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Apple increases AppleCare+ pricing for iPhone 6s lineup to $129

With the introduction of the iPhone 6s lineup and the new iPhone Upgrade Program, Apple’s AppleCare+ extended warranty program gets a slight price increase to $129 from the previous $99 price point.

The AppleCare+ plan for iPhone 6s models, which offers extended hardware warranty coverage beyond the complimentary 1 year Apple bundles with devices, also has a higher service fee for accidental damage going from the previous $79 to $99 per incident.

While the new iPhone lineup gets the higher pricing for AppleCare+, the iPhone 6 and older models can still purchase the extended warranty for $99 (and a $79 service fee).

The move comes as Apple introduces a new iPhone Upgrade Program for the new iPhone 6s lineup that allows users to finance their iPhone for $32/month with AppleCare+ included. That price is on par with T-Mobile and licensing programs from other carriers, but with the $129 AppleCare+ included, Apple could encourage users to purchase direct through its new program opposed to through their carrier of choice.

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Comments

  1. Peter Rooke - 9 years ago

    30% is not a slight increase.

    • emmenot - 9 years ago

      Agreed, 30% is definitely NOT a slight increase. It is actually a fairly BIG increase.

  2. Andrew Messenger - 9 years ago

    They probably also increased the out-of-warranty replacement cost.

  3. 89p13 - 9 years ago

    Clever – You want the Apple “Finance” program – you HAVE to buy AppleCarePlus. Hmmmmm. Self-protecting there?

  4. applegetridofsimandjack - 9 years ago

    Absolutely disgusting move by Apple. First they upped the price of the overpriced iPhone 6/6S accessories by 10$ and now this. Apple makes great products but they are the greediest company of all time.

    • Dimitri Kyriakis - 9 years ago

      I agree with you but any beloved Apple fan will find a way to either dis you or make it look that Apple did it for a reason. IT seems to me that Apple wants money & is greedy for it so they will do anything. This is coming from someone that has had all the iPhone’s as well…

      • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

        I don’t think many realistic and/or long time fans would disagree. Since the loss of Steve Jobs, Apple has been rudderless and has lost its way. This latest insult is just an excuse to grab more money for the stockholders (of which I am one) at an expense to users (of which I am one) and at the risk of alienating the users further, which won’t help stockholders. Apple is more about money and glitz than quality products these days. This was evidenced by Ive not only dismissing the fact that most iPhone users want longer life batteries even it results in an increase in thickness AND being able to ignore the customer base and get away with it. Ive is a pampered prima donna with Tim Cook as enabler. Both should be demoted to their prior positions under Jobs and have a CEO with balls oversee them.

        Unless this happens, Apple will start losing its staunchest supporters and core user base.

  5. Dimitri Kyriakis - 9 years ago

    If you guys think that is bad, look at what Canada is paying for. AppleCare will cost $169 & a replacement will cost $129. Due to the Canadian dollar but still it seems Apple wants to make money here instead of giving service. None the less many may stay away from this due to the prices. We shall see

  6. GastroKey - 9 years ago

    I agree with all of you. This is BULLSPIT!

  7. mpias3785 - 9 years ago

    Apple has not been a mentally healthy company since Jobs’ death. The Cook, Ive and Schiller team seem to be going out of their way to alienate long time customers, and its beginning to work.

  8. I don’t think apple care + is worth it for the iphone anymore, especially if you plan to get a new one in 1 or 2 yrs. Screen replacement is mid $100s, if you used apple care+ it would be more expensive, assuming only 1 incident.

    • mpias3785 - 9 years ago

      I’d agree if it wasn’t for the extra phone support. I have a 5s that I bought on day one (actually less than 3 minutes after the store opened so I was one of the first to get one in my hands) and I spent up until 7.1.1 constantly on the phone with AppleCare fixing many and various problems. Fortunately iOS 8 has behaved but my Touch ID sensor is in need of replacement so it’s worth it.

  9. Jonathan Llamas - 9 years ago

    What the hell! I cant say ive been a long time apple fan.First ihpone was a 4s. I always loved teh apple care +
    But this $30 increase is BS! Im a little irked by the $100 replacement phone, but ill let is slide and jsut say its because the display has more inside. But i just dont see the increase neccesary!

    • Dimitri Kyriakis - 9 years ago

      The Increase is not necessary. Many Apple fans will tell you its because of all the new things & display but thats not a reason. It seems Apple will find any way to increase the prices & people will pay it. At this point the prices aren’t worth it.

      • Jassi Sikand - 9 years ago

        It honestly probably does have to do with the 3D Touch sensors and the rest of the new things, but I agree that at that price, unless you use the iPhone Upgrade Program, AppleCare+ is no longer worth it. I’ll be switching to SquareTrade

  10. Povilas Griškevičius - 9 years ago

    30% increase on a “might happen”. Pure profit.

  11. Rolf Haug (@rolfhaug) - 9 years ago

    AppleCare+ (and SquareTrade) for that matter have never been worth it to me for one very important reason: no loss or theft protection. That’s the only thing I’ve ever really been worried about. I only keep the phone for a year, so any hardware defects are always covered under warranty, and if for any reason I needed a shattered screen replaced, I created a “self insurance” fund long ago. The money I would’ve been paying toward an insurance plan every month, I set aside myself for a “just-in-case” protection.

  12. Jeffree Ramirez - 9 years ago

    They increased it two years ago, apple care used to be $79 and service used to be $50, it is outrageous that in 3 years they have doubled the prices… And to be honest, if you look at the bottom line of costs for iPhones… It’s still the same cause they mass produce them. They are really looking to just profit off of customers

  13. 3D Touch + Taptic Engine are two component replacements that could be costly if they have to be replaced. I am an Apple Fangirl but at the same time I have to say that the replacement costs are on par if not better than carrier costs. No it doesn’t include theft, but my iPhone is usually never far away long enough to get stolen. The carrier charges you up to $13 per month, over 2 years that’s $312. You still have to pay an additional $200 for a claim on the phone. Even if you keep it for only one year you’ve shelled out $156 and if you do a replacement the fee is still $200. So Apple is still offering better pricing than carriers do. If you have an Apple store near you don’t have to wait to get a replacement either.

    What kind of replacement does Samsung, or other OEM’s offer? HTC is the only company giving you a one time replacement for free. And that’s probably because no one is buying their phones and they have to have something to do with all the extra stock. I guess I’m saying that the warranty & replacement prices are a bit below industry standard. Look at what Samsung’s replacement fees are to replace a screen on new phones $200 – $230. They don’t offer an extended warranty and there are plenty of horror stories just trying to get that S-Pen replacement due to their faulty design.

    Would I prefer the $100 pricing over the $130 pricing? Of course. At the same time, this is a more expensive phone to make if only for the addition of the new components mentioned above. People are going to break their phones. Apple often gives brand new phones in lieu of component replacements. How much is an iPhone off contract? Oh that’s right, way more than the cost of the warranty that you pay for if you get it. Look at the big picture and know that if you don’t buy some kind of warranty you will be out of a hell of a lot more money and you can’t turn around and blame Apple for your poor planning.

    • Taylor Welch - 8 years ago

      Thank you for being the most intelligent person here. Also would like to point out that the replacement devices that you get from the carrier or often as “refurbished” devices are what we like to call “frankenphones”. Meaning that they are made up of all sorts of non OEM parts and are not serviceable.

Author

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Jordan Kahn

Jordan writes about all things Apple as Senior Editor of 9to5Mac, & contributes to 9to5Google, 9to5Toys, & Electrek.co. He also co-authors 9to5Mac’s Logic Pros series.