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Best protection plans for laptop and smartphone

Don't Waste Your Money
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UPDATED 8/17/16

As the kids head back to school and college, most of them will be carrying lots of gadgets, from phones....to laptops....to tablets.

And no matter how much you trust your son or daughter, you need to consider protection.

So is it Worth Your Money?

It's a dilemma facing every gadget owner, especially when you realize a smartphone is really a $500 computer.

You can't replace a broken or lost one for $199 (you have to pay full price).

So you need to have some sort of protection: but which is best?

The tech siteZDNet.com recently compared plans, and found some good protection plans.

Square Trade and Protect Your Bubble.com offer 2 year protection for as low as $99 (which comes to $50 a year).

If your gadget can't be fixed, and you need a new one, you typically pay just a $50 deductible.

Apple Careoffers similar plans, and you get automatic repair at any Apple Store.

But the catch? None of these plans cover a lost or stolen phone, just repairs.

Loss/Theft Protection

For loss protection, you may want Verizon, AT&T, or Sprint's insurance plans -- or Best Buy Geek Squad's Complete Protection Plan.

But they are premium products at a premium price, costing about $240 over two years (double Square Trade's price).

You can also  check  with your homeowner's insurance company, and see about adding protection for a child at college.

It's up to you to decide how much coverage you want, so you don't waste your money.

CLICK HERE for ZDNet's comparison of plans

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