iPhone 8 Back Glass AppleCare+ Replacements Cost Staggering $99 Versus Just $29 For Display

It looks as though the higher costs of today’s flagship smartphones are being complemented by repair/replacement costs that are also soaring through the roof. In Apple land, the AppleCare+ extended warranty program received a price hike to coincide with the launch of the new iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X. AppleCare+ costs $129 for the iPhone 8 and $149 for the iPhone 8 Plus. If you purchase an iPhone X next month, AppleCare+ will cost a staggering $199.

But what is really baffling some Apple fans is how much glass replacements will cost under AppleCare+. Apple will replace the front glass on your damaged iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus for $29 under AppleCare+, which is already rather tenuous given that you have plunked down $150 for the warranty in the first place. The real shocker comes with replacing the back glass, which will set you back $99.

Yes, you heard that right. Replacing the cosmetic black glass is over three time more expensive than the all-important display. Damage to the back glass is covered under the "other damage" fee. If you have butter fingers, the $99 replacement fee only applies for each of the first two incidents. The third and subsequent trips to Apple for repairs will each cost you $349 for the iPhone 8 and $399 for the iPhone 8 Plus. Yikes!

So why the high cost for a repair? Well, replacing the iPhone 8/iPhone 8 Plus display is a rather straightforward process, allowing for a drop-in-replacement. The back glass, on the other hand, is largely glued to the device's chassis, making for a longer and trickier repair.

In addition to covering accidents, AppleCare+ also extends the warranty of the device from one year to two years.

If you're looking to get your hands on a high-end smartphone these days, it seems like you're going to have to nearly drain your wallet to do so. When Apple announced its iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, they were priced $50 higher than their predecessors at $699 and $799 respectively. And we can't forget the iPhone X, which starts at $999.