Is phone insurance worth it?
In short
Phone insurance for iPhones and other smartphones usually only pays off in Switzerland if you damage the device yourself.
Household contents insurance covers theft, away from home with an extension. The warranty covers defects. Compare two years of premiums with the price of a repair.
GuideTo the answer in a few questions
Who pays if your phone is broken?
Choose what happened. You see who pays and whether phone insurance would have helped.
All answers at a glance
What happened? Dropped or fell into water
Only device insurance pays. If you damage your phone yourself, neither household contents nor liability pays. This is exactly the case phone insurance is made for. An all-risk extension in household contents insurance can cover the same.
What happened? It stopped working for no reason
The warranty. A defect is a case for the warranty of the seller or manufacturer. You do not need insurance for that. Find the receipt and report the defect straight away.
What happened? Someone else broke it
The other person's personal liability. Whoever damages your phone by mistake is liable for it. Their personal liability usually pays the depreciated value. If the person had borrowed the phone, personal liability often only pays with an extension.
Where was it stolen? In a burglary at home
Your household contents insurance. Burglary theft is covered in household contents insurance. Report it to the police and report the damage.
Where was it stolen? Away from home
Your household contents insurance with extension. Household contents insurance only pays theft away from home with the extension for simple theft away from home. This extension also covers bike, bag and laptop.
General classification, as of 2026. What exactly is covered is in your policy and the warranty terms. Not advice.
Want to know more?
Who pays what?
| What happens | Who pays |
|---|---|
| Device breaks by itself | Warranty of the seller or manufacturer |
| Stolen in a burglary at home | Household contents insurance |
| Stolen away from home | Household contents insurance with extension for simple theft away from home |
| Someone else damages it | That person’s personal liability |
| You drop it yourself | Only a phone or all-risk insurance |
What does that mean in francs?
Phone insurance costs a premium every month. If you make a claim, an excess comes on top. That is the amount you pay yourself.
Work it out like this. Take the monthly premium times 24 months and add the excess. Compare the total with the price of a repair, for example a new display. If both are close, the insurance mainly pays off for expensive devices and if you often drop things. You find the figures in your offer and in the repair quote.
What do you look out for before signing up?
- What do you already cover? Look in your household contents policy for theft away from home and all-risk.
- What is excluded? Battery, scratches and loss are often not insured.
- How high is the excess? With small claims it eats up the benefit.
- How long do you commit? Short terms and monthly cancellation are an advantage.
What many people get wrong
- “The warranty pays if the phone falls.” No. It only applies to defects.
- “Without phone insurance nobody pays for theft.” Household contents insurance pays, away from home with the extension.
- “The insurance in the shop is the best.” Compare it with the extension in your household contents insurance.
Frequently asked questions
Is iPhone insurance worth it?
iPhone insurance usually only pays off if you damage the device yourself, for example by dropping it. The same goes for any other smartphone. Household contents insurance covers theft, away from home with an extension, and the warranty covers defects.
What is the difference between warranty and insurance?
The warranty applies to defects, so when the device stops working by itself. Insurance pays for damage from outside such as a fall, water or theft, depending on the terms.
Is an extended warranty worth it?
Rarely. It is often expensive and excludes the most common damage such as the battery. Sometimes you even give up rights under the statutory warranty with it. Read the terms carefully.
Does household contents insurance pay for a broken display?
Not in the basic cover. Only with an all-risk extension, if your policy offers one. Theft and fire, on the other hand, are covered.
One more question
A friend dropped my phone. Who pays?
Their personal liability, usually at depreciated value. If they had borrowed the phone, that is often excluded. Then they pay themselves or nobody does.
What comes next?
Your path · I have had damage Step 7 of 8
Your next step Do you need legal expenses insurance?Sources and date 2 November 2026
This page explains in general terms and does not replace personal advice. Law and your policy are what counts.