Microsoft Complete vs. Geek Squad – Which one should you get for your device?

Extended warranties are a great way to protect your electronic devices from any damages and are certainly the best way to pay for any repairs or replacements.

With every big purchase you make, it is only reasonable to get a warranty. Although you may spend a bit more on the coverage, having your devices covered against accidental damage or product defects will come in handy when problems arise in the future. In this article, we are going to compare two insurance policies that you can get for your devices: Microsoft Complete and Geek Squad. Both are great policies; the difference comes in depending on what you are looking for.

What are the differences between Microsoft Complete and Geek Squad?

Microsoft Complete vs. Geek Squad- How do they compare?

• Devices Covered

Before selecting an appropriate insurance policy, you must first inspect what devices it covers. Microsoft Complete provides insurance coverage for any device in the Surface series(Surface Go, Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, Surface Book, Surface Studio, Surface Type Cover and Pro Keyboards)and the Xbox gaming console.

Geek Squad offers protection for a wider range of products. With Geek Squad you can protect your TV and home theater, computers and tablets, cameras and camcorders, music equipment, car electronics, gaming and vr devices, cell phones, wearable tech like watches and appliances like fridges.From this comparison, you can evidently see that Geek Squad is better than Microsoft Complete. This is mainly because it provides protection for a long list of products as compared to the former, which only specializes in Microsoft products.

• Coverage

So, what does the insurance policy cover in your devices? For Microsoft complete, you are protected against accidents. You should not worry too much if you have dropped, spilled any liquid substance, or cracked the screen on your devices. The Xbox console plan covers up to two controller replacements when bundled up with your Xbox.

On the other hand, Geek squad covers defects in materials and workmanship, protection against power surges and failures caused by normal wear and tear.In this case, it is up to you to choose what type of coverage you want depending on your device and what is offered, both offer good coverage depending on your needs.

• Cost

When it comes to cost, the amount you pay varies depending on the protection plan that you choose. For Microsoft Complete, the price varies depending on the device that you have (Surface devices or Xbox). Geek squad is also similar in terms of variation in prices. For Geek Squad, the price you pay varies depending on the category and appliance that you are insuring. Your needs will determine what protection plan suits you best; both use a similar criterion for determining the price of the insurance policy.

Microsoft Complete vs. Geek Squad- A comparison overview

Microsoft Complete

If you are looking for coverage for your Surface devices and Xbox console, then you should consider getting Microsoft Complete. Since most of the surface devices are expensive, it is only wise to get protection for them. Although Microsoft Complete does not cover a wide range of devices, you still get a good deal for the little products that are covered. If you have a Surface Go, Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, Surface Book, Surface Studio, Surface Type Cover, Pro Keyboards, or Xbox console, you can get protection for your device.

Microsoft Complete has got you covered for accidental damages that occur to your device. Microsoft will fix pretty much any problems caused by liquid damage, dropping your device, or cracking your screen. These damages will cost a ton more for you if you do not have the coverage. Depending on the device that you want to insure, the prices will vary. Some devices have a lower cost than others. However, you pay the same prices for devices that have variants. This means that if you have the cheaper variant or expensive variant, you still pay the same price for the coverage.

Pros

• Cheapest option for Microsoft devices

Cons

• Can only insure Surface devices and Xbox consoles.
• Includes deductible payments.

Geek Squad

Best Buy offers great insurance services through their subsidiary, Geek Squad. It covers a long list of items; with geek squad you can cover your TV and home theater, computers and tablets, cameras and camcorders, music equipment, car electronics, gaming and vr devices, cell phones, wearable tech like watches and appliances like fridges. The fact that you can insure so many devices through Geek Squad is a great advantage to its customers.

So, what exactly does Geek squad cover? You get protection against power surges and failure of your device caused by wear and tear. In addition to that, it also covers defects in materials and workmanship. When any of your home appliances break down, a Geek Squad employee can come to your location and fix it.

You may pay a large amount for coverage, but you do not have to pay any deductibles. The price depends on the category and type of device that you are insuring. This means that the price that you would pay to ensure a TV is different compared to what you would pay for a fridge. Your cost will vary depending on your needs.

Pros

• Offers home services.
• Wide range of devices.
• Many computer services are included.
• Many connected car services are included.
• No deductible payments.

Cons

• It is expensive.
• Not available for everyone.

Conclusion

Both policies provide reasonable services to its customers. If you own any device in the Surface series or an Xbox console, then you will get a great deal by subscribing to Microsoft Complete. Geek Squad comes in handy when you want to insure devices like TVs, Cameras, music equipment, fridges, cell phones and many more.

Final Verdict: So, which is better? Microsoft Complete or Geek Squad?

After reviewing the insurance policies, it is safe to say that both are up to the mark. It is only you that can decide which one suits you best according to what you are looking for. If you own a Surface device or an Xbox console, I advise that you get Microsoft Complete because it is the cheapest and most reliable option for such devices. The latter is good for the other categories of devices which are not covered by Microsoft complete like your TV and home theater, some computers and tablets, cameras and camcorders, music equipment, car electronics, some gaming and VR devices, cell phones, wearable tech like watches and appliances like fridges.

FAQs

1. Do you need to purchase your product from Best Buy so that it can qualify for Geek Squad Protection?

Yes, you will need to purchase both the product and Geek Squad Protection Plan from Best Buy

2. How do you know if your product qualifies for Geek Squad Protection?

Best Buy will replace (not repair) any product if you have paid for a Product Replacement Plan. However, under a standard Geek Squad Protection Plan, Best By will choose between repairing and replacing the item.