Apple is changing the way you protect your devices with AppleCare+

While not every extended warranty is worth the money, a protection plan for everyday devices like phones or computers isn't a bad idea. While Apple used to sell prepaid AppleCare+ plans at retail locations, the company is now phasing that out in favor of a subscription model.

Apple is pushing AppleCare+ subscriptions

According to a post on X by Bloomberg Editor-in-Chief Mark Gurman, Apple will soon "cancel" its multi-year AppleCare+ plan, which allows for two to three years of protection to be purchased in advance at stores.

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As its name suggests, AppleCare+ extends the first-party warranty for your hardware, or AppleCare, that comes free with your purchase. According to Apple Support, most Apple products come with a 'one-year limited warranty and up to 90 days of free technical support.' AppleCare+ extends the length of time your Apple product is covered under warranty.

This reported change will affect you if you typically buy Apple products directly from Apple, along with a prepaid AppleCare+ plan. While multi-year AppleCare+ plans will no longer be available in stores, they will still be available online, so if you want to buy an iPad on Apple's website, you can still add two years of coverage at checkout.

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However, the option that appears before this 2-year prepaid plan is a monthly AppleCare+ subscription, which is charged separately. While the 2-year plan at a flat $69 will save you about $15 compared to the $3.49/month price, it's certainly tempting to spread the cost over time.

Note : The price of AppleCare+ plans depends on the product.

No OTP (One Time Purchase)

Between the drop in multi-year warranty options and the way the user interface on Apple's website is laid out, it's pretty clear that Apple is pushing the AppleCare+ subscription model. It wouldn't be surprising if Apple did away with two- or three-year contracts altogether. Honestly, that's the direction most tech services are headed.

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On the one hand, people don't hate the idea of ​​subscriptions, especially given the flexibility they offer. It makes perfect sense to pay monthly (or yearly) for hardware protection. In return, we get protection when things go wrong — which they usually do.

On the other hand, it seems like an easy way for Apple to quietly siphon money from its users. People have a hard time keeping track of their growing subscriptions, so it's likely that most customers who pre-purchase two years of AppleCare+ don't remember to renew. Conversely, AppleCare+ subscribers may keep their monthly subscriptions for a long time, forgetting they signed up.

Ultimately, AppleCare coverage is a good deal that suits some people better than others. Whether it's a one-time purchase (OTP) or a subscription, it's best to do some light risk analysis to decide whether you really need AppleCare+.

Isabella Humphrey

Update 06 February 2025