Electronics protection 101: How to keep your tech safe

If you’re like other Americans, odds are you either just checked or are about to check your smartphone, smartwatch, or other smart electronic device. You could even be reading this article on one!

It’s safe to say we depend on things like our phone, tablet, and laptops to make life easier, do business, entertain us, and everything in between. And that’s never been truer than right now (pandemic, anyone?). But with the exorbitant cost of smartphones and other electronic devices, it’s important to make sure you have a plan if, or more likely when, the unthinkable happens, like...

A cracked smartphone screen.
Your tablet bit the dust last time you tried to read in the bathtub.
The TV won’t turn on (even after you unplugged and plugged it back in).
Your drone hit a tree.
Your laptop drank your venti iced mocha latte.

The plan that we’d recommend is looking into electronics protection — stat — because an accident can happen at any time. (Well, let’s get you up to speed on the ins and outs of your options first.)

What is an electronics protection plan?

Electronics protection plans are supplemental coverage options to fill in the gaps that most warranties and insurance policies (like your homeowners and renters) might not cover. Think “life stuff,” like the dreaded cracked screen.

Electronics protection plans cover your new and used:

Smartphone,
Tablet,
TV,
Computer,
Smartwatch,
Video game system,
Camera and lenses,
Drone,
…Even your personal property!

With some protection plans (especially this one), you can even bundle your stuff. So if you want to cover your new smartphone and, say, your couch, you can. (Bonus: it’ll save you money*!) Here are some other things you can cover:

Major appliances
Furniture
Exercise equipment
Patio furniture
Electrical home systems
Smoke detectors
Water heaters
Garbage disposals
Air conditioning and heating with ductwork
Doorbells
Ceiling fans
Plumbing
Instant hot/cold water dispensers
Central vacuums

How do electronics protection plans work?

This electronics protection plan (available in partnership with Cover Your Assets (CYA) on Kasasa Care) makes it so easy to sign up for coverage and, in the event of an accident, file a claim.

File a claim easily through the CYA app, online via your CYA account, or by contacting CYA support.
CYA will review your claim — most are approved in 1-2 business days!
If you need a repair, CYA only lets authorized technicians service customers’ item(s). CYA coverage provides you access to tens of thousands of repair centers in their network that can fix your item swiftly and professionally.
There are times when not even CYA can fix your item. Based on your item and claim filed, CYA will either offer cash for its value or replace it with a unit of like kind and quality.

Yep, it’s that simple — almost like the accident never happened!

What do electronics protection plans typically cover?

Electronics protection can help cover the gaps in your warranties or homeowners or renters insurance policies if an accident were to strike. (They always do at the most inconvenient of times...)

Specifically, electronics protection can cover these types of damages for your new and used tech (and more, depending on the plan you choose):

Accidental damage (drops)
Mechanical failure
Manufacturer defect
Water damage (spills and submersion)
Power surge by lightning
Cracked screens

So if you’ve been rockin’ the work from home life but lose grip on your freshly brewed coffee one morning, electronics protection is there to step in. You’ll simply file a claim for the damages from your spill, and your (previously) pristine laptop will be assessed for repairs or replacement (and is backed by a 5-day service guarantee). You’ll be back to the grind in no time!

What do electronics protection plans NOT cover?

Take note — electronics protection plans typically don’t cover the following:

Intentional damages
Products that have been lost or stolen
Misuse
Damage due to neglect
Fire damage
Products that have been modified
Damage from natural disasters (like hurricanes, tornadoes, and earthquakes)

Are electronics protection plans worth it?

At this point, you might be wondering if an electronic protection plan is worth it. Like most insurance-related policies, it’s a personal decision! But we say: let the math do the talking.

Take a look at your budget and savings. Ask yourself — if your smartphone, laptop, or video game system were to break today, do you have the cash to repair or replace it?

If the answer is no (63% of Americans don’t have enough savings to cover a $500 emergency, so you’re not alone!), then an electronics protection plan could be worth it. Check out some of these price estimates that are much, much more budget-friendly:

Televisions as low as $6.99 per month
Computers as low as $5.99 per month
Smartphones as low as $6.99 per month
Video game systems as low as $4.99 per month
Drones as low as $8.99 per month
Nice cameras and specialty lenses as low as $6.99 each per month

Plus, you can always create your own bundle to fit your needs and budget (and save up to 30% more*).

How long do electronics protection plans last?

We’ll brag on our flexible electronics protection plan for a second. Plans can last as long as you want — it’s up to you! If you’d rather cover your smartphone, laptop, or TV on a month-to-month, no-contract basis, that’s up to you. Or if you know you need to control your costs for the next year to save for something big, we have annual plans too. (Plus, you can save a little when you pay ahead!)

So while you may not be able to control your phone as it mysteriously flies off the counter, you can control how you enroll in electronics protection.

What are extended warranties on electronics?

A warranty is a type of guarantee that a manufacturer or warranty company makes regarding the condition of its product that you purchased. It's essentially a “promise” the manufacturer makes to repair or replace the items (if necessary) for a specific period of time that covers flaws and defects (or anything that occurs from the manufacturer’s design).

Extended warranties are policies that extend the warranty period beyond what is offered by the manufacturer. A good example of an extended warranty program is AppleCare+.

Purchasing an extended warranty can bring a lot of peace of mind, but it’s important to do your research and compare prices and coverage limitations. What matters most is that you find coverage (by way of either an extended warranty or protection plan) that gives you all the benefits you need at a just-right price.

Other device protection tips

In addition to a protection plan, another way to avoid the cost and hassle of repairs or replacement is to practice safe habits when handling your much-loved devices. If you’ve ever been known to have butterfingers (it happens to the best of us!), we’ve compiled a few of our tried-and-true tips for better protection below.

Use a screen protector.

You’ve probably dealt with a crack in your phone screen or smartwatch at least once. A tighter grip can help with drops, but another solution to this problem is to put on a screen protector (and preferably one made of thin tempered glass.)

Choose a quality case.

A phone case is essential to keeping your phone scratch- and crack-free. You can even buy a case for your laptop or smartwatch, too! Not all cases are created equal, though — and at the very least, choose a case with shock-absorbent material like silicone or rubber. (Plastic cases aren’t as protective as you might think.)

If you’re looking for something slim, make sure to look for cases with raised lip protection to keep the sides in place after a hard drop.

Avoid extreme conditions.

Exposing tech to extreme hot and cold temperatures can easily damage the battery life and internal components. So try not to leave your devices in your car or out in the harsh, direct sunlight.

Keep your devices away from water.

Though the latest technology might boast waterproof features, it’s best to keep your devices put away while you’re on the beach, out in the rain, or hanging by the pool. This includes foggy and humid conditions too.

Don’t leave your devices unattended.

While it’s always good to unplug from time to time, it’s also important to keep your tech secure while you’re away from them. Make sure you never leave your phone, smartwatch, laptop, or other device in a place where it could get lost or damaged — or within a child’s reach.

When it comes to protecting your electronics, you have options. Just make sure you compare plans online before making your decision and be sure to keep your budget top of mind. When you sign up, you’re sure to sleep better at night knowing your can’t-live-without devices stay connected — and protected.

*Savings vary by the product(s) you’re covering and the amount of coverage you require.