Phone insurance

Phone insurance covers events that the manufacturer warranty doesn't — accidental damage (cracked screens, water exposure), loss, and theft. The manufacturer warranty (Apple, Samsung, Google) typically covers only manufacturing defects in the first year. For the much more common ways phones get destroyed (dropped, dunked, lost, or stolen), you need either insurance or to self-insure.

The common options in 2026

• AppleCare+ (iPhone): $7-10/month or one-time purchase. Covers accidental damage with a $29-99 service fee per incident, plus battery replacement, and optional theft/loss coverage. Renews automatically; can stack with carrier insurance.
• Samsung Care+ (Galaxy): similar to AppleCare+. Includes accidental damage, mechanical breakdown, optional loss/theft. ~$10-18/month.
• Google Preferred Care (Pixel): $9/month for Pixel 9 family. Covers accidental damage and mechanical breakdown.
• Verizon Total Mobile Protection / AT&T Mobile Protection / T-Mobile Protection 360: ~$15-19/month. Covers loss, theft, accidental damage, and includes a service fee per claim ($29-249 depending on device). Often includes Asurion-managed claims.
• Asurion / Square Trade / etc. (third-party): ~$5-12/month. Covers similar incidents with deductibles. Often cheaper than carrier plans but requires reading the fine print on what counts as "loss" vs "theft."
• Credit card insurance: some premium credit cards (Chase Sapphire Reserve, Amex Platinum) include cell phone protection ($50K of devices billed to that card) at no extra cost.

Is phone insurance worth it?

The math depends on:

• Phone replacement cost. A $1,200 iPhone 16 Pro is more worth insuring than a $400 Pixel 8a.
• Your damage history. If you've broken every phone you've owned, insurance pays. If you've never broken a phone, you're paying for nothing.
• Premium credit card. If you have one with cell phone insurance built in, paying for a separate policy is usually redundant.
• Family plan considerations. Some carrier plans bundle protection across all lines at a discount.

For most users with modern flagship phones: AppleCare+ (for iPhone) or carrier protection is worth ~50-80% of the time. For older phones, hand-me-downs, or phones bought used, self-insure (skip the policy and budget for an out-of-pocket replacement if needed).