Apple this week launched a new AppleCare One plan – a way to buy AppleCare+ for multiple devices for one monthly fee.
The exact coverage it offers depends on the mix of devices you have, and the cost depends on how many, but you’ll almost certainly save money over buying separate plans for each. Does this mean you should subscribe? That depends …
Understanding AppleCare
AppleCare can be somewhat confusing, because the company has historically used the branding to describe both the standard warranty you get when you buy a new product and its optional paid policies.
AppleCare has also evolved over time. What was initially a one-off payment you had to make at the time of purchase gradually became more flexible, with the ability to add it later, subject to a device condition check.
The paid cover subsequently evolved into AppleCare+, which extends the standard warranty and adds accidental damage cover. Under this element, you still have to pay for repair or replacement of damaged devices, but at a much cheaper price. Additional benefits include the option of a subsidized battery replacement if your battery health falls below 80%, and access to free 24/7 tech support for your Apple products.
AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss also adds in coverage for these eventualities, offering device replacement on payment of an excess fee, but this has so far only been offered for iPhones.
Perhaps most significantly, Apple has effectively turned extended warranties and insurance into a subscription product, with an ongoing monthly or annual payment.
How does AppleCare One change things?
AppleCare One changes things in two main ways.
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