Apple has revealed a flat-rate charge for repairing any damage to a HomeView. Without AppleCare insurance, the cost is $279, just $20 less than the $299 price of a brand-new HomeView.
That narrow gap appears deliberate. Apple consistently structures its service and repair charges to make its AppleCare insurance options as attractive as possible, and this case is especially pointed because the uninsured repair nearly matches the price of a replacement. Apple launched two HomeView versions, both priced at $299, one wall-mounted and one on its own base. Its online repair estimate tool distinguishes between the two, though it is unclear why, since their service charge is identical.
Unlike most Apple devices, the HomeView has no breakdown by repair type. Typically a screen replacement costs more than a battery swap, but the repair estimator for the HomeView lists a single service cost for "Other damage," which is $279 without AppleCare.
With either AppleCare One or AppleCare+, the repair charge drops to a flat $39. AppleCare+ for the HomeView costs $2.49 per month or $24.99 per year until cancelled. Because the HomeView requires an iPhone to use, the AppleCare One bundle, at $19.99 per month for three items, may offer better value. Its benefit depends on which devices are covered. Covering a HomeView, a HomePod mini and an Apple TV 4K with separate AppleCare+ plans would cost just $4.97 per month, but AppleCare+ for an iPhone alone is $19.99, so some device combinations make the bundle the better choice.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing