Phones are fragile gadgets, and no matter how much precaution you try to take with a durable screen protector or case, there’s a risk they’ll fall and break. Even if nothing happens, your phone may become unusable due to a botched software update or manufacturing defect. For a cheap Android phone, this is not a problem, as repair costs are moderate. But if you are using a flagship smartphone from Apple or Samsung, like the iPhone 17 series or the Samsung Galaxy S26 series, an accident can put a big dent in your pocket. Fortunately, both brands offer warranty programs that can save you from exorbitant repair costs.
Apple offers a one-year limited warranty on every iPhone and will repair any hardware defects that occur during this period. The warranty excludes any type of accidental damage or if the phone stops working due to user error. Samsung offers a similar one-year warranty plan that will happily resolve hardware defects and manufacturing issues, but will not cover accidental damage and issues caused during personal use. It is a kind of partial protection that works at the discretion of the brand as it can decide whether the defect is due to manufacturing or the user.
Apple vs. Samsung: Expanded Care Plans
The standard warranty program doesn’t cover many issues, and its design requires you to upgrade to a paid warranty program for additional benefits. AppleCare is a premium service that extends coverage from basic manufacturing defects to accidents, theft and loss, as well as user-caused errors, for a personalized fee. The AppleCare+ Theft and Loss plan is applicable for one device and provides unlimited accident repairs with two theft and loss claims every 12 months, and is available in monthly and annual plans.
The AppleCare One plan is more expensive, but covers three devices, increases theft and loss claims to three per year, and the company will send a replacement device before you send your current device in for repair or in the event of theft. Surprisingly, AppleCare+ pricing differs between phone models, and if you own multiple phones, choosing the AppleCare One plan seems like a better proposition. Still, you cannot purchase an annual subscription and must stick to a monthly payment cycle.
Samsung phone users can choose between Samsung Care+ and Samsung Care+ with monthly and biennial plans against theft and loss. These plans divide phone models into four tiers with varying prices. Samsung Care+ offers unlimited coverage against accidental damage, but charges a one-time fee of $29 for anything other than mechanical failure. Samsung Care+ with Theft and Loss will support up to three theft and loss claims every 12 months and promises same-day replacement. It does not impose a deductible on cracked screen and rear window repairs.
Apple vs Samsung: Warranty Experience and Caveats
The individual AppleCare+ One for the most expensive iPhone 17 Pro Max, which covers three devices plus theft and loss, costs $400 for two years (billed monthly). But SamsungCare+ with theft and loss for the Galaxy S26 Ultra, with similar benefits, costs $349 (one-time payment). That may seem like $50 cheaper, but it won’t cover two additional phones like Apple’s plan. Samsung is flexible with the Samsung Care+ Theft and Loss plan deductibles, and doesn’t limit you to only purchasing monthly subscriptions. You can still purchase the plan, even 60 days after the purchase date, by checking online.
But AppleCare+ Theft & Loss and AppleCare+ One plans don’t support this web-based verification process, and you need to go to an Apple Store and have it reviewed by an expert to purchase it. Apple has a better international warranty than Samsung and you will have no problem getting the phone repaired if the parts are available.
Samsung is picky with international warranty and might not adhere to warranty claims outside of your country. A thread on the Samsung community forum reveals the brand’s stringent nature when it comes to international warranty. Despite having an extensive care plan for a phone purchased in France, Samsung rejected the request and told him that “the replacement case is not honored without a receipt from the United Arab Emirates.” Even several posts on Reddit paint the same picture, where stores refuse to support users and deem the service unreliable. If you travel a lot and own multiple iPhones, Apple’s extended care plans may offer better support than Samsung’s.
