AppleCare One launches in Australia: Price, what it covers and is it worth it?
Key takeaways
- AppleCare One is a monthly subscription that lets you cover up to 3 Apple products under one plan, starting at $29.99 a month.
- You can add more devices for $8.99 per month each. Devices up to 4 years old are eligible, as long as they pass a diagnostic check.
- Theft and loss cover is only included for iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches.
AppleCare One lets you cover up to 3 Apple products under one monthly subscription, instead of paying for a separate AppleCare+ plan for each device.
It covers iPhones, Macs, Apple Watches and iPads, with similar benefits to AppleCare+: unlimited repairs for accidental damage, battery replacements and 24/7 priority access to Apple experts.
For eligible iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches, theft and loss cover is also included, with up to 3 claims a year across your covered devices.
Just keep in mind that only devices signed in to your Apple Account are eligible for coverage.
How much does AppleCare One cost?
AppleCare One starts at $29.99 a month for up to 3 products.
Extra devices for $8.99 a month each.
You can sign up at an Apple Store or in Settings. Existing AppleCare+ customers can sign up directly on their iPhone, iPad or Mac.
A 4-day waiting period applies from when your device ships or is picked up, so you'll have to wait before signing up your new tech for AppleCare One.
Adding and removing devices
You can add or remove devices whenever you like.
This includes existing devices you already own.
They just need to be less than 4 years old (or less than 1 year old for headphones) and may need a quick diagnostic check to make sure they're in good working order.
If you trade in a covered device and buy a new one from Apple, your old device will be removed automatically and the new one will take its place.
Because it's a monthly subscription, you can keep AppleCare One for as long as you want.
Is AppleCare One worth it?
This comes down to personal preference and whether it fits your budget.
Apple says covering an iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch together can save up to $18.48 a month, which works out to around $221.76 a year versus 3 separate AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss plans.
The other big plus is that you can cover devices you already own, as long as they're within 4 years of purchase.
That's something you usually can't do with AppleCare+ once the initial sign-up window has passed.
If you only have one Apple device, sticking with a regular AppleCare+ plan will still be cheaper.
AppleCare+ adds theft and loss cover for iPad and Apple Watch
Alongside AppleCare One, Apple is also expanding its single-device AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss plans to cover iPads and Apple Watches, not just iPhones.
The plan covers up to 2 theft or loss incidents a year, as well as battery replacements, priority support and unlimited repairs for accidental damage. Just keep in mind that service fees apply when you make a theft or loss claim.
iPhone 17 deals with Optus
Want the iPhone 17 on a plan?
Optus has a $300 discount on the iPhone 17 range, plus Finder is offering a $200 digital Visa gift card on top.
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