AppleCare+, SquareTrade or Verizon Insurance?

[Applejuiced]

You can't just ignore the upfront cost of AC+. Those without it already saved $200 so the actual comparison of the first damage is:
Screen damage: $229 with AC+ ($200 + $29) vs $169.
Other damage: $299 with AC+ ($200 +$ 99) vs $399.

Even if you replace the screen once, you'd actually save money without buying AC+! Obviously it gets a lot more expensive without AC+ if you break your device more than once. In both cases I have to estimate out of warranty costs for X because it hasn't been published yet.

Very good points.
That is the big IF though is if you do replace the screen once or use it. If you're accident prone or did damage them in previous years then its a good idea. If not and you're using a decent case then you might never need to.
I purchased Applecare plus for 3 of my older iphone 6 plus models. Never needed to use them at all and the 2 years passed. That was a total waste of around $600 in insurance/warranty

 

[andyw715]

With TouchID, FaceID, long passcodes, and activation lock....is iPhone theft really that big of a deal?
Sure some people are malicious and will just steal to hurt the person (most likely a personal thing though), but if it's tough to sell then why steal it?


Given that, I've used Square Trade in the past with good success.
For my 7+ I got one year for $71 due to a promo code. For a year of coverage if the premium is more than 10% of the price of the item, I don't think it's worth it.

 

[mattopotamus]

Since you pay for the phone and IUP both over time, it would not be wasted. In one year you'd have paid half the cost of the phone and half the cost of the AC+ over that period. $500 + $100.



You can't just ignore the upfront cost of AC+. Those without it already saved $200 so the actual comparison of the first damage is:
Screen damage: $229 with AC+ ($200 + $29) vs $169.
Other damage: $299 with AC+ ($200 +$ 99) vs $399.

Even if you replace the screen once, you'd actually save money without buying AC+! Obviously it gets a lot more expensive without AC+ if you break your device more than once. In both cases I have to estimate out of warranty costs for X because it hasn't been published yet.

But, are those prices going to be true for the X. The fact it is not listed on the Apple website makes me think it is going to be higher for a screen replacement.
[doublepost=1508953967][/doublepost]

With TouchID, FaceID, long passcodes, and activation lock....is iPhone theft really that big of a deal?
Sure some people are malicious and will just steal to hurt the person (most likely a personal thing though), but if it's tough to sell then why steal it?


Given that, I've used Square Trade in the past with good success.
For my 7+ I got one year for $71 due to a promo code. For a year of coverage if the premium is more than 10% of the price of the item, I don't think it's worth it.

I agree. Why even try to steal an iphone at this point.

 

[stulaw11]

Im going to wait it out until the announce the prices and then decide; I believe you have 30 or 60 days to put any of those types of insurance or Applecare on.

Really at $199 plus deductible that is really high, unless that screen is going to be $300 to replace somehow; and even then if $70 is going to break you perhaps a $1000 cell phone isn't the best idea to begin with?

 

[Applejuiced]

With TouchID, FaceID, long passcodes, and activation lock....is iPhone theft really that big of a deal?
Sure some people are malicious and will just steal to hurt the person (most likely a personal thing though), but if it's tough to sell then why steal it?

Yes, its pretty pointless now but people will still steal them.
They're useless besides selling it for parts for about $100 or so.

 

[TravisPNW]

Device wise unless you get lucky and get issued a new one with a retail box, which is very very rare and only happens when they are out of stock or it is for a discontinued device, you may receive something that is not all genuine Apple parts. Much more peace of mind getting my replacement or repair from Apple itself.

That's exactly what happened to me the one time I filed a claim with carrier insurance. I had a Galaxy S3 back when they came out 5 years or so ago... and it fell out of my jacket pocket at work and was ran over by a forklift... like 3 days after release.

I filed a claim and got a replacement sent the next day... which turned out to be new in box presumably because 3 days after release they didn't have anything refurbished to fill my claim with.

 

[Treyhunna]

not worried about theft. i always just use apple care, because at the end of the day, when I'm looking to upgrade after a year, I can get a refund from apple for the remainder of the coverage period, which usually ends up being a lil over 50%. So with the X being 200, i'll get about $100 back when I flip my X on ebay or craigslist and cancel ac+...

 

[DDustiNN]

I believe Verizon gives you refurbished replacements, and you have to wait for shipping. Unless they’ve changed.

Doesn’t Apple give you a new one right in the store?

 

[Applejuiced]

I believe Verizon gives you refurbished replacements, and you have to wait for shipping. Unless they’ve changed.

Doesn’t Apple give you a new one right in the store?

No.
Apples replacements could be refurbished too but they look and work as new.

 

[DDustiNN]

No.
Apples replacements could be refurbished too but they look and work as new.

“No” what? Elaborate. I’m only going by my prior experience with Verizon.

Apple’s “could be”? So are you pulling this out of your ass, or...? I have been given a brand new phone right out of the box as a replacement. Maybe iPhone 5 or something back then, due to WiFi issues. But Apple refurbished items come in plain boxes, not factory sealed and decorated for sale boxes.

If either of these have changed over the years, do tell. Both of these instances were over a few years ago.

 

[webbuzz]

“No” what? Elaborate. I’m only going by my prior experience with Verizon.

Apple’s “could be”? So are you pulling this out of your ass, or...? I have been given a brand new phone right out of the box as a replacement. Maybe iPhone 5 or something back then, due to WiFi issues. But Apple refurbished items come in plain boxes, not factory sealed and decorated for sale boxes.

If either of these have changed over the years, do tell. Both of these instances were over a few years ago.

It can be new or refurbished. From the bottom of the page.

1.Service coverage is available only for iPhone and its original included accessories that are defective in materials or workmanship or for batteries that retain less than 80 percent of their original capacity. The replacement equipment that Apple provides as part of the repair or replacement service may be new or equivalent to new in both performance and reliability. See terms at https://www.apple.com/legal/applecare/applecareplusforiphone.html/ for full details.

 

[MsRandall]

I do the Verizon insurance because I cover multiple lines for 33 dollars - I have 8 lines and 2 lines (ipad and phone) belong to a 10 year old

 

[Applejuiced]

No, I'm not pulling anything out of my rear end currently.
Apples replacements could be refurbished units. They don't have to give you a brand new device for warranty replacements.
But their replacements are top of the line. They work and look as new.
Brand New screen, battery and outside shell. Some internal components might be reused and they go through many rigorous tests before they're reused.
They come with a minimum of 90 day warranty or the original devices warranty that transfers over. Whatever one is greatest.

“No” what? Elaborate. I’m only going by my prior experience with Verizon.

Apple’s “could be”? So are you pulling this out of your ass, or...? I have been given a brand new phone right out of the box as a replacement. Maybe iPhone 5 or something back then, due to WiFi issues. But Apple refurbished items come in plain boxes, not factory sealed and decorated for sale boxes.

If either of these have changed over the years, do tell. Both of these instances were over a few years ago.

 

[mlpsponzischeme]

worthavegroup.com I’ve had a claim with them and they were easy to work with. Hasn’t anyone ever used their insurance?

Forgot to mention...when you have a claim, you get it repaired by Apple and they reimburse you minute the $50 deductible. I got reimbursed rather quickly too.

 

[Robdmb]

Update - Looks like $279 for screen repairs and $549 for other out of warranty repairs. Leaning toward either Applecare or SquareTrade.

 

[stulaw11]

Same now that the numbers are out.

The $279 for screen isnt necessarily a killer; even with Applecare you're already forking over $199 and $29 deductible, or $230. I wouldn't care about the bit extra at that point.

But $549, ouch! That back glass breaks its $550.

 

[DDustiNN]

Where is all of this info? I never buy AppleCare for my phones, and have never needed it, but I feel a bit nervous since this one is so much more expensive (and more glass) so I’ve been considering it. You have 30 days to decide, right?

If a glass replacement is $279, I’ll probably just skip AppleCare. But why would the back glass cost twice the price?

 

[stulaw11]

On Apple's Applecare site, they added the X this morning.

Why is the repair more than 1/2 the price of the 64gb phone, who knows? We do know the back glass is fused to the metal frame in 1 piece so they have to remove the guts to repair or swap the device, but the 8 plus with the same materials is $399. The X tax I suppose.

It's not the screen to worry about ($279 vs $230 after Applecare and deductible, I'd take that gamble any day for $49 difference) but that back glass at $550 repair versus $99 with Applecare. HUGE difference there.

 

[Applejuiced]

Ouch, those screen and replacement prices are getting crazy.


iPhone model Screen repair only Other damage
iPhone X $ 279 $ 549
iPhone 8 Plus $ 169 $ 399
iPhone 8 $ 149 $ 349
iPhone 7 Plus $ 169 $ 349
iPhone 7 $ 149 $ 319

iPhone model Screen repair only (AppleCare+) Other damage (AppleCare+)
All iPhones with AppleCare+ $29 $99

 

[yanki01]

Ouch, those screen and replacement prices are getting crazy.


iPhone model Screen repair only Other damage
iPhone X $ 279 $ 549
iPhone 8 Plus $ 169 $ 399
iPhone 8 $ 149 $ 349
iPhone 7 Plus $ 169 $ 349
iPhone 7 $ 149 $ 319

iPhone model Screen repair only (AppleCare+) Other damage (AppleCare+)
All iPhones with AppleCare+ $29 $99

: promply goes and purchases AppleCare+:

 

[Gaura Mohana]

Worthave is the only sensible choice. $89 a year for everything including lost/stolen. Makes AppleCare look like a joke.

 

[manhattanmania]

Same now that the numbers are out.

The $279 for screen isnt necessarily a killer; even with Applecare you're already forking over $199 and $29 deductible, or $230. I wouldn't care about the bit extra at that point.

But $549, ouch! That back glass breaks its $550.

im debating this myself, but depending on how you look at it, youre making apple care more expensive than it is. if you upgrade every year for instance, youre paying $99 for apple care (you can get the 2nd year prorated refunded), making a screen repair $130 vs $279 out of warranty... much diff.

obviously depends on if you upgrade every year. square trade *appears* like a much better deal, but trying to figure out fine print.

 

[DaveOP]

No.
Apples replacements could be refurbished too but they look and work as new.

Yes, though the Asurion phones are often serviced with non OEM parts, and prevent the Apple Store from performing modular repairs. It always hurt me to give people that bad news when I worked there a few years ago.

 

[Packers1958]

Anytime a warranty costs 20% of the actual price of the item, it's a total ripoff.

 

[Applejuiced]

Yes, though the Asurion phones are often serviced with non OEM parts, and prevent the Apple Store from performing modular repairs. It always hurt me to give people that bad news when I worked there a few years ago.

Yes, those 3rd party warranties tend to do that.
Even wireless carriers use 3rd party refurbishing companies that put out some frankesteins here and there