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Apple is implementing a notable adjustment to its AppleCare+ payment strategies, effective next week. Customers will no longer have the ability to prepay for two or three years of AppleCare+ coverage directly at retail locations.
### Revised Payment Structure: Annual and Monthly Only
Instead, purchasers will be limited to opting for annual or monthly payments through physical Apple Stores. However, it is important to note that the multi-year subscription option remains available online and underlines a shift in purchase flexibility.
### Online Exclusive for Multi-Year Plans
In specific markets including the United States, customers are traditionally presented with choices extending beyond one-year coverage for their devices. They could choose either a monthly installment or an upfront payment spanning two or three years via various purchasing platforms—local Apple stores, Apple’s online site, or directly from settings on their devices.
According to insights from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, this upcoming modification means that multi-year payments will only be accessible through Apple’s online portal rather than physical retail environments.
### Potential Financial Implications
This adjustment may lead to an uptick in revenue for Apple as paying upfront tends to be more cost-effective over time compared with monthly subscriptions. For instance, securing two years of AppleCare+ protection specifically for the iPhone 16 Pro costs $199 up front while opting into a month-to-month basis would set users back $9.99 per month. Analogously, acquiring three years of coverage on a 14-inch MacBook Pro comes out at $279 versus an annual fee totaling about $99.99 each year.
### Future Directions: Phasing Out Multi-Year Retail Options?
This move by Apple might also hint at a future strategy aimed at gradually reducing prepaid options altogether within retail channels—a significant shift in customer engagement regarding long-term product support.
### Recent Changes in Coverage Renewal Policy
The last update concerning AppleCare+ was implemented in August 2024 when the company began allowing clients the opportunity to renew their plans up until 45 days after expiration—offering greater flexibility and assurance regarding continued device protection.