About to buy a new iPhone? If you're going for one of the new models, you're looking at a spend of at least $2,099 (yikes). It certainly would be a shame if you broke an iPhone that cost that much, huh? Here's why you might want to consider AppleCare Plus.
The iPhone 18 Pro family and the iPhone 18 Pro Max are now available to purchase outright or paired with a mobile plan.
What is AppleCare Plus?
AppleCare Plus serves as an extended warranty that provides additional cover on top of Apple's one-year Limited Warranty and your automatic protections under Australian Consumer Law.
You can pay for AppleCare Plus monthly or save a little with an annual plan. AppleCare Plus provides you with:
- Cover for unlimited incidents of accidental damage to your device (subject to a service fee)
- Battery service if your phone can no longer retain more than 80% of its original capacity, at no additional cost
- Cover for up to two incidents of theft or loss per year. If lost or stolen Apple will replace your device
- 24/7 priority access to technical support via phone and online
Technical support includes help with things like using iOS and iCloud, connecting to wireless networks, and questions about your iPhone, FaceTime, Mail, Safari and other Apple-branded iPhone apps. Very handy to have if you're an iPhone newbie.
In order for Theft and Loss coverage to be applicable, you'll need to have Find My iPhone enabled at the time your device is lost or stolen, and throughout the claims process.
Apple also now offers AppleCare One, which covers up to three products at a lower price. On the AppleCare One plan, you get a third Theft and Loss claim every 12 months.
Dodo's NBN 500 Unlimited plan is our pick for the best NBN 500 plan for September.
|
Dodo
FTTP, HFC
Editor's Pick
nbn500 Unlimited Plan
$62.99/mth
Min. cost $62.99
|
How much does AppleCare Plus cost?
AppleCare Plus costs start from $14.49 per month or $144.99 per year (around a 15% saving). If you want to cover more products under AppleCare One, then that will set you back $29.99 per month — beyond three devices, you can add further devices to your AppleCare One plan for $8.99 per month each.
See the cost of purchasing AppleCare Plus for the following devices:
| Model | Monthly Price | Annual Price |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Duo | $29.99 | $299.99 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $22.49 | $224.99 |
| iPhone 18 Pro | $22.49 | $224.99 |
| iPhone Air | $22.49 | $224.99 |
| iPhone 17e | $16.49 | $164.99 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | $22.49 | $224.99 |
| iPhone 17 Pro | $22.49 | $224.99 |
| iPhone 17 | $17.99 | $179.99 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | $20.49 | $204.99 |
| iPhone 16 | $17.99 | $179.99 |
Keep in mind that the costs of AppleCare Plus don't end with the purchase fee. If you're unlucky enough to have accidental damage done to your iPhone during the period of cover, you're looking at extra (albeit heavily reduced) repair costs in the form of a service fee:
- Screen or back glass replacement - $45
- Inner display damage (for the iPhone Duo) - $149
- Other repair for accidental damage - $149
- Theft or loss - $229
- Battery replacement - free
Confused about which covers what? Here's a quick summary of what cover you get from Australian Consumer Law (ACL), Apple's Limited Warranty (ALW), and AppleCare Plus:
| ACL | AWL | AppleCare Plus | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost of coverage | Free | Free | From $14.49 per month or from $149.99 yearly |
| Is repair or replacement offered? | Both | Both | Both |
| Is accidental damage covered? | No | No | Yes, unlimited repairs |
| Is theft and loss covered? | No | No | Yes, up to two claims per 12 months as long as covered |
| Is software covered? | Yes, if faulty | No | Yes |
| Coverage period | A "reasonable period" after purchase, usually 24 months | 12 months after purchase | As long as you hold an AppleCare Plus warranty |
| Claim through | Seller | Apple (in store, online, or via phone) | Apple (in store, online, or via phone) |
| Tech support? | No | For 90 days after purchase on all Apple products, 2 years for Apple Watch Edition | For 24 months after purchase |
iPhone 18 Pro plans
|
Optus
$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$97.30/mth
Min. cost $2,137.80
|
|
Vodafone
$58 Small Plan
$103.30/mth
Min. cost $2,143.80
|
|
Vodafone
$68 Medium Plan
$108.30/mth
Min. cost $2,148.80
|
|
Vodafone
$78 Large Plan
$113.30/mth
Min. cost $2,153.80
|
|
Optus
$79 Optus Launch Plus Promo Plan
$117.30/mth
Min. cost $2,157.80
|
|
Optus
$70 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$128.30/mth
Min. cost $2,168.80
|
|
Telstra
$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$132.30/mth
Min. cost $2,172.80
Link not supplied
|
|
Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan
$142.30/mth
Min. cost $2,182.80
Link not supplied
|
|
Optus
$90 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$148.30/mth
Min. cost $2,188.80
|
|
Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan
$157.30/mth
Min. cost $2,197.80
Link not supplied
|
|
Optus
$60 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$102.86/mth
Min. cost $2,337.96
|
|
Vodafone
$58 Small Plan
$108.86/mth
Min. cost $2,343.96
|
|
Vodafone
$68 Medium Plan
$113.86/mth
Min. cost $2,348.96
|
|
Vodafone
$78 Large Plan
$118.86/mth
Min. cost $2,353.96
|
|
Optus
$79 Optus Launch Plus Promo Plan
$122.86/mth
Min. cost $2,357.96
|
|
Optus
$70 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$133.86/mth
Min. cost $2,368.96
|
|
Telstra
$74 Basic Upfront Mobile Plan
$137.86/mth
Min. cost $2,372.96
Link not supplied
|
|
Telstra
$84 Essential Upfront Mobile Plan
$147.86/mth
Min. cost $2,382.96
Link not supplied
|
|
Optus
$90 Optus Choice Plus Plan
$153.86/mth
Min. cost $2,388.96
|
|
Telstra
$99 Premium Upfront Mobile Plan
$162.86/mth
Min. cost $2,397.96
Link not supplied
|
How do you get AppleCare Plus?
AppleCare Plus coverage can be purchased four days after your new device is picked up or shipped. You have 60 days from your purchase to get AppleCare Plus i.e. you can't add it three months after you've bought your new iPhone. Purchasing it sooner rather than later is better (both to protect your phone and for your convenience).
Purchasing AppleCare Plus within 60 days of purchase is fairly easy. You can purchase it on your device by looking in the "General" section in the Settings app on your device under AppleCare & Warranty or online through the Apple website. If your coverage lapses you can add AppleCare Plus back so long as the coverage ended within 45 days.
If you miss out on the 60 day AppleCare Plus window entirely, you could still be eligible for an AppleCare One plan. Your device may need a device check to confirm its eligibility.
Is AppleCare Plus worth it?
We've crunched the numbers, and if you need to get a cracked screen or other accidental damage repaired in the first year of owning your new iPhone, you'll definitely come out on top compared to out-of-warranty costs.
If you take out AppleCare Plus and only ever need to get a battery replacement, you typically won't recoup your costs, as battery replacement is free. But that's the price you pay for ensuring peace of mind.
Newer and more expensive models tend to cost a lot more even with AppleCare Plus.
To help you decide whether AppleCare Plus will be worth it, we've compared the costs of repair with AppleCare Plus against what you'd pay for repair without cover.
iPhone repair costs
| Covered by AppleCare Plus | Out of warranty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppleCare Plus cost | Screen replacement fee | Total | Cost | Savings | |
| iPhone Duo | $299.99 | $45 | $345 | - | - |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $224.99 | $45 | $270 | $645 | $375 |
| iPhone 18 Pro | $224.99 | $45 | $270 | $549 | $279 |
| iPhone Air | $224.99 | $45 | $270 | $549 | $279 |
| iPhone 17e | $164.99 | $45 | $210 | $409 | $199 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | $224.99 | $45 | $270 | $645 | $375 |
| iPhone 17 Pro | $224.99 | $45 | $270 | $549 | $279 |
| iPhone 17 | $179.99 | $45 | $225 | $549 | $324 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | $204.99 | $45 | $250 | $549 | $299 |
| iPhone 16 | $179.99 | $45 | $225 | $465 | $240 |
| Covered by AppleCare Plus | Out of warranty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppleCare Plus cost | Battery replacement fee | Total | Cost | Savings | |
| iPhone Duo | $299.99 | Free | $299.99 |
- | - |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $224.99 | Free | $224.99 | $225 | -$16 |
| iPhone 18 Pro | $224.99 | Free | $224.99 | $225 | -$16 |
| iPhone Air | $224.99 | Free | $224.99 | $199 | -$26 |
| iPhone 17e | $164.99 | Free | $164.99 | $165 | $4 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | $224.99 | Free | $224.99 | $225 | -$26 |
| iPhone 17 Pro | $224.99 | Free | $224.99 | $225 | -$26 |
| iPhone 17 | $179.99 | Free | $179.99 | $180 | -$11 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | $204.99 | Free | $204.99 | $205 | -$36 |
| iPhone 16 | $179.99 | Free | $179.99 | $180 | -$11 |
| Covered by AppleCare Plus | Out of warranty | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AppleCare Plus cost | Other repair fee | Total | Cost | Savings | |
| iPhone Duo | $299.99 | $149 | $499 | - | - |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $224.99 | $149 | $374 | $1,499 | $1,125 |
| iPhone 18 Pro | $224.99 | $149 | $374 | $1,409 | $1,035 |
| iPhone Air | $224.99 | $149 | $374 | $1,359 | $985 |
| iPhone 17e | $164.99 | $149 | $314 | $929 | $615 |
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | $224.99 | $149 | $374 | $1,499 | $1,125 |
| iPhone 17 Pro | $224.99 | $149 | $374 | $1,409 | $1,035 |
| iPhone 17 | $179.99 | $149 | $329 | $1,159 | $830 |
| iPhone 16 Plus | $204.99 | $149 | $354 | $1,139 | $785 |
| iPhone 16 | $179.99 | $149 | $329 | $1,059 | $730 |
*Examples of other repairs include liquid damage, home button problems, camera or repair for an accessory.
Note: The exact cost of repairs may vary on a device not covered by warranty depending on the nature of the damage to it. Additionally, Apple has not disclosed the out of warranty repair costs for the iPhone Duo at the time of writing.
What happens if you don't get AppleCare Plus?
All is not completely lost. Even if you choose not to get AppleCare Plus, you're still protected by both Australian Consumer Law and Apple's Limited Warranty. Here's more detail on what's covered by each.
Apple Limited Warranty
Apple’s Limited Warranty coverage is provided free, applies to everything included in your product’s original packaging, and offers repair or replacement in the event of after-purchase defects. Coverage is included for faults or malfunctions in your phone’s "materials and workmanship", provided you’re using your device normally.
Customers also receive free telephone support for the first 90 days with their new iPhone and other Apple products. This support includes assistance with basic set-up, installation, assembly and connectivity, for both your Apple hardware and software.
Australian Consumer Law
A customer’s right to seek reparations for faulty products is covered in Australia by the Australian Consumer Law, which applies to all states and territories and regulates fair trading and consumer protection.
Warranties issued by manufacturers such as Apple do not restrict customer's rights. Apple's Limited Warranty can't override or limit Australian Consumer Law. If your coverage has expired, or a fault isn't covered by the manufacturer doesn't necessarily mean you're not entitled to any assistance or compensation from a retailer under Australian law.
The Australian Consumer Law states that:
- Consumers have the right to ask for a repair, replacement or refund for goods that are faulty, unsafe, look unacceptable, or don't work the way that they're supposed to.
- Australian consumers are entitled to a refund or replacement for a major failure and compensation for any other reasonably unexpected loss or damage.
- Consumers are also entitled to have goods repaired or replaced if they are not of acceptable quality, even if there is no major failure.
- For minor issues, businesses may choose whether to repair, refund or replace the faulty item, and any repairs must happen within a "reasonable time frame".
- For major problems, consumers are given the choice between a replacement or a full refund.
It all essentially boils down to phone manufacturers and telcos ensuring the goods they sell are fit for purpose, match the description provided and any sample or demonstration models, and have the same qualities and level of performance that have been advertised or promised by the seller.
Apple Limited Warranty vs. Australian Consumer Law
A key thing to remember regarding Apple's warranty options and your rights as a consumer is that, although Apple states they don't provide coverage for "non-Apple branded accessories" (even if they are packaged with an Apple product), under Australian consumer law you are still entitled to a refund, repair or replacement from your retailer where the product was purchased if the accessory is faulty or damaged.
This includes Apple stores and resellers: the law states that if a product is not fit for purpose or is faulty, the retailer who supplied it to a customer has an obligation to resolve the issue. Despite the company having a publicised history of referring customers to third-party manufacturers, their terms and conditions don't overrule consumer law; it's Apple's job to assist you with any item you purchase from their stores.
However, there is a downside. Phone manufacturers such as Apple do not have to provide a refund or replacement if the customer:
- Doesn't have proof of purchase
- Has simply changed their mind
- Has caused the damage, either intentionally or through obvious neglect
- Was aware of a fault prior to making a purchase
Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
Related Articles
