Cellphone Insurance Guide

Cellphone insurance for accessories and wearables

Written by Lerato Molefe Personal Insurance Writer Reviewed by Nomsa Dlamini RE5 qualified · 12 years in short-term insurance Updated 28 July 2026 Our editorial standards →

Can you insure smartwatches, earbuds and phone accessories?

Yes. Smartwatches, wireless earbuds, headphones and other accessories can usually be insured - either bundled with a phone policy, added as all-risk (portable possessions) items on home contents, or covered under a gadget policy. Because these items are small, valuable and easily misplaced, insurers often require them to be specified with a value, and simple loss (as opposed to theft or damage) is frequently excluded. Check the limits and exclusions before you rely on the cover.

Key takeaways

  • Smartwatches, earbuds, headphones and accessories can generally be insured.
  • Cover comes via a phone policy bundle, all-risk items on home contents, or gadget cover.
  • Small valuables often need to be specified with their own value.
  • Simple loss is commonly excluded, even where theft and damage are covered.
  • Check per-item limits and keep proof of value for each accessory.

Can you insure wearables and accessories?

Wearables and accessories are insurable in much the same way as a phone. A smartwatch, a pair of wireless earbuds or a set of headphones can be covered by bundling them with a cellphone policy, by adding them as specified all-risk items on your home contents cover, or through a dedicated gadget policy. The perils are familiar - theft and accidental damage, with liquid damage sometimes included. What is different is that these items are small and easily mislaid, which shapes how insurers treat them, so it pays to read the terms rather than assume they are covered by default.

Smartwatches

Smartwatches such as an Apple Watch or a Galaxy Watch can carry a significant replacement value, which makes them worth insuring in their own right. Because a watch is worn out and about - during exercise, commuting and daily errands - it faces real exposure to knocks, cracked faces and theft. Insurers usually want a smartwatch specified as an individual item with its value, much like a phone, and it will have its own excess. If you own both a phone and a watch, covering them together on one policy is often the tidiest approach.

Earbuds, headphones and small accessories

Wireless earbuds - for example AirPods or Galaxy Buds - and premium headphones are valuable but especially easy to lose, and that is the crux of insuring them. Many policies cover them against theft and damage but exclude simple loss, meaning a pair that slips out of a pocket unnoticed may not be claimable, whereas one stolen in a robbery would be. Chargers, cases and cables are lower-value and may fall under general cover or not be worth specifying at all. Read the wording so you know which of your accessories are genuinely protected.

How to insure them

You have three practical routes. Bundling accessories with a cellphone policy keeps everything with one insurer. Specifying each item as an all-risk (portable possessions) entry on home contents extends cover away from home and is often cost-effective if you already have contents cover. A dedicated gadget policy is built for exactly this mix of devices. Whichever you choose, list each valuable accessory with an accurate value so the cover - and any payout - reflects what the item is actually worth.

Limits, exclusions and value proof

Three things decide whether accessory cover is worth having. First, limits - policies may cap the value of any single item or the total for portable possessions, so check yours are high enough. Second, exclusions - simple loss is the big one, but wear and tear and certain accessories may also be excluded. Third, proof of value - keep receipts or invoices for each item, since a claim is settled against what you can show it was worth. Confirm the excess too, as it can make a claim on a low-value accessory not worth lodging.

Frequently asked questions

Can I insure my smartwatch in South Africa?
Yes. A smartwatch such as an Apple Watch or Galaxy Watch can be insured by bundling it with a phone policy, specifying it as an all-risk item on home contents, or through a gadget policy. It is usually listed with its own value and excess.
Are wireless earbuds covered by phone insurance?
They can be, but often need to be specified rather than assumed to be included with the phone. Many policies cover earbuds against theft and damage while excluding simple loss, so check the wording before relying on it.
Does insurance cover lost earbuds?
Frequently not. Simple loss - misplacing them rather than having them stolen or damaged - is commonly excluded, even on policies that cover theft and accidental damage. Read the exclusions, as loss cover for small items is the exception rather than the rule.
How do I insure a smartwatch and phone together?
List both as specified items on the same policy - either a cellphone or gadget policy, or as all-risk items on home contents. Each is given its own value and excess, and covering them together keeps everything with one insurer.
Do I need to specify accessories on my policy?
Usually yes for anything valuable, such as a smartwatch or premium earbuds. Specifying an item with its value ensures it is covered and that a payout reflects its worth. Keep receipts as proof of value, and check any per-item limit.

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