Why AppleCare+ May Be Worth It for Apple’s New iPhones

Apple’s new iPhones don’t come cheap, but there’s also another hidden cost to consider: what it will cost you to repair them should the worst happen.

Naturally, Apple is more than happy to sell you an AppleCare+ plan to give you peace of mind. However, it also spent a great deal of time last week hyping up the new “Ceramic Shield 2,” while also adding that it’s now used on the front and back of most of this year’s iPhone models. This could logically lead you to believe that AppleCare+ may be less needed than ever.

This Limited-Time Microsoft Office Deal Gets You Lifetime Access for Just $39

Sick and tired of subscriptions? Get a lifetime license for Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 at a great price!

After all, if the iPhone is more likely to survive a drop, then you won’t need to pay for a repair in the first place, and the money you’d spent on an AppleCare+ plan can be better used elsewhere.

However, as always, it’s essential to read between the lines. Apple claims Ceramic Shield 2 improves scratch resistance significantly — some reports suggest as much as 3× better — but didn’t quantify drop protection; it merely stated that the front glass is “tougher” than that of any existing smartphone glass. That can mean a lot of things, and it might be more about the improved scratch resistance, especially when you consider the video Apple showed during its “Awe Dropping” presentation of the iPhones being swung through coins, keys, and other metallic objects.

That’s not to say the new Ceramic Shield isn’t a step up; we don’t know for sure how much of a step up. As previous tests have shown, tougher glass formulations help protect your iPhone, but they don’t make it indestructible. Drop it the wrong way or on the wrong surface, and you’ll still end up with a cracked screen.

Another essential piece of fine print is that the new Ceramic Shield backing isn’t included on the standard iPhone 17. That model still has the same glass back as its predecessor, which means it’s just as fragile. The iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models will provide 4x better resistance to cracks on the back glass, but that doesn’t apply to the base iPhone 17.

2025 iPhone Repair Costs

If you don’t opt for AppleCare+, you could be paying nearly half the price of a new iPhone 17 should you end up with a cracked screen.

Apple’s repair costs for the front screen on an iPhone 17 are now $329, bringing it in line with the iPhone 17 Pro. That’s a jump from $279 for the iPhone 16, and likely the price we pay for getting a 120 Hz ProMotion display on the standard model. The iPhone Air also comes in at $329 for a broken screen, while the larger 6.9-inch display on the iPhone 17 Pro Max drives its repair cost up to $379.

By contrast, an AppleCare+ plan costs $11.99 per month for the iPhone 17, or $13.99 per month for the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. You can also save more by paying $119.99 or $139.99 per year. As of earlier this year, all these plans also now include Theft & Loss protection.

While AppleCare+ doesn’t eliminate repair costs, it does reduce them dramatically. A screen repair with AppleCare+ is only $29, which puts the cost of two years of AppleCare+ well below the price of a single broken screen repair without AppleCare+. In fact, you’d have to break your screen three times in two years or seven times in a year before the costs would even out.

There’s no longer a limit on the number of times you can take advantage of the $29 repairs for accidental damage while you’re still paying for AppleCare+, so the folks at your local Genius Bar will be happy to repair your iPhone no matter how many times you show up with a cracked screen. Still, if you’re coming in every two months, they might also be tempted to report you for iPhone abuse.

Although damage to the back glass is less costly, at $159, it’s still cheaper with AppleCare+ at the same $29 price as you’d pay for the front screen (although if you come in with both sides broken, you’ll pay $58 — $29 for each side). Without AppleCare+, you do get a slight break on the overall repair costs for both back and front glass, with Apple charging a flat $419 (or $469 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max), which is $69 less than repairing them separately ($329 + $159).

Repair costs for accidental damage under AppleCare+ go up for anything other than the glass, with a flat $99 charge for any other type of accidental damage, regardless of the kind. Non-AppleCare costs vary a bit more, with rear camera repairs running $169 for the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air or $249 for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Repair costs for “other damage” start at $599 for the iPhone 17 and run up to $799 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Here’s a rundown of the repair costs you’ll pay with and without AppleCare+:

AppleCare+ will also replace your iPhone even if it’s lost or stolen. Like any insurance claim, you’ll need to do some paperwork, like filing a police report, but once all that’s been taken care of, it’s a flat $149 deductible for a new iPhone, regardless of the model involved.

It’s important to note that these are “out-of-warranty” repair costs. If your new iPhone just dies through no fault of your own, that’s likely a manufacturing issue, and Apple will replace it under warranty at no cost to you. Apple generally gives you the benefit of the doubt unless there are obvious signs of damage, although “obvious” to an Apple technician also includes indications that water has gotten inside your iPhone. Apple may promise IP68 water resistance, but water damage still isn’t covered under warranty, because even the water-tight seals can be damaged through exposure to certain chemicals or even saltwater or chlorinated pool water. Water damage would still be considered “accidental damage,” so you’d be fine with AppleCare+ coverage, but otherwise you’ll be paying the full repair costs for “Other damage.”