Is this the end of multi-year AppleCare+ plans? What's replacing them and why

If you purchase AppleCare+ for your devices, the company’s repair and tech support coverage program, pay attention because some big changes are on the way.

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Right now, you have the option to add a multi-year AppleCare+ plan within 60 days of buying a new iPhone. You can do this straight from your device through the settings menu or in an official Apple Store as long as you have your phone inspected.

Limited options

According to Mark Gurman, a reliable Apple tipster, the multi-year option is going away. Apple is apparently eliminating the option to purchase a two- or three-year AppleCare+ plan in an Apple Store or on your device. Instead, if you’re purchasing device protection through those methods, Apple is going to limit you to a single-year subscription or a month-by-month plan.

 You’ll still be able to purchase a multi-year plan online (for now).

Paying more to protect devices

This means that you’ll ultimately end up paying more to protect your devices (unless you opt for the online option). For the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max, for example, AppleCare+ costs $9.99 a month or $199 for a two-year plan. If you pay monthly, two years of coverage is $40 more. If you add in theft coverage too, the difference ends up costing you $55 more over two years.

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Apple hasn’t said anything officially, but this seems to be a move toward making AppleCare+ an ongoing monthly subscription instead of a one-time purchase.

Taking effect next week

If Apple does go this route, it would only be falling in line with its competition. For comparison, Google Preferred Care, the Pixel   protection plan, only offers a monthly price ($12 a month when I checked for the Pixel 9 Pro). Similarly, Samsung Care+, the Galaxy device protection plan, only offers monthly plans.

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This change is taking effect next week, Gurman says.