Google should really copy Apple's newest AppleCare One Family plan

Alongside the foldable iPhone Duo and the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple announced a new protection plan for Apple devices that has me wishing Google would do something similar.

Apple announced a new AppleCare One Family plan at its iPhone launch event. It expands AppleCare coverage to all eligible devices owned by members of an Apple Family Sharing group of up to six people for $49.99 per month.

The new plan includes all the benefits offered by AppleCare Plus, including coverage for accidental drops and spills, battery replacement, and priority service. It also includes theft and loss protection for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Apple is offering six theft-or-loss claims per family group every 12 months.

The AppleCare One Family plan covers up to six members of an Apple Family Sharing group and automatically adds all eligible devices to the plan at no additional charge. Newly purchased devices are also added automatically.

Google’s Pixel Care Plus is nowhere near this. For starters, it covers only one device per plan, which means you need multiple plans if you own several Pixel devices. Things get even more expensive for large families because every member needs a separate Pixel Care Plus subscription. At $16 per month to cover a single Pixel 11 Pro, a family of six would pay $96 per month to protect just their smartphones. That’s nearly twice the price you’d pay for an AppleCare One Family plan.

If Google copied Apple’s new protection plan for Pixel devices, it would certainly make things a lot easier for its customers. I’m sure most people would appreciate Google taking a page from Apple’s playbook here.