Apple may have announced several new products at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium yesterday, but it failed to mention a change to company policy that will be welcomed by many butterfingered iPhone owners: it's now cheaper to replace a cracked screen on one of the devices.
The updates, which were first spotted by 9to5Mac, relate to the company's AppleCare+ repair program. Anyone who paid the $129 fee for Apple's extended warranty - or $99 if you own an iPhone SE - will now have to pay just $29 to replace a shattered screen. Previously, the cost was $99 for an iPhone 6S or 6S Plus, or $79 for older models.
However, there's a flat fee of $99 for other types of damage, regardless of iPhone model. Devices without AppleCare+ or those out of warranty cost between $129 - $149 to fix a smashed display, with additional fees for extra damage increasing the price, up to a maximum of $329.
AppleCare+ covers customers for two incidents of accidental damage, so if you're the type of person who's no stranger to smashing expensive smartphones, the extended warranty is likely to work out cheaper in the long run. Assuming you don't take it to a third-party supplier who can do the repairs at a better price.
As the new iPhone 7 and 7+ is water-resistant, damage caused by liquids should be less of a concern. And now with the changes to AppleCare+, replacing the phones' screen will be a little bit cheaper, too.