The Israeli mobile market is seeing a new move from one of the industry's veteran companies: Pelephone announces the expansion of its repair services and related products offered to buyers of smartphones and smartwatches through the company. The move includes two main components: A repair service that, for the first time, also includes smartwatches—with a fixed monthly payment—and long-term warranty coverage meant to last for decades. The company defines the coverage period as a “lifetime warranty,” but in practice, it applies for up to 35 years. This means a long-term promise for electrical fault repairs in devices purchased through Pelephone—but only as long as the devices are still in use, parts are available, and they are technically supported.
Pelephone also offers a free first repair for those who subscribe to the repair service at the time of purchase. However, it is important to note: Repairs—especially screen repairs, one of the most common issues—are included only for those who sign up for the paid repair service. This service is offered for smartphones at a price starting at NIS 19.90 per month, depending on the model, and for smartwatches at a cost starting at NIS 12.90. Those who do not subscribe to the service will not be entitled to these repairs under the warranty, even if they receive a “lifetime” warranty certificate.
And what about the issue of parts? The company promises that all repairs will be done with original parts—except in the case of Apple devices, where things become more complicated. For iPhones, the customer is asked to choose whether to use original or alternative parts—the choice between original and alternative also determines the deductible. In other words, Pelephone does offer repair using original parts for iPhones as well, but this is an option that comes with an additional charge, which can lead to a significant expense, especially in cases of major faults.
The company currently operates 44 service branches nationwide and is defined as an official repair center for Samsung and Apple. As part of the coverage, repairs include cases such as screen breakage, malfunctioning cameras, charging issues, reception problems, fast-draining batteries, unresponsive touchscreens, and more. According to Pelephone data, about half of Israelis needed a repair for their mobile device in the past two years—not surprising given the high usage rate of devices and their increasing prices.
And what about the competitors?
Pelephone is not the only one offering repair services in Israel. Partner offers a similar service called Private Care, which is available to customers of all companies—not just those who purchased a device from Partner itself. In the “Platinum” plan, for example, screen repairs are offered at no additional cost and with no deductible, unlike Pelephone’s model, which includes a variable deductible, especially for Apple devices. The service also covers a range of other issues such as speakers, charging ports, cellular antennas (GPS), Bluetooth communication, and general sound problems. In addition, service subscribers are entitled to join the Private Care Plus benefits club for free, which includes deals, discounts, and special offers.
Partner does not promise a “lifetime” warranty, but it does provide extended coverage of up to three years—for many, this is a timeframe that better aligns with the actual lifespan of an average smartphone.