Is Your Phone’s 1-Year Warranty Really Enough?

You’ve just spent way too much money on a brand new phone.

The iPhone 15 Pro or Google Pixel 8 Pro, the two latest flagship devices from Apple and Google, respectively, both start at $999 — and that’s for the lowest storage option. I haven’t even mentioned accessories: You definitely want a phone case and a screen protector, but you could also go for a portable battery pack, a phone stand or better cables.

By the time you’re done, you’ve spent way more than you wanted, which is why you don’t necessarily want to think about spending even more money on an insurance plan.

And I’m not alone. A study from a few years ago found that 87 million Americans repaired a damaged phone in the preceding 12 months. (Damaged screens were the No. 1 repair, if you’re curious, making up 45% of fixes). And that’s not counting people who decided to purchase brand new phones entirely after damage.

So if you’re like me, what can you do beyond a warranty to protect your phone?

In this story, I’ll take a closer look at the various manufacturer warranties from Apple, Google and Samsung and determine if that’s enough for you. I’ll also check out a few insurance plans, including from ATT, Verizon, Allstate and Asurion, that can provide you with extended coverage — if that’s what you’re looking for. 

For more, here’s our review of the iPhone 15 and what’s behind the Pixel 8 cameras.

So is a factory warranty enough?

Well, it depends on what could happen to your phone in its first year.

With an Apple warranty, for example, a new iPhone comes with one year of hardware repair coverage for manufacturing defects. Same with Samsung: One year for “defective material and manufacturing faults.” Google’s the same: One year warranty for defects “through no fault of your own.” 

If there’s a defect, you’ll probably hear something about it directly from the phone company. If the defect is widespread enough, you’ll be able to ship the device or take it in-store to get it fixed or replaced. At no cost to you.

However, none of these warranties cover a cracked screen, a broken rear camera or other damage you may accidentally cause. So what’s it cost to cover accidental damages?

Let’s look at screen repair: With the new iPhone 15 Pro Max, for example, Apple estimates you’ll pay $379 to repair a cracked screen. With Samsung, the cost of a screen repair depends on the model, starting at a little over $100 for the Galaxy A54 5G, $260 for the Galaxy S23 Ultra and up to $499 for a Galaxy Fold. 

See the chart below for examples of the estimated cost to repair a screen without insurance, from Apple and Samsung. 

Insurance through your cellphone carrier

You can also get insurance with your mobile provider, which may be easier if you’ve purchased your phone from a carrier. Note that carriers may work with an outside insurer like Asurion to provide coverage. And as with AppleCare Plus or Samsung Care Plus, you may have a limit on the number of repairs you can claim in a year with your carrier’s phone insurance policy.

Starting at $14 a month, for example, ATT lets you make unlimited claims for screen repairs, three claims for theft or loss and two claims for accidental damage from handling — all in a 12 month period. See the chart below for examples. 

Before you sign up, look over the details, such as how many claims you can make it a in year and if you need to sign up right after your purchase.

You also might have secondary phone insurance coverage — meaning any of the above options would reimburse first — through a credit card benefit provided by paying your bill, through homeowners insurance or through renters insurance. Certain credit cards will provide insurance for damages to a phone as long as you pay your wireless plan bill using them. Homeowners insurance and renters insurance policies might also cover for phone theft, but exact coverage terms vary from plan to plan.

For more on this fall’s new phones, here’s what to know about the Pixel 8 and the changes in the new Pixel phones.

Article source: https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/is-your-phones-1-year-warranty-really-enough/#ftag=CAD4aa2096