If you don’t have optional AppleCare+ extended warranty for the HomePod mini, Apple will charge you a fee of $79 per an out-of-warranty repair of the new $99 Siri-powered speaker — which is only $20 cheaper vs. buying a new one. Apple announced the new HomePod mini a month ago in an effort to widen the addressable market for its smart speakers. The full-size HomePod wasn’t updated last month and continues to retail for $299.
Apple confirms that out-of-warranty repairs for the HomePod mini are subject to a service fee of $79 without AppleCare+. If you have AppleCare+, however, you’ll pay a fee of just $15 to have your HomePod mini serviced. As for the regular-size HomePod speaker, an out-of-warranty service fee is set at a whopping $279 — also only $20 cheaper than buying a brand new unit. With AppleCare+, a service fee for the full-sized HomePod drops to just $39.
Apple says repairs are considered out of warranty if the speaker is no longer covered by Apple’s warranty or it has accidental damage or issues caused by unauthorized modifications.
Every HomePod comes with a standard one-year manufacturer warranty and up to 90 days of complimentary technical support. AppleCare+ for HomePod extends coverage to two years from the speaker purchase date. It also adds two incidents of accidental damage coverage every 12 months, each subject to a $15 service fee (HomePod mini) or a $39 service fee (HomePod). AppleCare+ also gives you 24/7 priority access to Apple experts by chat or phone.
HomePod mini orders will start arriving Monday, November 16.