A cell phone warranty is a guarantee that you are covered in the event that something goes wrong with your handset. Warranties tend to cover technical issues that are out of your control — this includes defects as a result of the manufacturing process or a malfunction in the hardware, such as a faulty part.
Warranties don't usually cover accidental damage such as dropping your phone or a cracked screen, nor will they protect you if your cell phone gets stolen. For that, you would need to consider cell phone insurance.
However, if your phone is affected by technical issues, the firm that sold or provided the warranty will offer you a replacement phone — either a working version of the phone you paid for or an equivalently priced model — or your money back.
If you're considering getting a cell phone warranty or just want to know more about them, read on for answers to your questions.
Cell phone warranties are typically included with your purchase of a phone, covering both brand new and refurbished devices. RefurbMe's refurbished iPhone SE deals include warranties, for example, with every refurbished device listed by the price comparison site offering warranty coverage for at least 30 days. So if you aren't satisfied with the SE's performance — including its 12MP camera, advanced processors or 4-inch display — the warranty will back you up. This applies to both first and third-party refurbished retailers.
The warranties included with both refurbished and brand new devices tend to be limited warranties covering technical issues. That said, not all phones come with a warranty and not all retailers offer them. This makes it important to shop around and compare warranty deals by both price and length of coverage.
Warranty lengths vary considerably from retailer to retailer — whether selling brand new phones, refurbished phones, or seller or manufacturer refurbished devices. They may be as short as 30 days or as long as a year, and there are often options to extend the warranty for a fee. Generally, whether a retailer includes a warranty is a sign of their trustworthiness and the confidence they have in their products.
Because not all cell phones come with warranties and extending one may cost extra, you may find yourself wondering whether a cell phone warranty is actually worth it.
If you're someone who buys high-end phones, then yes — warranties should matter to you. The price of premium phones is increasing, with a report from GfK (Q3 2017) revealing that the average phone price was up by seven percentage points year-on-year — the biggest jump ever recorded by the analysis firm. CNET also estimates this will increase further in the future. Unless you want all of that money at risk from a technical fault, it's worth protecting your purchase with a warranty.
You'll also want confidence in your new purchase. Refurbished phones have been tested and verified as working, but added backup is still reassuring. Likewise, brand new phones with innovative features can sometimes go wrong too. So do your research before buying and get the best warranty deal available.