S2M Explains : What Is AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?.
Every time you buy a new Apple device, you will have the opportunity to pay an additional fee for something known as “AppleCare +”. The asking price for this offer is considerable, is it really worth it?
Let’s take a look at exactly what Apple is selling with AppleCare + and if you might be better off spending your money elsewhere.
AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?” />
AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?” />
Likewise, some MacBook models that have degraded anti-reflective screen coverage are also eligible for a display replacement within four years of purchase.
AppleCare + is often referred to as an extended warranty of sorts. While it extends the standard warranty, AppleCare + is more than just a longer AppleCare period.
–
What are you getting with AppleCare +?
If you buy the AppleCare + package, you get the standard AppleCare offer, extended one year for iPhone and iPad, and another two years for Mac.
During this extended period, you will receive a full standard warranty. This means that any manufacturing defect will be rectified free of charge. However, you also get two random event reports, but they are not completely free. You will pay a fixed amount for certain repairs, but nothing more. For example, if you break an iPhone screen, the cost of the repair is $ 29.99 at the time of writing.
AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?” />
In addition to the longer standard warranty and significant discount on repair bills, you can also add coverage for iPhone theft and loss by purchasing the more expensive AppleCare + with Theft and Loss. Basically, it is an insurance add-on, which means you pay a fixed deductible amount if you need to apply for a new phone.
In addition to all this hardware coverage, AppleCare + customers also receive priority technical support for the duration of the plan. While you only get 90 days of free coverage for a new Apple product.
AppleCare vs Insurance
Since AppleCare + offers accidental damage coverage, this means you need to compare it to other insurance options. For iPhone users, this is even more convenient as you can also pay for additional theft and loss insurance that is not included with standard AppleCare +.
AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?” />
The big difference is that you pay a one-time fee for the protection plan. With insurance, you will pay a monthly coverage fee that you can terminate at any time. Therefore, you will need to compare the one-time cost to the total cost of coverage over the years your AppleCare + plan will cover the device. Do not forget to also compare the deductible and the number of claims.
It’s also worth remembering that the AppleCare + price also includes other perks like warranty extensions. So it is impossible to compare the prices of apples and apples.
How much does AppleCare + cost?
AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?” />
There is no single answer to this question. Apple charges different amounts for AppleCare + coverage depending on the device and sometimes even on the specific model. You can usually expect the price to be somewhere around $ 200, but you will need to confirm this on a case-by-case basis.
Should I buy it right away?
One of the biggest problems with AppleCare + is that you’re already spending tons of money on your new Apple product, and spending a few hundred dollars on something intangible is often hard to swallow. Fortunately, I never had to buy it right away.
AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?” />
Initially, iPhone users had 60 days from purchase before upgrading. Mac users had a full year to take the plunge, so it made sense to wait until the standard warranty expired before buying AppleCare +. In 2017, Apple extended the same one-year period for iPhone users.
Eligibility varies by device and country, so be sure to use the official Apple Eligibility Checker to find out how long you need to buy AppleCare +.
Arguments for AppleCare +
So what are the good reasons to fork out for AppleCare +? Ironically, it turns out that extending AppleCare’s standard warranty may in the end be the most valuable aspect of the AppleCare + offering.
Why? Well, insurance covers accidental damage, loss, or theft, but does not cover device malfunctions that are not covered by the warranty. What Apple will fix for free under warranty. This can be incredibly expensive. For example, if your MacBook’s motherboard fails and needs to be replaced, it could cost over $ 1,000! Often times, in such cases, people simply choose to buy a new laptop, but if you pay a (relatively) small AppleCare + fee, then this repair will cost you almost nothing.
AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?” />
The chances of failure of such components within 2-3 years are nontrivial. Especially with MacBooks, which get a lot of heat and have had a lot of problems over the years. Yes, if the problem is widespread, Apple will usually fix it, but only AppleCare + can cover your failure by removing the lemon from the assembly line.
Another big plus might surprise you, but it’s the included tech support. A direct connection to Apple can be invaluable, especially if your device is essential for work.
Arguments Against AppleCare +
The weakest part of the AppleCare + offering is its accidental repair coverage. You need to make some serious comparison shopping with third party insurance companies.
Cellular carriers often also offer internal insurance for contract iPhones. Your home insurance will likely give you a better insurance offer similar to this AppleCare + component, so be sure to get a few quotes before pulling the trigger on Apple’s offer.
Conclusion
We think AppleCare + is worth it on an extended warranty basis alone. The main reason for this is how tightly Apple controls the aftermarket repair industry for its products and how expensive post-warranty repairs can be. So getting a 2-3 year warranty is well worth the asking price.
AppleCare+ & Is It Worth It?” />
Under normal use, Apple devices rarely cause any problems, but there are enough horror stories out there that the peace of mind is worth the price.
If you’re happy to roll the dice on the quality of Apple hardware but aren’t sure you won’t accidentally damage or lose your device, then chances are you’ll get a better deal from a third-party insurance company. Especially the one you already use for home insurance, which will give you better rates when you don’t subsidize the behavior of other riskier customers.
It also means that you are not prepaid for years of coverage that you cannot use if the phone is sold or upgraded before the AppleCare + period expires.
After all, AppleCare + IS a valuable product that plays an important role, but you need to consider carefully whether its various benefits will bring any value to you in your particular case.
–