and adds in 24/7 priority access to technical support. Apple iPhone owners can elect to add theft and loss coverage for an additional charge.
Alongside the shift in purchasing options for up pre-paid plans, Apple has also increased pricing on the subscription offerings. For iPhone users, both AppleCare+ and AppleCare+ with theft protection are going up by $.50 a month.
That equates to $6 more a year. It’s not a big increase, but with rising prices and Apple’s push towards the subscription model, customers will feel the impact.
You can check when your AppleCare+ coverage expires on your iPhone or iPad by heading to Settings > General > About > Coverage. On Mac, click the Apple Menu, then head to System Settings > General > About.
