You have it! The latest and greatest iPhone on the market. You cradle it lovingly in your hands, immediately making a bond with your new device. Then, through your love-filled haze, you hear the sales rep’s voice asking about an iPhone protection plan.

Tips for iPhone Protection Plan

The protection plan is important, you think. You want to be sure your beloved iPhone is covered in case anything happens to it. But before you get that all important iPhone protection plan, you should be aware of these 5 tips that will ensure you get the right plan for you.

1. A cracked screen is the single most common form of damage an iPhone sustains, so it is critical that your iPhone protection plan covers screen repair and accidental damage. Whether you have kids who might easily drop your phone when getting out of the car or you are a bit on the clumsy side, screen repair is essential. As Ramakrishna Dasari, CEO of eGranary, says, “Your iPhone might still work with a cracked screen, but it will interfere with your iPhone experience and could cause greater problems with screen function down the road.”
2. Water damage one of the most common forms of damage to a mobile device. There is nothing worse than the sound of your phone clunking around in the washing machine because it was accidentally left in a pocket! Your iPhone protection plan should cover any water damage the phone might sustain.
3. Hardware defects should not be your responsibility, but you want to be sure you won’t be nailed for any should they arise. Be sure to check your iPhone protection plan to determine what sort of hardware defect coverage you have.
4. iPhone protection plans do not generally cover devices that are lost or stolen. This is a sad reality. For this reason, if you do lose your iPhone, your best move is to retrace your steps, or if all else fails, use Find My iPhone to find your device.
5. In any form of protection or insurance, there is always a deductible and it is no different when it comes to an iPhone protection plan. You need to be sure that your deductible isn’t so high that the protection plan isn’t worth your money. Most iPhone protection plans have a deductible of between $50 and $100. If yours is more, then take your business elsewhere.

Make sure you are aware of all your iPhone protection options. There is Apple Care, plans available through your carrier, and protection through your homeowners insurance, major credit cards, and private companies, such as Square Trade. Once you know what type of coverage you need (i.e. screen repair and water damage), you then need to determine who offers that type of coverage and which is the best iPhone protection plan for you.

Perhaps the most important thing when determining which iPhone protection plan is right for you is ensuring that you have peace of mind. As long as you can work within your budget, take the plan that makes you feel the most at ease, rather than bowing to sales pressure for the top-of-the-line protection plan. At the end of the day, your peace of mind is what matters the most.