Extended warranties on TVs and laptops are usually a waste of money, according to a new Engadget analysis. The article argues that these plans are primarily upsells, and that manufacturer warranties already cover the first 90 days to a year or more — the period when defects are most likely to surface. Data from an RTINGS longevity test reinforces the point: of 102 TVs run continuously for nearly three years, only 2 percent failed before reaching 3,000 hours, a threshold that would take more than two years of typical viewing to hit.
The cost math also works against buyers. For a $1,300 TV, Best Buy charges about $160 for two years of Geek Squad protection, while the retailer estimates most non-panel repairs run between $255 and $395. That means you could spend most or all of a repair's cost on a warranty you may never use. Engadget also warns about loopholes, such as clauses that deny claims over any sign of liquid exposure, or requirements to exhaust the manufacturer's warranty first.
There are exceptions. Professionals who rely on laptops for work and cannot afford downtime may find business-oriented warranties with rapid replacement worthwhile. AppleCare+ also makes sense for some users because it covers accidental damage, theft, and loss, and Apple's retail network enables same-day repairs. But for most other vendors, repairs often mean shipping a device to a depot and waiting days, with no guarantee the issue will be reproduced. In the end, every extended warranty is a gamble — and the odds usually favor the seller.