AppleCare+ purchase stretched from 60 days to one year for iPhone

Now iPhone customers have one year window period to purchase AppleCare+  Smartphone insurance program. The change, reported first by MacRumors and confirmed with a senior AppleCare advisor, is not yet showing up on Apple’s official product page for AppleCare+. 

Apple's eligibility tool does appear to reflect the change for iPhones in the States, but not in the United Kingdom, Canada, India, or elsewhere, so it is possible the extension window will be for U.S. only.

This means that customers who have purchased iPhone within last year, and not filed for insurance , can do it now. But there’s a catch, you can’t go and crack your screen and then purchase AppleCare+ thanks to this new purchase window. Apple requires a physical inspection to buy the service in-store and a remote diagnostic test if you do so online.

The change brings, AppleCare+ for iPhone in line with AppleCare for Mac and Apple TV, which can also be purchased up to one year after those devices are purchased.  Apple watch and iPad are still on old 60 days rule.

AppleCare+ for iPhone also comes with 24/7 priority access to AppleCare advisors through chat or phone for up to two years after the device's original purchase date and covers Ear Pods, Lightning to USB cables, and batteries that retain less than 80 percent of their original capacity. 

Apple generously lowered the price of screen repairs through AppleCare+ from $99 to $29 last September, now might as well be a good time to lob out for a little extra insurance to be on safer side.