Should you’re a brand new Apple Watch proprietor, you are doubtless doing all your finest to not scratch, break or lose the gadget. However as soon as the novelty wears off and also you let your guard down, that miniature iPhone you put on in your wrist can rapidly turn into a sufferer to each object you unintentionally swing your arm into, leading to all types of harm, comparable to a cracked display screen.
Whenever you’re already paying between $400 and $800 for an Apple Watch, you could be hesitant to pay much more for an prolonged guarantee or insurance coverage. And though your watch comes with a restricted one-year guarantee, it will not cowl an unintentional damaged display screen. For that sort of restore, you will want insurance coverage.
Under, we have in contrast the prices of getting your Apple Watch repaired with and with out insurance coverage that can assist you resolve which sort of insurance coverage — if any — is finest for you, from AppleCare and insurance coverage out of your cellphone provider like Verizon to an insurer comparable to Asurion to even your bank card firm. For extra, here is our tackle the brand new iPhone 15 and the brand new Pixel 8.
Learn extra: Is Your Telephone’s 1-Yr Guarantee Actually Sufficient?
Apple guarantee vs. insurance coverage: What is the distinction?
Apple features a restricted one-year guarantee with every Apple {hardware} product you purchase, and that features the Apple Watch. With as many as 200 million watches offered, in response to some estimates, that is a number of warranties.
Nonetheless, that free guarantee solely covers “defects in supplies and workmanship.” Here is what’s not lined.
- Batteries or protecting coatings.
- Beauty injury, together with dents and damaged plastic on ports.
- Injury attributable to accident, abuse, misuse, fireplace, earthquake or different exterior causes.
- Defects attributable to regular put on and tear.
- Loss or theft.
If you do not have insurance coverage, for these sorts of repairs you are by yourself. Should you do buy insurance coverage — whether or not by means of Apple or a third-party insurer — all the above is mostly lined on your Apple Watch excluding loss or theft. Yow will discover protection for loss and theft too.
Out-of-pocket restore prices with out insurance coverage for an Apple Watch
Apple Watches aren’t low-cost, and neither are the repairs — and restore costs can differ, relying on which mannequin you could have. As an example, a restore on an Apple Watch Extremely could run you $499, whereas an Apple Watch Collection 8 restore may price you $299.
Should you’re questioning about the price of fixing a cracked display screen, for instance, you may get a restore estimate from Apple. You may have to know the precise sort of Apple Watch you could have, just like the Apple Watch Collection 9 GPS Aluminum 41mm, for instance.
Apple Watch restore prices with AppleCare Plus
You’ll be able to count on to pay a number of hundred {dollars} to restore your Apple Watch with out insurance coverage, however if you are going to buy AppleCare Plus — Apple’s prolonged guarantee and tech assist service that covers unintentional damage– the associated fee goes down considerably.
Be aware, in most areas and international locations it’s essential purchase Apple’s prolonged guarantee inside 60 days of your Apple Watch buy. The acquisition interval can differ from seven days to a yr, relying on the place you reside, so verify your area’s particular timeframe.
Here is how a lot AppleCare Plus protection prices for every Apple Watch mannequin.
- Apple Watch Extremely 2: $5 a month
- Apple Watch Collection 9: $4 a month, with an choice to pay $79 complete for 2 years
- Apple Watch SE: $2.49 a month, with an choice to pay $49 complete for 2 years
- Apple Watch Hermès: $5 a month, with an choice to pay $149 complete for 3 years
With AppleCare Plus, you will additionally pay a $69 or a $79 service charge for a restore, relying on the watch mannequin you could have.
- Apple Watch: $69
- Apple Watch Nike: $69
- Apple Watch Extremely: $79
- Apple Watch Version: $79
- Apple Watch Hermès: $79
Apple Watch restore prices with third-party insurance coverage
If you’re on the lookout for one thing past AppleCare, you possibly can take a look at protection by means of an insurer. Whereas some provide safety such as you’d get with AppleCare Plus, others have broader plans that cowl all of the tech you could have in your house or residence.
Only for the watch insurance coverage, Allstate, for instance, presents safety plans by means of retailers primarily based on the price of the watch that cowl unintentional injury however not loss or theft. Should you store at Sam’s Membership, for instance, you may get two years of safety for $60 for an Apple Watch that prices lower than $400, with no deductible.
As a substitute of insurance coverage particularly on your watch, Asurion presents protection on your whole assortment of in-home tech — together with your TV, laptop computer, gaming console, safety cameras and your Apple Watch — referred to as House Plus. Costing $12 a month for the primary three months after which $25 every month after, the plan covers restore or alternative (as much as $2,000 per declare) with a $99 service charge.
Be aware, loss and theft aren’t lined, however your home-owner’s or renter’s insurance coverage could cowl that. You can also’t embody your cellphone in there. For that you’re going to need to try Asurion’s cellphone insurance coverage, which you may get for $5 a month for the primary three months after which $10 every month after.
Apple Watch restore and alternative by means of cellphone provider safety
Your cellular phone provider may provide Apple Watch insurance coverage. Verizon, for instance, has its Cell Defend plan that goes for $14 to $17 a month and presents free display screen alternative and free watch alternative for manufacturing defects. The plan has $99 deductible for loss or theft.
AT&T additionally presents watch insurance coverage and allows you to insure one gadget for $14 or $17 a month or bundle as much as 4 gadgets — together with a watch, cellphone, laptop computer or pill — for $45 a month as a part of its Defend Benefit. As with Verizon, along with unintentional injury, the plan covers loss and theft.
Do bank cards present insurance coverage?
Some bank card corporations provide further safety and insurance coverage on new purchases made with their card. As an example, some provide safety that insures your new purchases in opposition to injury and theft for as much as 120 days. If one thing occurs inside that point, you possibly can file a declare together with your bank card issuer to get the merchandise changed or reimbursed.
It is a good suggestion to verify together with your bank card issuer to see if they provide safety earlier than you make the acquisition.
Editor’s be aware: CNET and Asurion have an promoting partnership. This story is editorially unbiased from that relationship.
