AppleCare+ iPhone 18 accidental damage: $29 screen deductible + $99 other + $269 theft

Apple has not announced AppleCare+ pricing for iPhone 18. Based on iPhone 17 Pro AppleCare+ rates and the fact that AppleCare+ for iPhone and Apple Watch were untouched in Apple's July 2026 Mac/iPad AppleCare+ price hike (Tom's Guide coverage), the expected monthly costs are: iPhone 18 at $7.99/month or $159 for 2 years, iPhone 18 Pro at $9.99/month or $199 for 2 years, iPhone 18 Pro Max at $11.99/month or $239 for 2 years (matching iPhone 17 Pro Max's current $239 / $269 with-Theft-and-Loss rate). Theft and Loss coverage adds $1.50-$4/month on top. Apple will confirm rates at the September 9, 2026 keynote.

How much does AppleCare+ cost for the iPhone 18?

AppleCare+ for iPhone 18 is expected to follow the same two-tier structure Apple has used since 2023:

Plan	Monthly	2-year fixed	Coverage
AppleCare+ (damage only)	$7.99/mo	$159	2 incidents / 12 months
AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss	$9.49/mo	$189	Damage + 1 theft/loss per 12 months

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max tiers cost more — see the next section. AppleCare+ pricing has been flat for three generations (iPhone 15 / 16 / 17) despite device price increases, and Apple has not signaled a change for iPhone 18.

How much does AppleCare+ cost for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max?

Pro models cost more because the replacement device value is higher:

Plan	iPhone 18 Pro	iPhone 18 Pro Max
AppleCare+ (damage only) monthly	$9.99/mo	$11.99/mo
AppleCare+ 2-year fixed	$199	$239
AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss monthly	$11.49/mo	$13.49/mo (note: iPhone 17 Pro Max current rate is $13.99/mo)
AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss 2-year fixed	$229	$269

The AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss tier adds $1.50/month (or $30 over 2 years) on top of the damage-only tier, and covers up to one theft or loss claim per 12-month period. Theft and Loss requires Find My to be enabled at the time of the incident.

For a 256GB iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,399 with the with-Theft-and-Loss plan, total AppleCare+ cost over 24 months is $269 — roughly 19% of the device cost.

What does AppleCare+ for iPhone 18 cover?

Two incident types per 12-month period for the damage-only plan, plus one theft/loss incident per 12-month period on the higher tier.

Incident	AppleCare+ covers	Deductible (expected)
Screen or back-glass damage	Yes	$29
Other accidental damage	Yes	$99
Battery service (under 80% capacity)	Yes (no deductible)	$0
Theft or loss (tier upgrade only)	Yes (up to 2 per 24 months on Pro Max plan)	$149 for Pro / $199 for Pro Max
Manufacturing defects (year 1)	Yes (covered by standard warranty)	$0
Cosmetic damage only	No	n/a
Water damage with visible liquid contact indicator tripped	Counts toward incident	$99
Lost AirPods, lost Apple Pencil	No	n/a

The deductible is the fee you pay when making a claim. The $29 screen repair on iPhone 18 Pro Max is dramatically cheaper than the typical $400-$500 out-of-warranty screen replacement Apple charges.

Is AppleCare+ for iPhone 18 worth it?

It depends on your risk tolerance and how you use your iPhone. The math works out to roughly three scenarios:

Buy AppleCare+ if:

• You have an active lifestyle (running, cycling, gym, kids) and a higher chance of drops
• You travel frequently and risk theft / loss
• You are buying a 1TB or 2TB Pro Max ($1,599-$1,799) — out-of-warranty replacements are expensive
• You want the peace of mind of a fixed repair cost
• You typically keep your iPhone for 3+ years (AppleCare+ extends to 24 months of coverage, but with monthly plans it continues as long as you pay)

Skip AppleCare+ if:

• You use a heavy-duty case (OtterBox, Casetify Bounce) and screen protector — most drops never reach the glass
• You have a backup device and can survive 1-2 weeks without your primary iPhone while Apple services it
• You typically upgrade every year through iPhone Upgrade Program (which includes AppleCare+ bundled in)
• You have home/renters insurance that covers personal electronics (often with a $250 deductible)

The break-even: if you expect to break the screen once over 24 months, AppleCare+ saves you ($99 deductible + $0 plan cost if you bought 2-year) vs. ($400-$500 out-of-warranty cost). If you expect zero incidents, you lose the $199-$269 plan fee.

When can I buy AppleCare+ for iPhone 18?

Three windows:

1. At iPhone 18 purchase (pre-order or launch day) — the easiest path. Apple's pre-order flow includes an AppleCare+ add-on at checkout. Coverage starts on the device's activation date. Buy AppleCare+ at Apple or add it during checkout when you order your iPhone 18.
2. Within 60 days of purchase — you can add AppleCare+ retroactively through Settings → General → About → AppleCare+ Coverage Available. Apple will run a remote diagnostic to confirm the device is in good condition. You must complete a remote verification step. Add AppleCare+ after purchase — the same flow works for both initial purchase and 60-day window.
3. After 60 days — you cannot add AppleCare+. Apple's standard rule.

For iPhone 18, the 60-day window gives you through approximately mid-November 2026 to add AppleCare+ if you do not buy it at pre-order. Don't wait — Apple's remote diagnostic can fail in edge cases (battery health slightly below threshold, screen with micro-scratches), and you'll be locked out.

Can I cancel AppleCare+ and get a refund?

Yes — Apple prorates refunds based on how long you've had coverage. The math:

• Cancel within 30 days — full refund (you get all your money back if no claims have been made)
• Cancel after 30 days — pro-rated refund minus a cancellation fee, minus the value of any claims already made

For a $199 2-year plan cancelled after 12 months with no claims, expect roughly a $50-$70 refund. If you made one $99 claim, the refund is reduced by $99.

Monthly plans can be cancelled at any time without penalty — the coverage ends at the end of the current billing period.

Does AppleCare+ cover the iPhone Fold?

Yes — iPhone Fold gets its own AppleCare+ tier, expected to be priced at $12.99-$14.99/month (or $259-$299 for 2 years fixed) given the higher device cost ($1,999-$2,499). Apple's pattern is that the AppleCare+ monthly cost scales with device replacement value, and the Fold's repair cost is significantly higher than the Pro Max because of the inner foldable display and hinge assembly.

For iPhone Fold buyers, AppleCare+ is more clearly worth it — out-of-warranty inner display replacement could cost $800-$1,000 if available at all (Apple has historically not serviced foldable displays on standard warranty).

How does AppleCare+ compare to third-party insurance (Asurion, SquareTrade)?

Provider	iPhone 18 Pro Max monthly	Deductible	Claims process	Notable exclusions
AppleCare+	$11.99	$29 screen / $99 other / $149 theft	Same-day Apple Store or mail-in	Cosmetic damage, lost accessories
Asurion (via carrier)	$7-$15	$99-$249	Carrier store or mail-in	Loss often excluded, slow turnaround
SquareTrade	$8-$12	$0-$99	Mail-in only	30-day wait after purchase
Allstate	$9-$13	$50-$150	Mail-in or repair shop	Pre-existing conditions

AppleCare+'s main advantages are: (1) same-day service at Apple Stores with genuine Apple parts, (2) the lowest deductibles ($29 screen repair is unmatched), and (3) battery service included at no cost. The main disadvantage is price — Asurion and SquareTrade are typically 20-40% cheaper on monthly cost.

For most buyers who want a stress-free experience and don't mind the monthly cost, AppleCare+ is the best option. For price-sensitive buyers willing to mail in devices, SquareTrade and Asurion are reasonable alternatives.

Does AppleCare+ transfer to a new owner if I sell my iPhone?

No — AppleCare+ is tied to the original purchaser and the specific device. When you sell or trade in your iPhone, you cancel AppleCare+ for that device (you get a prorated refund) and the new owner has the standard 60-day window to add AppleCare+ under their own Apple ID.

This is one of the biggest reasons to cancel AppleCare+ before selling your iPhone. If you forget to cancel and the new owner calls Apple, Apple will transfer the coverage to their Apple ID at no charge — but you lose the refund.

For full pre-launch coverage, see our iPhone 18 pre-launch summary. For pricing context, see our how much will iPhone 18 Pro cost FAQ.