HomePod repairs cost almost as much as a new HomePod

This may not come as a huge surprise, but it’s going to be pricey if you break Apple’s fully sealed and densely packed new speaker. Repair pricing for the HomePod was posted to Apple’s website today, and the number is high enough that it’s clear you should invest in a warranty if you’re worried about breaking one: an out-of-warranty repair from Apple will cost $279 in the US, which is 80 percent of the price of a brand-new HomePod. So you’re not so much repairing it as getting a small discount on a new one.

Apple’s warranty only runs for two years, but it’s relatively cheap (as far as Apple warranties go) at just $39 — though there’s an additional $39 service fee for accidental damage. Two years isn’t a lot of time, particularly for a product that likely has a lifespan of twice that, if not much more.

That all said, HomePod buyers might not need to worry too much about breaking the device. It’s not like an iPhone that’s being carried around all day and is regularly at risk of dropping five feet onto a concrete floor. The HomePod is meant to stay plugged in and to sit around on a shelf, where it probably won’t be at a big risk of taking damage. That might be different home to home, depending on what kind of parties you’re hosting and how rambunctious your pets or children are, but the repair pricing is a good incentive to keep it secured down and safe.