HomePod repair cost nearly price of new unit, AppleCare+ ideal for parents and pet owners

HomePod is now in the hands of customers and Apple is publishing more details, tips, and guides for its first smart speaker. We previously discovered that AppleCare+ for HomePod would cost $39, and now Apple has shared that out-of-warranty repair and replacement will cost almost as much as a new HomePod.

First spotted by MacRumors, Apple has shared on its HomePod support page that out-of-warranty repair and replacement will cost $279, or $70 less than a new unit.

However, it will also charge $20 for shipping (when applicable) plus tax. That could bring the cost to over $300 which gets close to the HomePod’s sticker price of $349.

That could be a costly replacement, especially for things like damage to the power cable or top touch surface. An Apple Store rep previously told us that the cable would be removable, although that likely requires Genius Bar work as it is not user removable.

Based on the $279 out-of-warranty cost, it seems that HomePods will likely just be replaced with another unit, rather than actually repaired. While HomePods shouldn’t take the same beating our iPhones do, the corded speaker could certainly be a target for kids and pets to test its durability.

With AppleCare+ for two years only costing $39, it may be a worthwhile investment if you have concerns about damage or malfunctions for the premium smart speaker.

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