Laptop insurance and tablet insurance—should you get covered?
Investing in insurance can wind up saving you big time. Here’s what to consider when insuring your devices.
7 min read
Our laptops and tablets can feel like extensions of our bodies. We use them every day for both work and relaxation, and take them with us when we’re on the go. With all this heavy use, we increase the likelihood that they might get lost or damaged. Laptop insurance and tablet insurance can protect you—and your wallet—from these unfortunate accidents. Here’s everything you need to know about this important type of insurance, and why you might want to consider investing.
What kind of insurance do I need for my laptop or tablet?
If you’re lucky, your laptop and other electronic devices are covered by your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance policy. Typically, this means your devices are covered against theft, fire, and defacement. However, this likely won’t cover you from accidental damage or theft outside of your home. Additionally, if you file multiple claims within a certain time, it’s possible that your monthly premium will go up. What’s more, these insurances may only reimburse you for the market value of your device at the time it was stolen—which may not be enough to purchase a new one.That’s why it might be a good idea to get a separate device insurance. Insuring your electronics will save you from having to file a claim with your renter’s or homeowner’s insurance, and protect you from accidental damage like cracked screens. Now, for as little as €4.76 a month, you can insure your laptop, tablet, smartwatch, or smartphone with N26 Electronics Insurance. This will cover you in the event of theft, burglary, vandalism, accidents, and liquid damage. Plus, you can initiate a claim directly from your N26 app.
How much does laptop insurance typically cost?
As mentioned above, laptop insurance may be bundled into other standard insurance packages, depending on your policy and the country you live in. However, when selecting an insurance policy to cover your laptop specifically, prices vary depending on the extent of the coverage. It also depends on the age and model of your laptop and whether you want to cover multiple electronic gadgets under one policy.
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Additionally, it’s important to consider the relative cost of the insurance package compared to the price of the device you want to insure. For example, if you’re paying €50 a year to insure a €100 tablet, the math doesn’t add up. As most insurance policies require you to pay a minimum excess in addition to your monthly or annual insurance contributions, in this instance, you could end up paying more in insurance than the total cost of the device.However, laptop insurance is different. As laptops tend to be quite expensive, paying say €100 a year to insure a €2,000 laptop certainly works out in the long run. Again, the age and model of your laptop should be considered. If you’re insuring a very old, inexpensive computer, it might be worth tallying up your yearly insurance costs against the cost of replacing it should an accident occur.
What does laptop insurance cover that my warranty doesn’t?
Laptop insurance and laptop warranties are not the same. Laptop warranties usually cover more technical faults such as:
Hard drive malfunctions
A defective keyboard
Problems with the monitor.
Laptop insurance, however, generally covers you for any non-technical, external accidents:
Theft
Fire
Water damage
Vandalism
Accidental damage
What isn’t covered with laptop or tablet insurance?
It’s important to note that neither your laptop insurance isn’t likely to cover you for what’s considered ‘negligence.’ An example of negligence would be if you leave your laptop unattended in your car or at a cafe and it gets stolen. In this instance, your insurance providers will argue that you put your laptop at risk and, therefore, the fault lies with you. It also likely won’t reimburse you for music or other data that was lost. However, if your flatmate accidentally floods your keyboard after knocking over a glass of wine, you might be in luck. If they have liability insurance (which we highly recommend you get if you don ’t already have it), then their insurance will cover the cost of replacing it. However, it’s worth noting that making a claim could increase their insurance premium, so you should still try and protect your electronics from any possible spills or falls.
How to protect your laptop or tablet from damage
Protecting your laptop, tablet, or phone from damage before it can occur is the best way to avoid having to file a claim at all. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and investing a little bit of time and money now can prolong the lifespan of your devices for years to come.
Use a screen protector and case
Cracking your laptop or tablet screen is all too easy to do! Instead, invest in a cheap, shatter-resistant protective screen cover and save yourself the money, time, and hassle of getting your screen replaced. Plus, they have the added advantage of protecting your screen from any nasty scratches and smudges.
Invest in antivirus software
It’s not just the outer casing of your laptop that you should consider protecting. With online crime on the rise, it’s important to safeguard your devices with antivirus software against the following:
Malware
Phishing
Viruses
Identity theft
Spyware
Ransomware
Hacking
As cybercriminals are always developing new hacking techniques, it’s not enough to rely exclusively on the security programs your laptop came with. Instead, consider installing antivirus software on your laptop. There are many free programs you can use, but for a little more, you can invest in some excellent full-cover protection software that will make your laptop extra secure. Just make sure your antivirus software comes from a reputable source—there are some viruses out there masquerading as antivirus software, so vet your chosen software thoroughly before hitting ‘download.’
Avoid keeping your laptop in highly humid places
If you need to use your laptop in a humid environment, give it some time to adapt to its new climate before using it. Before you even turn it on, let it sit for at least an hour so it can adjust to the temperature. Then, consider investing in a cooling pad that uses fans to keep the underside of your laptop cool. The fans encourage air circulation which reduces the zonal humidity of your laptop which keeps it cooler.
Avoid exposing your laptop to continuous, direct sunlight
Most electronics don’t cope well with direct sunlight and high temperatures. More often than not, this is because the heat can wreak havoc with batteries, causing them to malfunction, and—in the worst case—melt. This can lead to a faulty or ruined laptop—so be sure to keep your laptop out of the sun as much as possible!
Clean your device often to prevent overheating and malfunctioning
To keep your laptop in top condition, clean it regularly. All you need is:
A dusting wand
A can of compressed air
A microfiber cloth
Use the dusting wand to get into the little crevices around your laptop’s keyboard. Use the can of compressed air to blow out any debris that’s clogging up the vents. A damp microfiber cloth should be used to clean the screen. Don’t try to clean your screen with anything other than a microfiber cloth as otherwise, you risk scratching it. Clean your laptop every one or two weeks and it’ll thank you by running smoothly for (hopefully) many years to come!
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With N26, protecting your laptop, tablet, smartwatch, or smartphone has never been easier. Simply open the N26 app, choose which device you want to insure, then enjoy full coverage starting the very next day, from as little as €4.76 a month! Manage all of your insurance plans from your phone, without any confusing paperwork, fine print, or hidden fees.Looking for a way to protect your possessions while abroad? As an N26 You or N26 Metal customer, you’ll benefit from an extensive travel insurance package, safeguarding you against flight cancelations, delays, lost luggage and more. Visit our compare page to discover even more N26 benefits, and find the plan that’s right for you today.
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