Ahead of pre-orders for Apple’s upcoming foldable device — the iPhone Duo — later this week, the company also revealed the prices for AppleCare+ and repairs if you break or damage the device, or if you need to change the battery. The $1,999 device can easily become a huge mistake if you don’t have AppleCare+, as you may have to spend up to $1,499 to replace a broken unit. Fortunately, you can avoid that by paying $19.99/month or $199.99/year for AppleCare coverage.
Comparing repair fees with or without AppleCare+ shows how expensive keeping an unprotected iPhone Duo can be. For example, the cheapest repair for the iPhone Duo, which could involve damage to the cover layer, can cost $49 without AppleCare+, while a replacement with AppleCare+ is $19. Damage to the inner display can cost a whopping $999 without AC+ while being just $99 with it. Lastly, if your iPhone is stolen or lost, you only pay $149 with AppleCare+, provided you have the theft and loss plan.
Apple also has estimated fees for repairs related to back glass damage, battery service (which is $229), rear camera damage, outer display damage, and outer back glass damage. For AppleCare+ users, the only free service is battery replacement when the battery health dips below 80% capacity. Still, most of the issues cost less than $30, making the insurance a great deal for anyone thinking about spending that much money on Apple’s first foldable phone.
Should you buy AppleCare+ for the iPhone Duo?
While there’s no right answer, the fact is that the more expensive an Apple device is, the more it costs to be repaired out of warranty. With other foldable Android devices, we’ve seen customers complaining about the inner display shattering after a few months of usage. As we still need to see how the iPhone Duo will perform in real-life scenarios, it’s safe to say that AppleCare+ can provide some extra peace of mind for users spending a whopping $1,999.
This could be a good time to consider AppleCare One. For $19.99/month, you can add an iPhone, an iPad, and an Apple Watch to the plan with the same theft and loss coverage; for every extra device, you pay $5.99/month. This might be a smart decision, as the AppleCare One Individual tier costs as much as a standalone monthly subscription for the iPhone Duo’s AppleCare+.
One thing is for sure: the iPhone Duo, which releases globally next week, is going to mark a new era for Apple as it enters the foldable market. At the same time, it will also serve as a test of how much customers are willing to pay for an iPhone (and, potentially, a repair).