Broken or Lost Phone? How to Avoid Breaking the Bank

Manufacturer vs. Carrier: Where Should You Get Insurance?

My wife and I have never used cases for our phones. For years, this worked fine, but as our kids have grown older and started grabbing our phones more often—whether to take pictures or just to play with—it’s become more of an issue.

We probably should cover our phones in thick rubber and foam, but after using them “naked” for so long, it feels almost wrong to put on a case now. Honestly, I don’t have a solid reason for sticking with no case, other than it just feels odd to start using one after all this time. That said, here are my tips on how to protect yourself financially when your phone inevitably gets smashed or lost.

Always Buy AppleCare+ or Samsung Care+

I’m most familiar with AppleCare+, but Samsung offers a similar program. Since these companies produce millions of phones, they typically provide the best deals for repairs. Nowadays, they even offer coverage for lost devices.

It’s still not cheap—we pay $13.49 per month for each phone. We usually end up replacing the front glass on at least one phone each year, and every two years, we’ve had to replace a phone entirely due to it being dropped down a grate, run over by a car, or smashed so badly that the camera glass cracks.

With AppleCare+, glass repairs cost just $29. Replacing the entire phone is $99 if you still have the damaged device, or $149 if the phone is completely lost. Yes, it’s painful when it happens, but keep in mind that even the non-pro iPhones now cost around $800. If you’re on a carrier deal and need to buy a new one, you’ll also have to pay off everything that remains on the old device, including any promotional credits.

Avoid Carrier Insurance

*Unless it maxes out at $60 for the whole family and you have more than 4 phones on your plan

Carrier insurance plans are usually more expensive than those from the manufacturer.  For example, Verizon is currently offering me coverage for $19/month, which is $5.50 more than what I pay Apple.

Carriers will push these plans every chance they get, promising perks like “free glass repairs” and “same-day service.” But let’s be honest—when was the last time you had a great experience at your carrier’s store?

If you have an iPhone, 9 times out of 10, the Apple Store can take care of repairs on the same day, right there in-store.

Credit Cards with Device Coverage

Some credit cards, such as those from Chase and American Express, offer phone insurance as part of their benefits, with coverage up to $1,000. To qualify, you typically need to pay your cell phone bill with the card that offers the insurance.

I haven’t personally used these services, so I can’t speak to how fast they process claims, but it’s definitely worth checking out—especially since it could be essentially free coverage.