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AppleCare+ for Apple Watch: $999 for Edition, $79 for Watch, $59 for Sport

Screenshot 2015-04-03 11.22.29

To go along with the premium $10,000 and up pricing of the 18-karat gold Apple Watch Edition, Apple will charge up to $999 for the Apple Watch Edition’s AppleCare+ Protection Plan, 9to5Mac has learned. The Apple Watch Edition notably has very different AppleCare coverage from other Apple Watch models, coming with two years of 24/7 support and a special setup hotline right out of the box. AppleCare+ will add a third year of technical support and support for up to two incidents of accidental hardware damage. More affordable AppleCare+ coverage will also be offered for the aluminum Sport and stainless steel standard models, which will cost $59 and $79 respectively, adding a second year of technical support to the included one year, plus support for up to two incidents of accidental hardware damage…

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As is the case with many other Apple products, AppleCare+ for the Apple Watch will be offered at the time of purchase within physical Apple Retail Stores and the Apple Online Store. If Apple does indeed replace an Apple Watch under AppleCare+, there will likely be a deductible price for replacement, which will be far less than replacement pricing for customers without the AppleCare+ plan. While the $999 price for the Apple Watch Edition sounds high, it should be noted that it’s around 10% of the product’s base cost, which tracks with AppleCare pricing for the $2999 Mac Pro, which retails for $249 (but can be had for less from resellers).

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We’ve also learned that Apple Watch repairs, at least at launch, will not be conducted within Apple Stores. Instead, devices will be shipped off-site. Apple, however, will be able to replace Watches in-store at the Genius Bar. Apple will also be able to process Apple Watch technical replacements over the phone. If you have  standard AppleCare, you must ship Apple your Watch and then your replacement will be sent. If you have AppleCare+, Apple will first send your replacement device then you will have to ship the broken unit back to Apple.

The Apple Watch goes on sale on April 24th on Apple’s website, official Apple retail stores, and select high-end retailers around the world. Apple is revamping its own stores with new display tables, try-on tables, and try-on cases to make the Apple Watch sales experience unique. At launch, Apple will require Apple Watch customers to have an appointment in order to make an in-store purchase as stock for walk-in purchases will be unavailable. One source adds that supplies of the rose gold Edition models will be very tight as Apple is still working out discoloration issues. Ahead of the April 24th launch, Apple will allow customers with or without appointments to come into retail stores beginning on April 10th to try on the Watch.

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Comments

  1. dilap001 - 9 years ago

    UK Pricing?

  2. bellevueboy - 9 years ago

    Buy it on cc, first year warranty by apple second year picked up by cc. Have done and used it with iPhone.

    • Taymour Khan - 9 years ago

      I’ve been wanting to ask people like you a question!! Does it matter if you bought the device from a non-apple store? And what if it was through contract/carrier financing? Does any of that make a difference?

      • dhong1984 - 9 years ago

        tradiontally with Apple Care Plus you you have 60 days to add it on from origional purchase date (when the third party retailer received the device) and has to be added in Retail Stores

  3. FERNANDO! (@brutedawg) - 9 years ago

    lol, the amount of money/hype/PR revolving around the edition watch is getting silly.. i feel like Apple is weeding out the morons now.

    • sammeries - 9 years ago

      They’re selling it as a complete luxury experience, and pricing it to match.

  4. J.latham - 9 years ago

    Kind of surprised with the reasonable prices for this… at least for the sport and regular versions.

  5. Zac Hall - 9 years ago

    Similar to Sport band replacement cost. Really for the watch itself in that regard.

  6. Gary Kirk - 9 years ago

    If the changes in the Watch are going to be on the same frequency of the iPhone, why would anyone in their right mind pay $10,000 for something that is going to be continually improved over the years? If you pay $10,000 for a Rolex, you will wear it the rest of your life, but a gold Apple Watch? I doubt it.

    • ladypendragon - 9 years ago

      Prices reflects the total of all: the idea, invention, effort, ingenuity, time, trial and errors and success of an item… usually… and with Apple you also get the support and friendly customer service to boot… Apple as a company is more about the pleasure of the customer experience rather than the “top dollar”. One has the choice to pay for top quality, like sipping Don Perignon… I admire a Rolex, but I will be living with an iWatch… literally… it will transmit my emotions, feed my mind and monitor my health, sending me back my heartbeat, like… how cool is that?

      • idave2000 - 9 years ago

        Oh brother!

  7. docwallaby - 9 years ago

    I’ve only opted for AppleCare on a couple products and never made use of it. In fact, I prefer my carrier’s insurance for my iPhone and cellular iPad Mini 2. But for that price for AppleCare+ for the Watch and Watch Sport (whichever I get), this may well be worth it.

  8. patthecarnut - 9 years ago

    Talk about MARGINS! Geez! But rich celebs will be RUNNING to a location to buy these…Pay more, it HAS to be better, right?