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   Apple Lowers iPhone Screen Replacement Costs

   Josh Centers

   Alongside the rollout of the iPhone 7, Apple has made its AppleCare+
   extended warranty program a better deal.

   Originally, AppleCare+ cost $99, and the accidental damage fee to
   replace a cracked screen, for instance, was an additional $79. With the
   release of the iPhone 6s last year, Apple increased both prices,
   raising AppleCare+ to $129 and the accidental damage fee to $99. (See
   '[1]Comparing U.S. iPhone Plan Costs in a Contract-Free World,' 11
   September 2015.)

   The base AppleCare+ fee remains at $129 this year, but Apple is now
   [2]being more generous toward its AppleCare+ customers, offering screen
   repairs for only $29. The new price applies to every iPhone from the
   iPhone 5 all the way to the iPhone 7 Plus. That seems much more
   reasonable given the cost of third-party screen replacement options. If
   you've damaged your iPhone beyond just cracking the screen, the
   AppleCare+ repair cost will be $99, or $49 for an iPhone 5.

   If you don't have AppleCare+, the screen replacement fee is $149 for
   Plus-sized iPhones and $129 for smaller models. For just screen
   replacement for one of Apple's smaller iPhone models, then, the price
   is essentially the same regardless of whether or not you have
   AppleCare+. Repairing the screen on a Plus-sized iPhone is a bit more
   expensive without AppleCare+, and out-of-warranty repair costs for
   additional damage are higher yet, ranging from $269 to $349. They're
   still significantly cheaper than a brand-new iPhone.

   Whether or not AppleCare+ is worthwhile depends on how you treat your
   iPhone. I tend to be hard on my phones, so I opted for AppleCare+ with
   my iPhone 7 Plus. I also didn't have much choice, since I signed up for
   the iPhone Upgrade Program, which has AppleCare+ rolled in. However, if
   you're not as clumsy as I am and don't have a small child occasionally
   using your iPhone, the out-of-warranty screen replacement costs are low
   enough that it may not be worth paying for AppleCare+.

References

   1. http://tidbits.com/article/15914
   2. https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/screen-damage

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