Between paying for so many subscriptions and additional insurance for your digital devices, especially for fitness trackers such as the Apple Watch, which are already pretty spenny, may seem like a good choice.
But with all the subscription fatigue, it is one less thing I spend my money on.
AppleCare+ vs. warranty for your Apple Watch
| Model | Warranty | AppleCare+ Monthly | AppleCare+ 2 yrs | AppleCare+ 3 yrs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Watch Ultra 2 | 1 year | $4.99 | $99 | — |
| Apple Watch Series 10 | 1 year | $3.99 | $79 | — |
| Apple Watch SE | 1 year | $2.49 | $49 | — |
| Apple Watch Hermès | 2 years | $4.99 | — | $149 |
| Apple Watch Hermès Ultra | 2 years | $4.99 | — | $149 |
Apple limits a one-year warranty on the Apple Watch and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support from the date of purchase. This is called AppleCare. For the Apple Watch Hermès variant, this warranty extends up to two years from the date of purchase.
The AppleCare warranty covers “defects in materials and workmanship” and not accidental damages. The additional coverage that we purchase by paying monthly or for two or three years, as per the Apple Watch model you have, inclusive of accidental damages, is called AppleCare+.
It all boils down to your usage and how well you keep your devices. Even if there are repairs, they are minor and not very costly. Especially for me, these are covered in the basic limited warranty AppleCare plan. But if you’re someone who is often reckless and very clumsy with your fitness trackers or just paranoid about the “what ifs”, it makes sense for you to get the AppleCare just for the peace of mind.
What’s covered in Apple’s warranty
Apple’s limited warranty covers the following:
- Hardware services for defects or battery issues
- The defect in materials and workmanship.
- Battery health falls below 80%.
- Services for accidental damage from handling (ADH Service)
- A service fee applies for accidental damages from handling, such as liquid damage or dropping the device. Unlimited service events are allowed during the warranty period.
- A service fee of $69 is charged for ADH services of Apple Watches (excluding Ultra, Hermès, and Edition.
- A service fee of $79 is charged for ADH services of Apple Watch Ultra, Hermès, Hermès Ultra, and Edition.
- Technical support coverage
- Priority assistance for telephonic and web-based technical support is given.
What’s not covered in Apple’s warranty
- Batteries or protective coating.
- Cosmetic damage, such as dents and scratches or broken plastic on ports.
- Accidental damage due to abuse, misuse, fire, earthquake, and other external factors.
- Repair of Covered Equipment whose serial number is removed or altered.
- Regular wear and tear.
- Loss or theft
- Priority on technical support.
Why I don’t want to spend money on AppleCare+ for my Apple Watch
I understand that repairs are all out of my pocket since I don’t pay for Apple Care. It costs around $299 for an Apple Watch Series and may burn $499 out of your pocket for an Apple Watch Ultra without AppleCare+. To estimate the cost of repairs, I refer to Apple’s website.
But what I can’t justify is that the repair costs are only when and if the watch gets damaged. Now, I know what you might be thinking. They may seem like a waste of money, but just when the insurance ends is when you need it the most. That’s just how the cookie crumbles.
Of course, these costs go down significantly with AppleCare; however, in case of replacements, you get a refurbished watch, not a new one (except in the case of an Apple Hermès watch, which is always replaced with a new watch without bands). So basically, I’m paying for the possibility of an unfortunate incident, which, if it ever occurs, doesn’t even get me a brand-new watch. And it doesn’t cover loss or theft, either.
Personally, I am not very rough with my devices. I understand that fitness trackers are subject to outdoor environments, dust and exposure no hiking, and gym equipment, but I haven’t had any accidents major enough to justify spending on an insurance I know I might never need.
If you are spending this many dollars on an Apple Watch, it gives you durability. These watches, like other Apple products, are meant to last. They are sturdy, and at least with my many, many years of experience with Apple Watches, small incidents like bumping into a wall or the watch falling off while I’m trying to put on the clasp hasn’t affected its working.
More than that, there is an additional charge if you bring your device for accidental damage, even if it is covered by AppleCare+. See, I’ve had my Apple Watch Series 6, which cost me around $400, for over 4 years now, and if I had bought AppleCare+ for all those years, that would add up to almost $240, which is more than half the price of the watch itself. All that for nothing.
Obviously, had there been an unfortunate damage to my watch, the repair cost wouldn’t have been as much as what it costs without a coverage plan, but the math still doesn’t add for me.
Wrap Up
The resale value of the Apple Watch also increases with an AppleCare+ plan. Even then, I know people like myself who haven’t even scratched their Apple Watches even years after use, and some who smash theirs within days. But I’m sure there are people who would swear by AppleCare+ because they saved thousands of dollars because of an unfortunate accident.
So the question is, how well can you take care of your devices?
