AC+ is mandatory for such an expensive device like my new MBP … especially with three teenagers in the house 🤪
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AppleCare or no AppleCare: that is the question
- Thread starter rwh63
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I bought AC+ in the end, I saved £200 on my M4 Pro MBP via an Amazon deal, so put that towards the 3 year cover so I don’t have to deal with Amazon support if anything goes wrong.
I've only had apple care for watch since I know that gets dinged and swung around a lot in person/on wrist.
Phone/iPad not so much, have protective case and I'm super careful with them.
Was considering adding one for MacBook Pro as this is the most expensive apple device I've owned to date (and my first) - at 7000aud RRP. Lady at the Apple Store ask me if I also have home and contents insurance to consider that also first before blindly diving into AppleCare. it would be 649$/3 year or 239$/year billed yearly.
I liked how the apple lady didn't jump to selling me AppleCare immediately and consider other options. Kudos to her because tbh I expect her to swing me straight onto AppleCare+ my understanding is battery replacement won't be any lesser (eg 49$ iPhone AppleCare vs 229$ without AppleCare)
Mostly use the MBP at home, rarely take it out often maybe once a fortnight but is nice when I need to move around the house instead of be tied down to a singular space 16" screen is big and amazing. As to why I took this? Couldn't wait for Mac Studio was taking forever for a refresh and the Nano Texture on MBP caught my attention immediately. (Especially for M4 Max 64GB)
Phone/iPad not so much, have protective case and I'm super careful with them.
Was considering adding one for MacBook Pro as this is the most expensive apple device I've owned to date (and my first) - at 7000aud RRP. Lady at the Apple Store ask me if I also have home and contents insurance to consider that also first before blindly diving into AppleCare. it would be 649$/3 year or 239$/year billed yearly.
I liked how the apple lady didn't jump to selling me AppleCare immediately and consider other options. Kudos to her because tbh I expect her to swing me straight onto AppleCare+ my understanding is battery replacement won't be any lesser (eg 49$ iPhone AppleCare vs 229$ without AppleCare)
Mostly use the MBP at home, rarely take it out often maybe once a fortnight but is nice when I need to move around the house instead of be tied down to a singular space 16" screen is big and amazing. As to why I took this? Couldn't wait for Mac Studio was taking forever for a refresh and the Nano Texture on MBP caught my attention immediately. (Especially for M4 Max 64GB)
was thinking of doing that since MBP isn't waterproof/resistant and its my most expensive apple product to date... 3x iPhone 16 pro max's equivalent . 649/3 year seem decent for insurance when broken down into monthly costs. [18-19/month]
I did an order through Apple Education store and saved 900aud off... on top of 5000 worth of gift cards which I accumulated over one or two years through cc churning and birthday gifts, the actual MBP costed me 1200 out of pocket
Yeah, I don’t normally get it for iPads and desktops, but there’s more potential for issues with laptops (though my previous two MBP’s have been fine), so bought it this time.
Also I didn’t fancy being at the mercy of Amazon, if something does go wrong!
I have always purchased AC for mobile devices (phones, iPads, laptops) although I made the exception when I bought my studio when it first came out. I just picked up a 14 inch M4 MBP and will be getting AC for it shortly. For me, it's insurance, plain and simple, a no brainer as far as I am concerned.
I'd recommend to get it. But then I did make quite some use of it over the years on different machines:
1. iMac G5 - many moons ago with AC, constantly replacing the Superdrive and Mighty Mouse.
2. 2009 MBP - not AC but an ext. 3rd party warranty with a machine I used for 13 yrs. Basically, every component was replaced or repaired over a decade. The insurance kicked me out as they started losing money.
3. MBP M2 Max - It was near new, lived on the couch and I babied it. No food or drinks within a meter. Then, reaching for a sugary drink, the glass caught on the table and the entire contents ended up inside (inc screen). Murphy's law to the extreme.
Oh how glad I was, to have AC+ with this MBP, as everything minus the lower base plate was replaced. And with a 3-2-1 backup I was up and running in a very short time again.
1. iMac G5 - many moons ago with AC, constantly replacing the Superdrive and Mighty Mouse.
2. 2009 MBP - not AC but an ext. 3rd party warranty with a machine I used for 13 yrs. Basically, every component was replaced or repaired over a decade. The insurance kicked me out as they started losing money.
3. MBP M2 Max - It was near new, lived on the couch and I babied it. No food or drinks within a meter. Then, reaching for a sugary drink, the glass caught on the table and the entire contents ended up inside (inc screen). Murphy's law to the extreme.
Oh how glad I was, to have AC+ with this MBP, as everything minus the lower base plate was replaced. And with a 3-2-1 backup I was up and running in a very short time again.
Sometimes accidents happen and they are out of your control, its like insurance, you hope you''ll never need it, but when you do, you are glad you have it.
I always buy it - more piece of mind over anything else.
I once had a top of the line laptop randomly start disconnecting external drives. The entire mainboard was replaced under Applecare.........that was 1 month before the 3 year Applecare was due to end! That alone would have cost me around £1k if I didnt have the coverage.
Most of the time you likely won't use it and it's a complete waste of money. But there's just that one time.......
I once had a top of the line laptop randomly start disconnecting external drives. The entire mainboard was replaced under Applecare.........that was 1 month before the 3 year Applecare was due to end! That alone would have cost me around £1k if I didnt have the coverage.
Most of the time you likely won't use it and it's a complete waste of money. But there's just that one time.......
I hadn't ever obtained AC with MacBook 12", Air or Pros of years past and never damaged one.
Apple replaced butterfly keyboards (and entire lower too!) on both 2015 m3 and 2017 i7 Macbook 12" systems for free. I even got the $395 max settlement on the refurb one of the two (the i7 was sniped from eBay)! Still use the m3 dual boot with Mojave and Win10.
The latest iteration of 14" and 16" Pros are far more susceptible to screen damage in my opinion so I'd get AC or purchase a used system that comes with it.
My used M3 Pro 14" came with Apple Care that the previous owner had purchased.
Apple replaced butterfly keyboards (and entire lower too!) on both 2015 m3 and 2017 i7 Macbook 12" systems for free. I even got the $395 max settlement on the refurb one of the two (the i7 was sniped from eBay)! Still use the m3 dual boot with Mojave and Win10.
The latest iteration of 14" and 16" Pros are far more susceptible to screen damage in my opinion so I'd get AC or purchase a used system that comes with it.
My used M3 Pro 14" came with Apple Care that the previous owner had purchased.