Google’s post-purchase support for Pixel has never been fantastic — a quick glance at r/GooglePixel will make that abundantly clear — but with the Pixel 10 series, it seems like the company’s looking to improve on its overall experience with a refreshed premium offering.
Pixel Care+ is the name of the new program, which Google says is replacing Preferred Care and Fi Device Protection in the US. As the name suggests, it’s a Pixel-specific take on the usual extended warranty plans offered by brands like Samsung and Apple, with some pretty big improvements over those legacy plans. Pixel Care+ members will get unlimited claims for accidental and mechanical damage, as well as extended warranty claims, and pay $0 for screen and battery repairs and post-warranty malfunctions. Google says it’ll also include genuine parts in its service, as well as priority support.
That last part is a big change. Google’s often had a hard time managing its hardware repairs, with countless horror stories scattered across various forums. With Pixel Care+, though, it sounds like the company is, at the very least, aware of some of its users’ biggest complaints. In addition to the benefits outlined above, Google says its claims process has been improved to make the process easier to follow; you can also submit a claim directly in the My Pixel app introduced with Pixel 10. Subscribers can also get free upgraded shipping on replacement parts, “including” next-day shipping.
While this all sounds like a pretty massive improvement, there are a couple of catches worth noting. First, Google is sticking with Asurion as its partner in this process, so aside from the obvious enhanced benefits, it’s possible the overall experience ends up remaining fairly similar to what Preferred Care customers received. Then again, Google only just migrated to Asurion from Assurant earlier this year.
Pricing is slightly more expensive than the plans Google previously offered as well; for example, Pixel Care+ for the regular Pixel 10 costs $9 per month or $179 for a two-year subscription, while Preferred Care for the Pixel 9 cost $8 per month or $159 for two years. You’ll need to pay slightly more for Loss and Theft Protection as well, which isn’t available in New York. Considering the added perks, though, I’d argue this small bump in price can be written off fairly quickly.
Pixel Care+ will be offered for the following devices:
- Pixel 10 series
- Pixel 9 series (including Pixel 9a)
- Pixel Watch 2, 3, 4 (all sizes)
- Pixel Tablet (with and without dock)
- Pixel Fold
- Pixel 8 series (including Pixel 8a)
- Fitbit Ace LTE, Versa 4, Charge 6, Sense 2, and Inspire 3
Shoppers purchasing Google products from retailers like Best Buy can still sign up for Pixel Care+ through the Google Store, but you’ll need to do it within 60 days of your initial purchase. Google Fi members can also sign up when purchasing through the carrier. Current Preferred Care members in the US will be migrated “in the coming months.” Check out the full terms and conditions — including the mandatory arbitration clause — for more information.
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