Nexus Protect Is Now Available With Phones Ordered From Project Fi

It seemed a little odd that Google's first-party extended warranty program, Nexus Protect, didn't work with Google's own MVNO effort, Project Fi, when it was announced. New buyers of the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P could apply the Nexus Protect warranty to their phones if they bought them from the Google Store, but not through the Project Fi site. Now it looks like that lack of synergy has been rectified: Nexus Protect is available with new phone purchases from Fi.

The terms are a bit different for the Fi version of Nexus Protect. Device protection covering accidental damage (including broken screens) and mechanical breakdowns past the standard manufacturer warranty costs $5 a month. If you need a repair or a replacement, the deductible is $99 for the Nexus 6P and $69 for the Nexus 5X. Nexus Protect from the Google Store costs $69/89 for the two phones and includes coverage for two years, but since the Fi version is a monthly charge, presumably it will continue to cover your phone for as long as you pay it. Ideally you should purchase the protection along with your phone, but there's a 30-day grace period after the purchase when you can enroll in the program.

If you purchased your N5X or N6P less than a month ago, check your Project Fi account - you may be within the window if you want to buy Nexus Protect coverage. Of course there's always the option of buying a new phone outright from the Play Store, applying Nexus Protect at the time of purchase, then enrolling in Fi with just a SIM card. FYI: the $50 discount on both the Nexus 5X and the Nexus 6P is also active at Project Fi.