What Does AppleCare+ Cover for iPhone? Fees, Claim Limits, and Exclusions

AppleCare+ for iPhone covers hardware defects, accidental damage at flat per-incident fees, battery replacement when capacity falls below 80 percent, 24/7 priority technical support, and (with Find My enabled) up to two theft or loss claims every 12 months. It picks up where the free one-year Apple Limited Warranty stops, which covers manufacturing defects only and gives you 90 days of complimentary technical support.¹

What’s Covered

Coverage falls into a few clear buckets, and the included cables and power adapter that shipped in the box come along with the phone.

Hardware defects. Manufacturing or materials defects in the iPhone and its included accessories are repaired at no cost, same as under the standard warranty but for longer.

Accidental damage. Drops, spills, cracked screens, broken back glass, and liquid damage are all covered. Apple treats these as unlimited incidents, each subject to a fixed service fee rather than the full out-of-warranty price.²

Battery replacement. If the battery retains less than 80 percent of its original capacity, Apple replaces it at no charge under the plan.³ Normal wear above that threshold is not a covered event.

Technical support. Plan holders get 24/7 priority access to Apple experts by chat, phone, or in person, covering iOS, iCloud, Apple-branded apps, and connectivity issues.⁴

Theft and loss. This is now bundled into the standard AppleCare+ plan for iPhone rather than sold as a separate, pricier tier.⁵ You get up to two theft or loss claims every 12 months, and Find My must be enabled on the device at the time it goes missing and throughout the claims process.⁶

What You Pay Per Incident

Every accidental damage repair carries a flat service fee, and these fees are the practical reason the plan exists.

Screen or back glass repair: $29 per incident.⁴
Screen and back glass together: $58, as two separate $29 charges, provided there is no additional damage.⁵
Other accidental damage, including liquid damage and anything beyond screen or back glass: $99 per incident.
Theft or loss replacement: $149 per incident, regardless of iPhone model.
Battery replacement (below 80 percent capacity): $0.
Hardware defect repairs: $0.

The $29 back glass fee applies to iPhone 12 and newer models.⁷ For a screen repair to qualify at $29, the phone cannot have other damage, such as a bent or dented enclosure, that would prevent a straightforward screen replacement.⁸

The gap to out-of-warranty pricing is wide. On an iPhone 17, a screen repair is $29 with AppleCare+ versus $379 without; a back glass repair is $29 versus $159; a full device replacement for other damage is $99 versus $799; a battery replacement is $0 versus $119.⁹

How Often You Can Claim

Accidental damage repairs are unlimited. You could crack the screen five times in a year and pay $29 each time, with no cap on incidents.² Theft and loss is the only category with a hard limit: two claims per rolling 12-month period.⁵ A third lost or stolen phone inside that window is on you.

One wrinkle worth checking on older plans: Apple’s formal legal terms document still references a two-incident limit for accidental damage from handling within a 24-month period for certain plan versions.⁸ Apple’s current product pages and legal overview describe accidental damage as unlimited, so newer plans appear to have moved past that restriction.² If you have an older plan, read your specific agreement.

What’s Not Covered

The exclusions are clear, and knowing them before you walk into a store saves friction.

Cosmetic damage like scratches, scuffs, or dents that do not affect function.⁸
Damage Apple determines was caused by willful, abusive, or reckless conduct.⁵
Damage traced to unauthorized modifications or third-party repairs; Apple may refuse coverage and charge additional fees to complete the work.¹⁰
Harm caused by unlicensed chargers or non-Apple components.¹¹
External events: fires, earthquakes, floods, and similar causes.
Software issues leading to data loss. Apple does not cover data recovery or reinstalling apps and personal data.
Pre-existing damage from before you enrolled, if you added AppleCare+ after buying the phone.

Theft and loss has its own requirement: Find My must be active on the device when it disappears and must remain active through the claim. Turning it off breaks the claim.

Filing a Claim

Apple offers several ways to start a repair or replacement:

Online through the Apple Support site: pick your device, sign in, describe the issue, choose a service option.
In person at an Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider by booking a Genius Bar appointment.
By mail: start the request online and ship the phone to Apple.
By phone with an Apple Support representative.

Theft and loss claims start at a dedicated online portal. In the United States, plans purchased on or after September 15, 2020 are administered by AIG; older plans are handled by Assurant.¹² A replacement typically ships within four business days of claim approval.⁶

Express Replacement Service

Apple will ship a replacement iPhone before you send the damaged one back, so you are not without a phone during the repair.¹³ A temporary hold goes on your credit card equal to the retail value of a new device. Once Apple receives the original phone and confirms the issue is covered, the hold is released. You have 10 business days to return the original using the materials Apple includes with the replacement; miss that window, or send back a phone with damage from unauthorized modifications, and the full hold amount is charged.¹⁴

What the Replacement Will Be

Replacement devices provided through Express Replacement Service or in-store exchanges may contain new or previously used genuine Apple parts. Apple states that all components are tested and must pass its functional requirements. Replacements carry a 90-day guarantee or the remainder of the original warranty period, whichever is longer.¹⁵

What AppleCare+ Costs and When You Can Buy It

AppleCare+ for iPhone is available as a monthly subscription and, for now, as a lump-sum purchase through Apple’s online store, though Apple has been moving toward subscription-only enrollment in stores and on-device.¹⁶ Current pricing by model:⁵

iPhone Air, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max: $139.99 per year or $13.99 per month.
iPhone 16 Plus: $129.99 per year or $12.99 per month.
iPhone 17, iPhone 16: $119.99 per year or $11.99 per month.
iPhone 16e: $99.99 per year or $9.99 per month.

You can add AppleCare+ when you buy the iPhone or within 60 days of purchase.¹⁷ After the initial purchase you can enroll from Settings on the device (General, then AppleCare & Warranty) or Apple’s online coverage-check tool. Monthly plans continue until you cancel, with no hard expiration as long as payments continue.⁴

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PCMag. Do You Need AppleCare Plus
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