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Best Laptop Warranty or Insurance Option

October 26, 2022 *

The typical manufacturer’s warranty for a laptop lasts for a single year. This means you’re covered against manufacturing defects with your computer for one year. After that, repairs and malfunctions become your responsibility and your expense to deal with. Additionally, manufacturer warranties are limited; they rarely cover accidental damage from drops and spills.

Also, it's important to know that the average laptop has a useful lifespan of two to three years. “Useful lifespan” is the amount of time before your laptop becomes obsolete. The laptop might still work fine for basic functions for years. However, the amount of RAM or other specs might not support efficient use with programs and network structures that have become more powerful in just a few short years.

So, if you use a laptop for work, to run complex programming or play games, chances are that you plan on upgrading every three years. And you probably want your laptop to be protected during that time, right?

Enter the Laptop Extended Warranty Plan

A laptop extended warranty can help ensure you get three years of high-level functionality out of your computer. Most insurance plans offer two or three years of coverage for this reason. But not all plans are equal.

Colleen Tressler, a Consumer Education Specialist writing for the Federal Trade Commission, says it’s important to compare service contracts just like you’d compare laptops when you’re shopping for one. “Some service contracts cover only part of the product,” says Tressler, “and some make it nearly impossible to get repairs when you need them.”

That’s why Upsie was designed to be different. Buying an extended warranty can support your long-term satisfaction with your laptop.

Laptop Extended Warranty Comparison

When it comes to buying an extended warranty for your laptop, you have many options. They include plans from Upsie, retailer plans from stores such as Office Depot or Best Buy, and brand-specific plans such as AppleCare. Check out the details below to understand how these plans typically compare.

Laptop Warranty Costs

Cost is one of the first factors that people consider when adding on an extended warranty. Unfortunately, they often only consider the purchase price of the plan. It’s important to also consider additional costs like deductibles and shipping for repairs.

Consider this: Upsie laptop warranty plans are based on the initial cost of your laptop. More expensive computers have slightly more costly warranty plans. The costs typically range between only $41 and $321 and differ whether you choose a two-year or three-year warranty. After the initial plan purchase, you only ever pay a $25 deductible — no matter how much the repair or replacement might cost. You also never pay to ship the item for repair. Upsie provides a prepaid two-day shipping label.

Compare the cost of some popular warranty plans below.

For a new 16-inch MacBook Pro, AppleCare can cost around $399 for the plan. Then, you’ll pay between $99 and $299 in deductible costs for repairs, depending on what they might be. Worst of all, AppleCare has limited claims per year. In contrast, with Upsie, a three-year warranty for the same device costs $385.99 with a $25 deductible, and customers get unlimited repairs up to the purchase price and access to the Genius Bar.

Next, let's compare SquareTrade (now owned by Allstate). For a 13-inch MacBook Air retailing at around $1099, a three-year SquareTrade warranty plan runs about $269.99. The deductible is $25 per repair. For comparison, Upsie’s warranty on the same product is $258.99 with a $25 deductible.

Retailer plans often skip the deductible, but they still cost more than Upsie coverage, on average. For example, Best Buy charges $189.99 for a 2-year warranty on a $499 laptop. In contrast, Upsie coverage costs $81.99 and includes multiple repair options.

Some credit card providers include an extended warranty as a benefit to cardholders. However, those very rarely include accident protection (billed as “normal wear and tear”). They can take up to 30 days to reimburse you for repairs if approved for the claim and only covers manufacturer defects that you can prove. With Upsie, your laptop is fully protected.

What Is Covered Under the Laptop Protection Plan?

The next thing to consider when choosing a laptop warranty plan is what types of repairs will be covered. Here’s what Upsie covers:

Accidental protection covers damage from drops, spills, and accidental water submersion. Examples include cracks in the screen and water damage to the keyboard.
Power failure, including issues with cords, shorts, or surges
Failure of Wi-Fi, RAM, and screens
Mechanical failure from manufacturer defects

Upsie has the best accidental damage protection and ensures that your device is covered from every angle. Some warranty plans from other companies limit coverage by only extending the manufacturer’s warranty for another year or two. Others might cover one or two types of damage, such as covering surge protection but not repairing screens if you drop your device. For optimal protection, make sure your plan includes accidental protection. It would be a shame to purchase a perfect laptop, drop it after a few months and be unable to use it going forward.

Is it Easy to Get Your Laptop Repaired Under the Plan?

Finally, consider how easy it is to get your laptop repaired under the warranty plan. AppleCare and plans from Best Buy and other retailers limit repairs to very specific locations. That means you might have to wait until a local location has time to look at your laptop. It could also mean making a trip out of your way or paying expensive shipping fees and being without your laptop for a while. Overall, these plans are inconvenient.

Upsie offers multiple options for laptop repair. First, you can ship it to one of our qualified repair centers, and Upsie covers the costs. They send you a two-day shipping label and box to ensure your laptop gets to the right location as quickly as possible. But you can also visit any of their local certified repair locations to get your laptop worked on. That can provide peace of mind, as you don’t have to entrust your machine to shipping services. You could get it back faster. And, if you have a MacBook, Upsie covers repairs through your local Genius Bar; it’s the best of AppleCare without other limitations and high costs!

When you compare laptop warranty plans, Upsie comes out as the clear winner for convenience, cost, and coverage.