AppleCare+ Policy Change Coming to Apple Stores - MacRumorsOpen MenuShow RoundupsShow Forums menuVisit ForumsOpen Sidebar
Skip to Content

AppleCare+ Policy Change Coming to Apple Stores

Starting next week, Apple's retail stores will no longer offer AppleCare+ plans as a one-time purchase, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

applecare apple care banner
Instead, he said the stores will only offer AppleCare+ as a subscription. For example, AppleCare+ for the iPhone 16 Pro Max costs $9.99 per month, or $199 upfront for two years. The latter option would no longer be available at Apple's stores.

Fortunately, Gurman said AppleCare+ will remain available as a one-time purchase on Apple's online store, at least for now.

It is unclear if this policy change is limited to the U.S. or will apply worldwide.

Apple likely profits more by offering AppleCare+ as a monthly or annual subscription, which helps to boost the company's services revenue.

Popular Stories

Apple Victoria Gardens 2

Two Apple Stores in U.S. and Australia Will Soon Be Temporarily Closed

Wednesday April 8, 2026 2:56 pm PDT by
Apple Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, California will be temporarily closed for renovations starting the evening of Saturday, April 11. Apple Victoria Gardens in Rancho Cucamonga, California The store will reopen in the fall, according to a notice on Apple's website spotted by MacRumors reader Kate. No specific date was provided, but Apple will likely aim to resume business ahead of...
Apple Towson Town Center

Apple is Permanently Closing Three U.S. Stores in June

Thursday April 9, 2026 9:30 am PDT by
Apple today announced it will be permanently closing three retail stores in the U.S. in June, including Apple Trumbull in Trumbull, Connecticut, Apple North County in Escondido, California, and Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland. Apple Towson Town Center in Maryland Apple issued the following statement to MacRumors:At Apple, we are constantly striving to deliver exceptional service...
Apple Towson Town Center

Apple is Closing a Unionized Store in the U.S. and the Union is 'Outraged'

Friday April 10, 2026 7:25 am PDT by
Apple on Thursday announced that it will be permanently closing three of its retail stores in the U.S. in June, and one of them was unionized. Apple Towson Town Center in Maryland Apple Towson Town Center in Towson, Maryland is one of the three stores being shuttered, with no replacement store planned. The staff at this location became Apple's first retail employees in the U.S. to unionize in ...

Top Rated Comments

Chet-NYC Avatar
17 months ago
That's a HUGE change. The one time $199 was $40 cheaper than doing it monthly. I also figure that people won't, or will forget to unsubscribe after two years. Someone keeps their phone three years, that's another $120 of revenue.

I hate how seemingly everything in life is becoming a subscription.
Score: 66 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Expos of 1969 Avatar
17 months ago
Soon you will have to buy a subscription "Shop Apple" to buy any products...
Score: 31 Votes (Like | Disagree)
thefrost Avatar
17 months ago
What's next? Subscription for viewing the App Store?
Score: 24 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Plutonius Avatar
17 months ago
I don't bother with AppleCare on any of my products anymore.

Like any insurance, it's priced such that Apple makes a profit.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ThomasJL Avatar
17 months ago
Tim Crook just keeps getting worse and worse.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
17 months ago

It’s better monthly as you can extend it beyond the 2 years.
You can extend one-time purchase AC+ after two years in quite a few regions.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Related Apple News: Iphone | Travel | Local News | Mac | Iphone