Apple is making two notable changes to its AppleCare+ protection plans this week, one expanding coverage in Japan and another tightening subscription costs in the United States.
In Japan, Apple is extending its Theft and Loss protection tier to cover the iPad and Apple Watch. Previously, this specific level of coverage was restricted to the iPhone in the country. The expansion gives Japanese users the same comprehensive replacement options for their tablets and smartwatches that they already had for their phones. Japan's relatively low theft rates make this a low-risk offering for Apple, likely resulting in a favorable benefit-expense ratio where the company retains a large share of the collected premiums rather than paying out frequent replacement claims.
Monthly and yearly subscription options for AppleCare+ are also expanding to cover more products across the Japanese market, giving customers flexibility beyond the traditional upfront payment model.
Alongside the Japan expansion, Apple is slightly raising AppleCare+ subscription prices in the US. The cost of monthly Mac and iPad coverage has risen by 5. These adjustments apply strictly to new subscriptions. Existing subscribers will keep their original pricing, which softens the immediate backlash but establishes a higher baseline for anyone signing up going forward.
Despite the localized price increases, AppleCare One, the multi-device subscription plan Apple launched in July 2025, still starts at $19.99 per month in the US. That plan covers up to three devices under a single payment, making it an increasingly strong value relative to purchasing individual plans as base rates creep upward. As individual subscriptions get pricier, the bundled option becomes more attractive, which may be exactly what Apple intends.
The dual moves show Apple fine-tuning its service revenue with regional precision. Expanding a high-margin plan in a low-risk market while gently nudging up baseline prices elsewhere is a quiet but effective way to grow the services business that has become central to the company's financial picture.
AppleCare+ has evolved significantly over the past few years, shifting from a simple extended warranty to a more comprehensive subscription service that covers accidental damage, battery degradation, and now theft in select markets. The incremental price hikes reflect the rising cost of hardware repairs as devices become more complex and harder to service. Still, for consumers, the value calculation remains tricky. The peace of mind is real, but the total cost of a multi-year subscription often approaches the price of simply repairing a broken screen out of pocket.