Phone insurance: smart or a waste of money?
Phone insurance sounds like a sensible idea — but are you just paying for nothing? We give you an honest breakdown of when it's worth it and when it isn't.
Door The Phone Shopper
Gepubliceerd: 2026-04-30
You've just bought a new phone, and before you've even slipped it into your pocket, the sales assistant asks: "Would you like to add phone insurance?" Smart move or not? The honest answer is: it depends. And in this article, we'll tell you exactly what it depends on.
Quick summary: Phone insurance only makes sense if you own an expensive device, have no savings buffer, and have a proven track record of being hard on your phone — in all other cases, you'll typically pay more in premiums than you'll ever get back.
What does phone insurance actually cover?
That sounds like a simple question, but the terms and conditions vary enormously between providers. Most policies cover screen damage, theft, and sometimes water damage. But watch out for the fine print: with some policies, a cracked screen is only covered if another fault is present as well. And theft? Only if you've filed a police report and can prove the phone wasn't left unattended.
We see this regularly in our workshop in Nijverdal: customers who thought they were covered, only to receive a rejection when they made a claim. The insurer won't pay out, so we repair it anyway — but they'd have been better off putting those premiums aside from the start.
- Screen damage: Usually covered, but with an excess of €50 to €150.
- Theft: Covered provided you've filed a police report and can prove the phone was being used responsibly.
- Water damage: Not always — check your policy carefully.
- Mechanical faults: Rarely covered; these typically fall under warranty.
- Battery wear: Almost never covered — even though it's one of the most common complaints we hear.
When is phone insurance actually worth it?
To be fair: there are situations where insurance genuinely makes sense. No marketing spin here — just the facts.
Phone insurance is worth considering if:
- You've bought a flagship device. An iPhone 15 Pro Max or Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra can easily set you back €1,200 or more. If you drop it in the first few months or it gets stolen, insurance can be a financial safety net that pays for itself.
- You have no savings buffer. If an unexpected repair bill of €200 would genuinely put you in a difficult position, spreading the cost through monthly premiums can give you real peace of mind.
- You have a proven risk profile. Do you work on a construction site, use your phone heavily during sport, or have you already broken several devices? If the risk of damage is genuinely high, a policy is worth weighing up.
- You're insuring a child or teenager. Younger users drop their phones more often. That's not a judgement — just statistics.
When is it simply a waste of money?
This is the part insurers would rather not see in a blog post. But we believe honest advice matters more than a sales pitch.
Don't waste your money on phone insurance if:
- You've bought a refurbished phone for between €200 and €400. Premiums can quickly reach €10 a month, plus an excess — meaning within two years you've paid more than the phone is worth.
- Your phone is already more than two years old. Many insurers won't pay out on older devices, or the market value is so low that any payout barely makes it worthwhile.
- You already have a comprehensive car or home insurance policy that covers mobile electronics. Check this first — being double-insured is simply money down the drain.
- You take good care of your belongings and have a savings buffer of at least €300. In that case, you're your own insurer. Simply set that €10 a month aside instead.
The sum insurers never want you to do
Let's say you pay €12 a month for phone insurance. That's €144 a year. The average person breaks their screen once every three to four years. So over four years, you've paid €576 in premiums. Add an excess of around €100, and you're looking at €676 in total.
An at The Phone Shopper? That'll typically cost you between €79 and €149, depending on the model. A is often similarly affordable. The maths works out nicely for the insurer — but rarely for you.
Based on our experience, the majority of customers who come to us for a repair never had insurance — and they're no worse off financially than those who'd been paying monthly premiums.
Alternatives you might not have considered
If you'd rather not pay for insurance but don't want to take an unprotected risk either, there are some smarter options:
- Buy a refurbished device. A refurbished iPhone or refurbished Samsung costs significantly less than new. If something does happen to it, the financial blow is far smaller. And at The Phone Shopper, every device comes with a standard 2-year warranty — no monthly premium required.
- Invest in a good case and screen protector. Not glamorous, but genuinely effective. A €20 case and a €10 tempered glass screen protector prevent the vast majority of the screen damage we see come through our door. You'll find both in our accessories range.
- Build your own buffer. Setting aside €10 a month gives you €120 after a year — enough to cover most repairs. After two years, you'll have enough for a decent refurbished phone as a backup.
- Trade in your old device. Through our trade-in service, you'll get an instant valuation and payment within 24 hours. Use that money as a buffer or put it towards your next device.
What if your phone breaks anyway?
Just last week, a customer from Hellendoorn came into our shop. Her Samsung Galaxy had a cracked screen and a failing battery. She had no insurance — but she also didn't walk out with a hefty bill. We had her screen replaced and her battery swapped in under 45 minutes, at a price she described as "actually much less than I expected."
We see this several times a week: people who dread the cost, only to be pleasantly surprised by how accessible repairs actually are. Having a at a specialist workshop is, in most cases, faster, cheaper, and more straightforward than filing an insurance claim and waiting for approval.
Our technicians are certified, use genuine or A-grade parts, and for most repairs you'll be back on your way within the hour. Whether you're in Nijverdal, Almelo, Wierden, or Rijssen — we're never far away.
Frequently asked questions
Is phone insurance compulsory?
No, phone insurance is never compulsory. Providers and manufacturers are allowed to offer it, but you're entirely free to decline. Don't let yourself be pressured into it when purchasing a contract or device.
Does my home insurance already cover my phone?
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. A standard home insurance policy usually only covers your phone while it's at home — not when you're out and about. For away-from-home coverage, you'll need a comprehensive or all-risk home insurance policy. Check your policy or call your insurer before taking out separate phone insurance.
What does a screen repair cost without insurance?
It depends heavily on the model. At The Phone Shopper, screen repairs for older models start from around €49. For more recent iPhones or Samsung flagships the price is higher, but you'll always know the cost upfront — no hidden fees. Many customers are surprised by how affordable it is compared to the monthly premiums they'd been paying.
Does a refurbished phone need insurance too?
Much less so than a brand-new device. A refurbished phone already costs considerably less, and at The Phone Shopper it comes with a standard 2-year warranty. The financial risk is lower, which means additional insurance will often cost you more than the risk it actually covers.
What's the difference between a warranty and phone insurance?
A warranty covers manufacturing defects and technical faults that occur through no fault of your own — think a battery that drains unusually fast or a camera that stops working out of nowhere. Phone insurance covers damage you cause yourself, such as dropping your phone or having it stolen. They complement each other, but they're not the same thing.
Can I spread the cost if I can't pay for a repair or device all at once?
Yes. At The Phone Shopper we offer 0% interest financing with terms of 6, 12, or 24 months. That way you don't need to pay a monthly insurance premium just in case something goes wrong — you simply spread the cost if and when you actually need to.
Still unsure, or would you like to talk through what makes the most sense for your situation? Feel free to pop into The Phone Shopper at Willem Alexanderstraat 11 in Nijverdal, or give us a call on 0548-549536. We'll give you an honest answer — even if that answer is that you don't need insurance at all.
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