You know those ugly cases we use because we are scared we suffer from butterfingers and will drop our precious phones?
Starting today, HTC customers in the US no longer need to worry about cracking their smartphone’s screen. No, the company’s devices aren’t suddenly invincible; they’ll still shatter if dropped on a sidewalk, just like always. Instead, HTC has announced it will now provide one free screen replacement at any point during the first six months of phone ownership. The offer covers the HTC One, One mini, and One max, but it’s only good for devices purchased beginning today. Existing customers will need to stick with their carrier’s insurance plan or turn to third-party options like iFixit for repairs. Still, no other smartphone manufacturer offers worry-free protection like this in the US, so HTC is setting itself apart in a big way.
HTC Advantage comes at no extra cost to US customers. You’re now able to purchase an HTC One device with full confidence that you’ll be covered in the event disaster strikes — for six months, anyway. The big question is whether carriers will bother informing shoppers about this new initiative. Their existing insurance plans are a proven and lucrative source of revenue, and HTC’s newfound generosity may give customers pause in shelling out an extra monthly fee to Verizon, AT&T, or another wireless provider. But if you’re the clumsy type, those insurance plans (and alternatives like SquareTrade) remain your best bet for long-term coverage — assuming you don’t plan to trade in for a new phone in six months. As for you envious international customers, HTC isn’t yet saying if or when Advantage will head elsewhere.
BUT IT’S A ONE TIME OFFER AND IS ONLY AVAILABLE IN THE US.