You’re rushing to catch your morning train when your phone slips from your pocket, and it hits the concrete. Then, that familiar crack spreads across the screen.
Now you’re looking at a $300 repair bill and wondering if you should’ve bought insurance. Since the question isn’t whether you’ll damage your phone, but when, let’s see what the numbers tell us about it.
How Often Do Phones Actually Break?
First, here’s an unbelievable fact: more than 5,700 phone screens break every hour in America. That’s two screens cracking every second.
But here’s what makes it worse. Corning, the company that makes most phone glass, found that people drop their phones seven times per year on average. But at least 75% of us have cracked a screen before.
But drops aren’t the only problem. About 46% accidentally throw their phones, 43% spill drinks on them, and 23% of Americans have dropped their phone in the toilet.
So, on average, the interim between buying your phone and breaking it is just around 10 weeks.
What Can Phone Repairs Cost You
Screen repairs hurt your wallet. If you ever go to Apple to repair your iPhone screen, you can expect to pay between $100 and $300. Samsung users face similar pain, with Samsung’s estimated manufacturer screen repair costs having a wider price range than Apple’s.
Some other shops might save you money, but repair costs usually range from $70 to $400, depending on your phone model and location.
Americans collectively spent $3.4 billion over the past year just on cracked screens. That’s billion with a B.
Why Living with a Cracked Screen Is Risky
A cracked screen can actually expose your phone to some serious risks by allowing external elements such as dust, moisture, and debris to penetrate the device. Water gets in, dust can damage your circuits, and sharp glass might cut your fingers.
Plus, cracks spread. What starts as a minor crack mostly spreads with daily use. Every time you put pressure on your screen, it can worsen the damage.
But with insurance, you get a replacement phone quickly. You can get back to taking photos, checking emails, or enjoying your favorite non-Gamstop slots during your lunch break. These casinos put convenience first by allowing gamblers to bypass Gamstop restrictions, so the last thing you need is to be inconvenienced with a broken screen.
Phone Theft Is Another Growing Risk
Theft is another risk you take each day. In the UK in 2022, there were almost one hundred thousand mobile phones stolen, with most thefts and robberies happening in London, and most of them were iPhones.
The problem is global. Peru sees 6,000 devices stolen daily, while Argentina reports almost 5,000 thefts of mobile devices a day.
Losing your phone means losing more than hardware. A third of victims would be willing to pay thousands to retrieve their stolen phone’s information. Your photos, contacts, and stolen data are way more important than the device itself.
How Much Does Phone Insurance Cost?
Insurance costs depend on your phone, but here’s what you’ll surely pay: Carriers charge higher deductibles for expensive phones and lower ones for budget models. Monthly premiums run about $10 to $15 per phone.
Most plans charge deductibles, but it all varies based on your phone’s brand, model, and age, and your coverage amount and plan terms.
So do the math yourself: $15 monthly plus a $150 deductible equals $330 yearly if you file one claim. Compare that to a $300 screen repair, and you’re breaking even, with protection against theft, water damage, and total loss.
The Takeaway
Phone insurance isn’t for everyone, but the numbers tell everything. We drop phones seven times yearly. We break 5,761 screens hourly. Americans spend an average of more than $600 on phone repairs in their lifetime.
For most people using expensive phones, paying $15 monthly seems like nothing compared to the surprise $300 repair bills. You get theft protection, quick replacements, and peace of mind.
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