Apple Watch: Options for Protecting Your Wearable

So to procure a brand new Apple Watch and also you’re being cautious to not scratch, break or lose it. But as soon as that newness 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 by accident swing your arm into, leading to any type of injury, together with a cracked display screen. 

When you’ve got already shelled out between $400 and $800 for an Apple Watch, likelihood is you are considering twice about paying much more for an prolonged guarantee or insurance coverage. And although your watch comes with a restricted one 12 months guarantee, it will not cowl an unintended damaged display screen. For that type of restore, you will want insurance coverage.

Below, we have in contrast the prices of getting your Apple Watch repaired with and with out insurance coverage that will help you determine which kind of insurance coverage, if any, is finest for you — from AppleCare and insurance coverage out of your telephone provider like Verizon to an insurer akin to Asurion to even your bank card firm. For extra, this is our tackle the brand new iPhone 15 and the brand new Pixel 8.

Read extra: Is Your Phone’s 1-Year Warranty Really Enough?

Apple guarantee vs. insurance coverage: What’s 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 accordance with some estimates, that is lots of warranties. 

However, that free guarantee solely covers “defects in supplies and workmanship.” Here’s what’s not coated. 

• Batteries or protecting coatings.
• Cosmetic injury, together with dents and damaged plastic on ports.
• Damage brought on by accident, abuse, misuse, fireplace, earthquake or different exterior trigger.
• Defects brought on by regular put on and tear.
• Loss or theft.

If you do not have insurance coverage, for these sorts of repairs you are by yourself. If you do buy insurance coverage — whether or not by Apple or a third-party insurer — all the above is usually coated on your Apple Watch except loss or theft. And you could find 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 might have. For occasion, a restore on an Apple Watch Ultra might run you $499, whereas an Apple Watch Series 8 restore might value you $299.

If you are questioning about the fee to repair a cracked display screen, for instance, you may get a restore estimate from Apple. You’ll have to know the precise kind of Apple Watch you might have — for instance, Apple Watch Series 9 GPS Aluminum 41mm. 

Apple Watch restore prices with AppleCare Plus

You can anticipate 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 help service that covers unintended damage– the fee goes down considerably. 

Note, in most areas and nations you want to purchase Apple’s prolonged guarantee inside 60 days of your Apple Watch buy. But the acquisition interval can differ from seven days to a 12 months, relying on the place you reside, so examine your area’s particular time-frame.

Here’s how a lot AppleCare Plus protection prices for every Apple Watch mannequin.

• Apple Watch Ultra 2: $5 a month
• Apple Watch Series 9: $4 a month, with an choice to pay $79 whole for 2 years
• Apple Watch SE: $2.49 a month, with an choice to pay $49 whole for 2 years
• Apple Watch Hermès: $5 a month, with choice to pay $149 whole for 3 years

With AppleCare Plus, you will additionally pay a $69 or a $79 service payment for a restore, relying on the watch mannequin you might have. 

• Apple Watch: $69 
• Apple Watch Nike: $69
• Apple Watch Ultra: $79
• Apple Watch Edition: $79
• Apple Watch Hermès: $79

Apple Watch restore prices with third-party insurance coverage

If you might be on the lookout for one thing past AppleCare, you may have a look at protection by an insurer. While some supply safety such as you’d get with AppleCare Plus, others have broader plans that cowl all of the tech you might have in your house or house. 

Just for the watch insurance coverage, Allstate, for instance, affords safety plans by retailers based mostly on the price of the watch that cowl unintended injury however not lack of theft. If you store at Sam’s Club, for instance, you may get two years of safety for $60 for an Apple Watch that prices lower than $400, with no deductible. 

Instead of insurance coverage particularly on your watch, Asurion affords protection on your complete assortment of in-home tech — together with your TV, laptop computer, gaming console, safety cameras and your Apple Watch — known as Home 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 payment. 

Note, loss and theft aren’t coated, however your house owner’s or renter’s insurance coverage might cowl that. You can also’t embrace your telephone in there. For that you’re going to wish to try Asurion’s telephone 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 telephone provider safety

Your cellular phone provider may additionally supply Apple Watch insurance coverage. Verizon, for instance, has its Mobile Protect plan that goes for $14 to $17 a month and affords free display screen alternative and free watch alternative for manufacturing defects. The plan has $99 deductible for loss or theft. 

AT&T additionally affords watch insurance coverage and allows you to insure one machine for $14 or $17 a month or bundle as much as 4 gadgets — together with a watch, telephone, laptop computer or pill — for $45 a month as a part of its Protect Advantage. As with Verizon, along with unintended injury, the plan covers loss and theft.

Do bank cards present insurance coverage?

Some bank card firms supply further safety and insurance coverage on new purchases made with their card. For occasion, some supply safety that insures your new purchases towards injury and theft for as much as 120 days. If one thing occurs inside that point, you may file a declare along with your bank card issuer to get the merchandise changed or reimbursed.

It’s a good suggestion to examine along with your bank card issuer to see if they provide safety earlier than you make the acquisition.

Editor’s word: CNET and Asurion have an promoting partnership. This story is editorially impartial from that relationship.