Apple Finally Brings Theft and Loss Protection to Your iPad and Apple Watch

Picture this: you're grabbing coffee when someone snatches your iPad Pro from your table, or your Apple Watch slips off during a morning jog and vanishes into the urban wilderness. Until this week, you'd be out of luck—and several hundred (or thousand) dollars.

After covering Apple's insurance evolution for the past five years, we've watched countless readers get burned by this gap in protection. Apple expanded AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss coverage to iPad and Apple Watch starting July 24, 2025, breaking the iPhone's long-standing monopoly on this protection. The new coverage provides up to two incidents of theft or loss in a 12-month period, plus unlimited repairs for accidental damage. Here's what changed: theft and loss protection now covers three device categories instead of just iPhone, and it's available both individually and through Apple's new AppleCare One bundle.

Why this expansion took so long (and why it matters now)

Let's be honest—it's wild that this took until 2025. AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss was previously limited to iPhone, leaving owners of premium iPads and Apple Watches without comprehensive protection.

The timing isn't coincidental. Apple launched the new AppleCare One subscription at $19.99 monthly for three devices, making this expansion part of a broader strategy to boost services revenue through volume. Think about it: with iPad Pros hitting $1,099 and higher and Apple Watches reaching $799 for the Ultra 2, the theft risk finally justifies dedicated coverage.

Find My must be enabled on your device at the time of theft or loss—just like with iPhone protection since day one. This isn't just Apple being cautious; it's their primary fraud prevention mechanism that lets them verify legitimate claims and track devices throughout the replacement process.

What you'll pay and what you'll get back

Here's where it gets interesting. iPad coverage costs $4.99 monthly or $49.99 yearly with a $129 service fee per theft/loss claim. Apple Watch protection runs $2.99 monthly or $29.99 yearly with a steeper $199 service fee per claim.

That Apple Watch fee might seem high until you consider the replacement economics. A stolen Apple Watch Ultra 2 would normally cost you $799 to replace. With coverage, you pay the $199 deductible instead of eating the full retail price.

The iPad math addresses different risk scenarios entirely. Unlike wrist-worn devices, iPads face unique theft patterns—café snatching, airport gate theft, and professional workspace targeting. For creative professionals carrying $1,299 iPad Pro models loaded with expensive accessories, the $129 deductible plus coverage costs still beat replacement economics by hundreds of dollars.

PRO TIP: The new subscription is theoretically unlimited and only ends when you cancel, though devices must typically be under four years old for eligibility.

The AppleCare One bundle changes everything

This is where Apple gets clever. AppleCare One covers three products for $19.99 monthly, with additional devices at $5.99 each. The bundle directly targets carrier insurance plans that have dominated multi-device protection, offering Apple's premium service quality at competitive pricing.

Here's the kicker: Apple One can cover devices up to four years old after a diagnostic check, blowing past the traditional 60-day purchase window. This means nearly every active Apple user can apply for the new plan, dramatically expanding Apple's addressable market.

The strategic implications are massive. By lowering barriers to entry and offering volume pricing, Apple's positioning itself to compete directly with third-party insurance providers who've captured users priced out of individual AppleCare+ plans. The bundle includes theft and loss coverage for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch when they're part of your AppleCare One plan—making it the most comprehensive protection Apple has ever offered.

What's still missing (and what that tells us)

Notice what didn't make the cut? AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss still isn't available for Mac, Apple TV, HomePod, AirPods, or Apple Vision Pro.

This reveals Apple's prioritization logic: they're focusing on highly portable, frequently targeted devices. Your MacBook Pro might be expensive, but it's less likely to get snatched from your wrist or cafe table than an Apple Watch or iPad.

The Vision Pro omission is particularly telling—at $3,500+, you'd think it would be a priority. But the device's usage patterns (primarily home-based) and nascent market apparently don't justify the coverage complexity yet. Apple's clearly using real-world theft data and claims patterns to guide these decisions rather than just device value.

Interestingly, iPad accessories like Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard won't be replaced, and Apple Watch bands get replaced with generic Apple versions regardless of your original Hermès or Nike edition. These limitations hint at Apple's ecosystem expansion strategy—they're protecting core devices while pushing accessory purchases through regular retail channels.

Where Apple's protection strategy heads next

This expansion signals Apple's recognition that device insurance has become table stakes in premium consumer electronics. The company's clearly watching how competitors like Samsung and Google approach comprehensive device protection while building a sustainable services revenue model.

The real disruption here isn't just expanded coverage—it's Apple's direct challenge to carrier insurance programs that have historically owned multi-device protection. With better customer service, authentic parts, and integrated ecosystem benefits, AppleCare One positions Apple to capture the insurance revenue that previously leaked to third parties.

The bottom line: If you're carrying multiple Apple devices daily—especially in urban environments—the new theft protection finally matches the reality of how we actually use these products. You can start filing claims at mysupport.apple.com/theftandloss when the coverage launches this Thursday.

Just remember: Find My needs to stay enabled throughout the entire claims process, and your device must remain linked to your Apple ID. Small price for peace of mind when you're carrying a few thousand dollars worth of Apple gear around town.