Let me give you the real costs so you can decide if AppleCare+ makes sense for you.
With AppleCare+ - The Simple Math
AppleCare+ costs $49 for two years. With it, any accidental damage costs just $29 to fix. Doesn't matter if it's one earbud, both, or the case.
Lost an earbud at the gym? $29. Dropped the case in the toilet? $29. Both earbuds went through the wash? $29.
Battery dying? Free replacement if it's dropped below 80% capacity.
Without AppleCare+ - The Expensive Route
Here's where it hurts:
- One earbud replacement: $89
- Case replacement: Up to $99
- Battery service: $49 per piece
Lose both earbuds and need a new case? You're looking at $277+.
Should You Get AppleCare+?
If you've ever lost an earbud, dropped them somewhere unfortunate, or put them through the wash by accident, $49 for AppleCare+ is a no-brainer.
The math:
- AppleCare+ ($49) + one incident ($29) = $78 total
- One earbud without AppleCare+ = $89
You save money with just one mishap. And you get two years of peace of mind.
How Replacement Actually Works
With AppleCare+, Apple has Express Replacement. They ship you new AirPods before you even send yours back. You just put your old ones in the same box and ship them.
Without AppleCare+, you can go to an Apple Store or start a repair online. Either way, Apple replaces components with new or equivalent parts.
One Thing People Don't Realize
Lost AirPods count as accidental damage under AppleCare+. A lot of people think "lost" means "not covered." Not true here. Lost earbud? $29 replacement.
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How we researched this
Where this comes from: this answer draws on the product's published specifications and the reviews ShopSavvy collected for it, alongside prices from ShopSavvy's price data.
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