AppleCare+ Launched 15 Years Ago Today - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

AppleCare+ Launched 15 Years Ago Today

AppleCare Bright RedAppleCare+ became available for the first time 15 years ago today, on October 14, 2011, alongside the iPhone 4S, following its announcement ten days earlier. The previous $69 AppleCare Protection Plan in the United States extended hardware repair coverage and technical support to two years, but excluded accidental damage.

‌AppleCare‌+ cost $99, retaining that two-year term while adding coverage for two accidental damage incidents, each with a $49 service fee. It covered damage from drops and liquid contact, but excluded theft and loss.

Popular Stories

Apple Support App General Feature

Apple Reportedly Planned to Replace 5,000 Support Employees With AI

Tuesday September 29, 2026 9:11 am PDT by
Apple recently considered laying off about 5,000 support employees, but it has put those plans on hold indefinitely, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The report said that Apple believed that AI-powered phone and web agents could take over some of the responsibilities performed by the employees who would have been let go, but Apple is no longer "currently looking to take such a step." ...
iphone duo feature

iPhone Duo: Skipping AppleCare+ Could Be $1,499 Mistake

Wednesday October 14, 2026 8:13 am PDT by
Apple today listed its estimated repair fees for the iPhone Duo without AppleCare+ coverage, with the maximum fee in the U.S. for "other damage" set at $1,499. If you only damage certain parts of the iPhone Duo, the fees are more manageable. For example, the repair fee for damaged back glass is set at $199. If you eventually want to replace the battery in your iPhone Duo, that will cost...
Apple HomeView lineup feature5

Apple's HomeView Repair Fees Revealed

Tuesday October 13, 2026 5:44 pm PDT by
If you damage Apple's new HomeView smart home hub, here is what the repair fees are set at: $39 with AppleCare+ coverage and $279 without. These fees apply to any type of damage to either the tabletop or wall-mounted HomeView models. In the U.S., AppleCare+ coverage for the HomeView is priced at $2.49 per month or $24.99 per year until canceled, or you can opt to add the device to the...

Top Rated Comments

ipedro Avatar
1 day ago at 06:58 am
Unlike many tech store add-ons, AppleCare has proven its value to me. The Apple Store's legendary service is great for the first year, and this extended that first for 2 years, and now indefinitely. It's saved me many times over.

I don't use cases, so I get AppleCare+ just in case. Then there's the battery, eventually it drops below 85% or some component needs replacing and they often just swap my phone for a new one.

A True Depth component on iPhone 12 Pro recently stopped working. Apple not only replaced the phone but gave me an iPhone 13 Pro as an upgrade because components were no longer available. Apple Care paid itself off many times over.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
HQuest Avatar
1 day ago at 06:56 am
Who cares? AppleCare!



Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
turbineseaplane Avatar
1 day ago at 06:49 am
Money printer go brr!

True innovation to fully lean into the insurance / extended warranty racket and, I would argue, start designing products and their pricing structure around it.

BeanCounterism level 10!



Attachment Image

Attachment Image
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1 day ago at 07:21 am

I know you're being funny but it's not the same at all. You can't stop rain flooding your house. You can't stop thieves breaking in. You can however treat your supposedly too expensive devices with care. Your own care; Not Apple care.
You can drive as carefully as you want; it won’t stop somebody running a red light and T-boning you at an intersection. Plus I live in London and want to be able to use my phone outside, so theft and loss is a no-brainer.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1 day ago at 07:09 am

It has no value to me. Not once in almost 20 years with Apple products came I close to returning/repairing anything. Now imagine paying for 20 years of Apple Care (if it was available back then) for no reason.
Exactly - it’s like home insurance. My dad keeps bugging me about it but literally not once have I been burgled or had my house burn down. Waste of money.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
1 day ago at 12:54 pm

We need innovation. We need AppleCare Pro. Who's gonna pay for that expensive screen repair? You? Naaaah, AppleCare Pro


I gave you a like. I felt bad seeing the tumbleweeds.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Latest Stories
OLED MacBook Pro Won't Get M7 Chips Until Late 2027
OLED MacBook Pro Won't Get M7 Chips Until Late 2027
1 hour ago
Apple Pledged $25 Million to Trump's White House Ballroom
Apple Pledged $25 Million to Trump's White House Ballroom
3 hours ago
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
Touchscreen MacBook Pro Could Launch on November 6
4 hours ago
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
New Withings Users Must Pay $99/Year for Apple Health Syncing
5 hours ago
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
Meta and Apple Bring Muse Spark Open AI Model to Mac Studio
6 hours ago
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
iPad Mini 8: Apple Has Tested Both 60Hz and 120Hz ProMotion Displays
6 hours ago
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
Apple TV 4K 2022 vs. 2026 Buyer's Guide: All Differences Compared
8 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
Apple CEO John Ternus on Early Foldables: 'Kind of Cheap and Crappy'
8 hours ago
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
Greg Joswiak Says Apple Isn't Focused on Making AI for 'Lunatic Fringe'
9 hours ago
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
Amazon Offers $120 Discount on AirPods Max 2, $50 Off AirPods Pro 3
9 hours ago
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
Apple CEO John Ternus Featured on Cover of TIME Magazine: 'New Era'
10 hours ago
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
Apple Announces Deadline to 'Get Ready' to Pre-Order the iPhone Duo
10 hours ago
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
MKBHD is 'Not Convinced' About Apple's New HomeView, Here's Why
11 hours ago
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
Apple's Wall-Mounted HomeView Ships Without a Power Adapter
11 hours ago
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
Rare Apple-1 With Steve Jobs Letter Sells for $1.15 Million
12 hours ago
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
Apple Now Inviting Media to October 28 'Launch Experience'
12 hours ago
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
iPhone Duo's A20 Pro Chip Benchmarked Ahead of Launch
23 hours ago
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
10 HomeView Features You Might Have Missed
1 day ago
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
Apple Becomes Second Company to Close Above $5 Trillion
1 day ago
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
Which Apple Home Devices Get Siri AI, and When
1 day ago
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
Apple's Long-Delayed HomeView Was Already Being Tested in 2024
1 day ago
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
Apple Intelligence Coming to China in December With iOS 27.3
1 day ago
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
Apple Invites App Updated With Two New Features
1 day ago
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
OpenAI Says Ex-Employee Showed Its Device Plans to Apple
1 day ago
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
Discover the Best Cases and Screen Protectors for Your New iPhone Duo
1 day ago
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
Apple Store Near Los Angeles Closed Due to 'Events Beyond Our Control'
1 day ago
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
No, HomePod Mini 1 Won't Support Siri AI as CNET Reported
1 day ago
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
iPhone Duo Compromises: Everything You Have to Give Up
1 day ago
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
Apple HomeView Has These 15 Apps, Some CarPlay Apps and Widgets Also Supported
1 day ago
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
iPhone Duo: Apple Charging $49 for New Cover Layer, $229 for Battery
1 day ago