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Top 5 iPhone 6 Warranty & Insurance Options

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After you decide which iPhone 6 you are buying, how much storage you need and what color you want Apple and the iPhone 6 carriers will all ask you one more important and potentially expensive question, “Do you want AppleCare+ or an iPhone warranty or insurance option?”

iPhone warranty options like AppleCare+ and iPhone insurance plans let owners use the iPhone 6 without worrying as much about any drop or contact with water.

We’ll compare the top 5 iPhone warranty and insurance options so you can decide if AppleCare+ is worth it or if you are better off with a plan that covers loss and theft.

The iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus prices aren’t that bad on a contract, but if you drop the new iPhone and break it or someone steals it you are looking at paying $650 to $950 for a new iPhone while out of contract. For many users it makes sense to buy an iPhone 6 warranty that covers water damage and drops, and for others an iPhone 6 insurance plan that covers loss and theft is also essential.

It's a good idea to look into iPhone 6 warranty and insurance options before you need them.

It’s a good idea to look into iPhone 6 warranty and insurance options before you need them.

Gotta Be Mobile readers prefer AppleCare+, SquareTrade and Protect Your Bubble for iPhone Insurance and warranty options, based on a survey of over 5,000 readers. We’ll cover the major differences between these iPhone 6 warranties and insurance plans and what you can expect from each service.

We don’t know the iPhone 6 out of warranty replacement and repair prices, but Apple will likely charge $80 or more for battery problems after the first year and at least $270 to replace a broken iPhone 6 screen. As unlikely as it is to believe, there are some users that come walking back into an Apple Store just one day later with a broken iPhone screen. We still don’t know the iPhone 6 out of warranty replacement cost, but expect it to fall around the $270 range.

iPhone 6 Warranty vs iPhone 6 Insurance

You might think that iPhone 6 warranties and iPhone 6 insurance are the same thing, but they aren’t even close. The iPhone 6 comes with a one year warranty on hardware and 90 days of phone and Apple Store Support. This does not cover drops, water, loss or theft. If you need that type of protection you need one of these iPhone 6 protection plans.

AppleCare+, SquareTrade and other iPhone warranty options generally cover damage from drops and water as well as extend the manufacturer warranty to two years. iPhone insurance plans like those from carriers cover loss and theft. In all of these cases you pay an up front fee and then a deductible or charge to get a replacement device.

iPhone 6 insurance plans typically cost more than a warranty because they add the coverage for loss and theft.

Which Should I Buy?

Many users only need an iPhone 6 warranty to protect against cracked screens and water damage.

Many users only need an iPhone 6 warranty to protect against cracked screens and water damage.

There is no one best iPhone 6 warranty or insurance option. If you use a case and aren’t worried about loss or theft you may be able to skip an iPhone 6 warranty all together. For users that don’t like cases and are very active with their iPhone some type of protection is a good idea.

If you think you’ll damage your iPhone but still be able to hand what is left of it off to the provider an iPhone 6 warranty may be enough. If you think you might drop the new iPhone in a lake never to be seen again, you should certainly consider the more expensive iPhone 6 insurance plans.

iPhone 6 Warranty & Insurance Options

Here is a closer look at the best iPhone 6 warranty and insurance options that you can buy for the new iPhones. Some of these companies are still updating their options, so we will fill in more details when they are available.

iPhone 6 Insurance & Warranty 2 Year Price Deductible # of Claims Accidental? Loss/Theft
AppleCare+ $99 $79 2 Yes No
SquareTrade $99-129 $75 up 4 claims Yes No
Credit Card $0 $0 1 per purchase No No
AT&T or Verizon $168-$287 Up to $199 2 per 12 months Yes Yes
Protect Your Bubble $143 $50 No limit Yes No

AppleCare+ – $99

Is AppleCare+ worth it? For many users this is the best way to make sure they are never without a working iPhone. Several members of the Gotta Be Mobile staff use this to gain replacements after a dropped or water damaged iPhone in the last year, and it was well worth it for these people.

AppleCare+ is a popular iPhone 6 warranty option.

AppleCare+ is a popular iPhone 6 warranty option.

With AppleCare+ you get two years of hardware protection and phone support. If you need replacement for accidental damage like a drop or water damage you need to pay a $79 fee to Apple and you can only do this twice.

You can buy AppleCare+ direct from Apple when you buy the iPhone 6 or you can buy it within 30 days if you bought the iPhone 6 from another retailer or direct from your carrier. This does not cover a lost or stolen iPhone.

SquareTrade – $99 to $129

We are waiting for SquareTrade to share their iPhone 6 warranty options, but right now they are selling the iPhone 5s warranty at a discount for $99.

If you want flexible repair and replacement options and nice pricing SquareTrade may be the option for you. The best part about a SquareTrade iPhone warranty is that you can take your broken iPhone in to Apple or a local repair shop and get it fixed, then send the bill to SquareTrade. You can also get next-day replacement from SquareTrade if you prefer that.

There is a $75 deductible if you submit a claim and you can add SquareTrade for up to 30 days after purchase or longer if you can provide proof that you are already paying your carrier for insurance. SquareTrade does not cover loss or theft.

Credit Card – Free

A free iPhone 6 warranty option.

A free iPhone 6 warranty option.

It’s a wonderful idea to pay for the iPhone 6 with a credit card because you get a free iPhone 6 warranty extension. You need to keep the card open and it’s really only free if you pay the iPhone 6 purchase off, but it’s still a great deal.

MasterCard and American Express offer Extended Warranty Protection as a free cardholder benefit to most cards. You can call the 1-800 number on the back of your card to see if you qualify for this option.

Credit Cards don’t cover accidental damage, loss or theft on this type of plan, but it will handle broken power buttons, Touch ID or a failing battery after the original Apple Warranty is over.

Carrier iPhone Insurance

Every iPhone 6 carrier sells iPhone 6 insurance and they are one of the last places you can get an iPhone insurance plan. If you need protection from loss or theft you should seriously consider spending the money on a carrier iPhone 6 insurance plan.

  • T-Mobile – Included with JUMP! – $175 deductible
  • AT&T – $6.99 a month  – $199 Deductible, drops to $149 after 6 months with no claim and $99 after a year.
  • Sprint – $11 a month – $200 Deductible
  • Verizon –  $9.99 a month – $199 Deductible

These prices are high, but there are not many iPhone 6 insurance plans available to users that need protection from loss and theft. You can also make claims for accidental damage through these options.

Protect Your Bubble

Protect Your Bubble still offers protection plans for the iPhone 6 that include accidental damage from water and drops, but they no longer offer loss and theft coverage. This is a shame considering the value they offered, but there is no going back.

iPhone 6 warranty and insurance options are things you need to investigate now, not after damage.

iPhone 6 warranty and insurance options are things you need to investigate now, not after damage.

For $5.99 a month you get protection with a $50 deductible on iPhones if you need to file a claim. This is more expensive up front compared to the other iPhone 6 warranty options, but you can save on the deductible end of things.

Best iPhone 6 Protection

AppleCare+ and SquareTrade both offer the best value for accidental damage, but if you need more protection that covers loss and theft Protect Your Bubble is a reader favorite, but they no longer offer loss and theft support so carriers are your only option.

Carrier plans are typically overpriced both in up front fees and deductibles and the credit card option is nice for a free service, but you don’t get any accidental protection which is what most people need.

12 Comments

12 Comments

  1. d vu

    09/16/2014 at 8:25 am

    the Protect Your Bubble link doesn’t work

    • Shrishti Bhargawa

      11/29/2015 at 5:05 am

      I am in london and wud like to take Insurance of my iPhone from Times Global insurance, as I m returning back to India next month.But mymobileinsurance.com is not accepting payment from here.Any alternative?

  2. Eleanor Howard

    10/01/2014 at 1:01 pm

    What about insureappleiphone.com?

  3. Ed

    10/06/2014 at 9:55 pm

    I can’t believe Worth Ave. Group was not mentioned! It is by far the best option since it still offers COMPLETE coverage with a $50 deductible.

  4. Jodie

    12/13/2014 at 11:40 am

    Hi I am trying to get an I phone 6. But still got 18 month left ee network I pay out 10 insurance. A month just not good my I phone 5 c I want too up grade my I phone too I phone 6

  5. eSURRANTY Network

    04/30/2015 at 8:08 pm

    We offer loss, theft, accidental and water damage less than all listed here. Visit us at http://www.esurranty.com and decide for yourself. We have been doing this for 17 years and if you switch to us, you get $20.00!

  6. Mukesh phulara

    10/21/2015 at 11:29 am

    I saw lots of reviews of Times Global insurance, and lots of paid advertisements of syska and appsdaily. Then I decided to insure my laptop(mac book) from Times Global Insurance and my iPhI saw lots of reviews of Times Global insurance, and lots of paid advertisements of syska and appsdaily. Then I decided to insure my laptop(mac book) from Times Global Insurance and my iPhone from syska.
    I brought my mac book and iphone from amazon, 4 months back so I thought to insure these gadgets. I did lots of research and personally found Times Global insurance is coming on Top of above all. (Plans & customer response time).
    Till now Everything is fine, no damage or claim.But in 4 months I got two calls from Times Global Insurance from customer feedback team.Also they are giving 50% cash back on No claim.So overall a good plan and professional attitude. one from syska.
    I brought my mac book and iphone from amazon, 4 months back so I thought to insure these gadgets. I did lots of research and personally found Times Global insurance is coming on Top of above all. (Plans & customer response time).
    Till now Everything is fine, no damage or claim.But in 4 months I got two calls from Times Global Insurance from customer feedback team.Also they are giving 50% cash back on No claim.So overall a good plan and professional attitude.

  7. AbsentMinded

    03/13/2016 at 6:19 am

    Some credit cards do cover accidental damage, loss or theft. American Express Platinum does this for 90 days.

  8. eSURRANTY Network

    06/10/2016 at 2:28 pm

    http://www.esurranty.com covers loss, theft, accidental damage, water/liquid damage, mechanical malfunctions and if they have to replace your device it is going to be with a NEW one. Not refurbished. All repairs are done at the apple store and esurranty covers your phone no matter how old it is.

  9. Margaret

    07/19/2016 at 12:49 pm

    Keep in mind that the insurance does not cover the color of the phone. If you pay the deductible to replace your lost or damaged phone, they will send you any phone color. And it’s not new- it’s refurbished. Very dumb

  10. Tamara Richards

    09/22/2016 at 4:19 pm

    Protect Your Bubble is no longer doing any new service contracts in the U.S.A. Also, I believe they are sending out letters that current contracts end on September 30, 2016. At least I got a letter.

  11. majestikgl0

    10/01/2016 at 9:06 am

    I also had Protect Your Bubble cancel the contract on me. I have been using Icracked your device with their advantage coverage. They are a repair company that offered a great deal with the insurance for a premium of $7 a month with the deductible at the amazing price of $25! Even if the entire phone needs replaced. And they replace it with the exact same color as your phone. Another great thing about i cracked is they come to you to do the repairs. Now for the downside… I just got off the phone with them and while the deductible will remain at the awesome price of $25 the monthly premium is going up to $20 a month!! That is almost tripple what it was!! And unless they just added it they don’t cover loss or theft.

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