Do you guys recommend AppleCare?

[ihakim]

I can see why Applecare is not needed on iPhones. You can put a good case and screen protector and you're good to go. I don't have Applecare on my XR but it's still fine for the 3 years that I have it.

That's not the same case with Macbooks. They have a larger footprint, not water resistant at all, and its not as durable as iPhones. You have to be extra careful when handling a Macbook than an iPhone. AppleCare is recommended for Macbooks because if it ever does break and you see the outrageous repair price, you're going to wish that you have it.

Thank you for your reply. I had reviewed the repair prices as part of my decision to not purchase apple care. I’m happy to pay around $800 for a screen replacement or $1000 for a logic board replacement out of pocket for a few reasons. I have never accidentally broken a device in the last 15 years and my MacBook isn’t used in as high of risk environments as my phone where I anticipate accidental damage. I’m careful with it and transport it using a backpack and sleeve. If you factor in the deductible and cost of apple care for accidental damage, then the net out of pocket cost is far lower. Additionally if it is a warranty issue and beyond the first year of ownership, I can claim reimbursement through my credit card’s benefits. Worst case scenario if my credit card company refused to reimburse me, I have to pay a net out of pocket cost of $500-700 for the repair and I’m fine with that. As I mentioned in my original post, when you crunch the numbers I’ve come out so far ahead over my years of Apple product ownership.

My strategy is different than yours. Only insure what you can’t afford to absorb out of pocket. Aka home and car ownership. Perhaps if OP has a strong history of accidentally damaging his devices, he can purchase an extended warranty but otherwise financially it doesn’t make sense to me.

 

[Saturn007]

1. Never bought the argument that if the company makes money on it, it must be a bad deal for the consumer.

The key is the consumer's personal cost-benefit, risk-reward ratio weighed with the deductible, repair quality, time, and cost factored in.

I've had too many Apple products — especially Macs — that have developed single or multiple problems and have been covered gratis thanks to Apple Care. They would have cost me thousands of dollars, otherwise! Having Apple take care of shipping both ways helps, too.

2. Yet, there is always another BIG factor in my getting AC — and that is resale value! Much easier to sell a device and for a greater amount when it is covered by Apple Care.

It's made for quick sales, with no qualms on the buyer's part, and no remorse on my part if the device were to fail soon after they purchased it. I can sell with no worries, knowing they are covered.

 

[Spotlighter9]

It depends on the product. Applecare+ for portables is the way to go given the accidental damage coverage and high risk of potential occurrence on the go (even around the home)! The one year annual option makes it a no brainer, IMO.

 

[Novius89]

One year would be a good option! We only have the 3 year option in the Netherlands.

 

[Spotlighter9]

The one year option cost $50 more over that same 3-year period for the 16"...so we pay a premium for the option, but I believe it renews every year until cancelled. It's unclear what the renewal options are for the 3 year option.

However, my biggest pricing complaint is the large Apple Care+ pricing disparity between the 14" and the 16" MBP ...the 16" is $149 annually and $399 3-year, with the 14" only $99 annual and $279 3-year. This pricing structure seems a bit unfair to 16" owners, as other than the display and additional battery capacity there is little difference to their internal components, unlike in the past. And this is all regardless of BTO options, so a maxed out $6000 14" model costs less to insure then a base $2500 16" model. It feels a bit like 16" owners are subsidizing the 14" owners.

 

[playtech1]

Macs are well-built, making extra warranty less valuable, but the laptops are fragile (particularly the screens) so the accidental damage coverage for laptops is well worth it given the very high price of screen replacement.

Even as a very careful user around the home I have had cracks in two laptop screens - one from a fall of about 20cm onto carpet. Older pre-retina Macs have less fragile screens but the 2016-2019 models were prone to breaking and it remains to be seen if anything has changed with the Apple Silicon generation.

 

[Novius89]

With the m1 air I had troubles with the screen coating. After some days I had some fingerprints on it. Cleaned it with a microfiber cloth and had specks in the screen after this. Returned for a new model at the shop. That one had some dead pixels, returned it for my money back.
Maybe this shop had a bad batch of airs.

Bought the second (actually third) Air in 2 weeks time in a different shop. Everything was fine. Put a expensive screen protector on it (only with adhesive border, washable) And I saw that on the bezels the adhesive left some marks and some, bigger than hairline scratches, on the bezels.

So I had some bad luck with the MacBooks, I am cured concerning screen protectors and hardcases.
So the AppleCare seems like a good investment for me personally.

Absolutely love everything about macOS, the design and premium feel of the MacBooks, but they just feel delicate

 

[edubfromktown]

I've never purchased it.

Had 22 years of success with Apple computers. A few along the way required repairs that were warranty or class action lawsuit fixes.

Assuming you are not prone to damage electronics equipment, I recommend against getting AppleCare.

 

[Cognizant.]

Yes. It's always paid for itself. AKKO is also good as they cover up to 2 grand in repairs: https://getakko.com

I've never purchased it.

Had 22 years of success with Apple computers. A few along the way required repairs that were warranty or class action lawsuit fixes.

Assuming you are not prone to damage electronics equipment, I recommend against getting AppleCare.

Unforeseen things happen even if you are 100% careful. Electronics are man-made and not infallible. You've been very fortunate, but this isn't the case for everyone.

 

[izzy0242mr]

Thanks for the replies!

I am still in the middle with my decision. I have 60 days to decide.

As always with things like this in life:
if I take it, nothing happens and I don't use/need it.
If I don't take it, the screen will break/pop off/scratch/break/disappear.
Just like with the air.

As I said before, I can just take it, and 2 months before appelcare is done I can use it and get a brand new/refurbished laptop for €500 in total. Is it fair: no? Does it feel fair: yes.
As I have some morale in life I will probably not do that, bad karma and everything.

Edit: to reply on the post above. I never looked at AppleCare. My phone has a screen protector and my watch I use without a case, only a film protector.
Only the Macbook feels like a suited candidate for me to take AppleCare.
so I totally understand and agree with a rainy day fund. But as I need my MacBook for the coming 3 years on a daily basis. I can imagine apple just sends me a (new)replacement when I have a problem with this one. And I will be faster back on track.

Repairing my air without AppleCare would take about more than a week with apple, selling my broken air and buying a new MacBook only took 24 hours, from breaking till installing the new one.

Personally, I always buy things used anyways, so I save at least a few hundred bucks (if not more) for a gently used/still near-new quality item. That means it usually doesn't have a warranty (although sometimes you can get lucky and find stuff with a bit of a warranty still left).

But I've bought 4 used Macs over the last decade for myself; helped friends/family get 2 other used Macs; bought over half a dozen used phones over the same decade; and honestly not once have I personally ever broke/spilled/etc stuff on those devices to the point they needed repairs. Not once.

Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself with my latest buy, but statistically as one guy mentioned, you just don't need the warranty. I upgraded from laptop to laptop or phone to phone not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I was able to sell the device I had before for a decent price, then turn around and put that money toward the already discounted upgraded item I was getting to replace it.

Yeah, accidents happen, but if I had bought all of my personal Macs new over the years with AppleCare ($275~), I'd have spent well over $5000 versus the probably closer to under $2000 over the years buying/selling as needed and keeping things in good condition due to personal care. It's not to say accidents do not happen—they do—but I'd be well ahead if I ever did have something get damaged to the point that I needed a costly repair.

Even with @Cognizant. 's AKKO recommendation, that's only slightly less expensive than AppleCare+ ($180 year vs $280 year), I'd have still spent over $4600 on new devices + warranty. Assuming AKKO is good quality care, it seems like a better deal, but it still doesn't necessarily mean it's the best deal.

 

[Cognizant.]

Personally, I always buy things used anyways, so I save at least a few hundred bucks (if not more) for a gently used/still near-new quality item. That means it usually doesn't have a warranty (although sometimes you can get lucky and find stuff with a bit of a warranty still left).

But I've bought 4 used Macs over the last decade for myself; helped friends/family get 2 other used Macs; bought over half a dozen used phones over the same decade; and honestly not once have I personally ever broke/spilled/etc stuff on those devices to the point they needed repairs. Not once.

Hopefully I didn't just jinx myself with my latest buy, but statistically as one guy mentioned, you just don't need the warranty. I upgraded from laptop to laptop or phone to phone not because I had to, but because I wanted to. I was able to sell the device I had before for a decent price, then turn around and put that money toward the already discounted upgraded item I was getting to replace it.

Yeah, accidents happen, but if I had bought all of my personal Macs new over the years with AppleCare ($250~), I'd have spent well over $5000 versus the probably closer to under $2000 over the years buying/selling as needed and keeping things in good condition due to personal care. It's not to say accidents do not happen—they do—but I'd be well ahead if I ever did have something get damaged to the point that I needed a costly repair.

I've had devices just stop turning on, even though they never left the desk. You can be perfect with your devices and unforeseen circumstances still happen. I'm glad you have been fortunate though.

 

[izzy0242mr]

I've had devices just stop turning on, even though they never left the desk. You can be perfect with your devices and unforeseen circumstances still happen. I'm glad you have been fortunate though.

Totally true. The next Mac I am getting (any day now in the mail…) actually comes with like 2.5 years left on AppleCare+, which—including the cost savings I'm getting—does seem like a great deal. I don't dislike warranties. And maybe at some point (idk, $10k+ Mac Pro or something) I may get a warranty that isn't a huge % of the cost of the product if I buy new. But I think the cost savings I get by buying used—and the relatively low chance of bad things happening, even though they will one day happen—more than offsets the cost of the warranty.

I'm not swimming in cash by any means, but I have enough saved up that I'm not living 100% paycheck to paycheck so I'm able to afford it if something does go wrong, while my savings of generally not having a warranty are noticeable in a positive way, if that makes sense.

 

[Cognizant.]

Totally true. The next Mac I am getting (any day now in the mail…) actually comes with like 2.5 years left on AppleCare+, which—including the cost savings I'm getting—does seem like a great deal. I don't dislike warranties. And maybe at some point (idk, $10k+ Mac Pro or something) I may get a warranty that isn't a huge % of the cost of the product if I buy new. But I think the cost savings I get by buying used—and the relatively low chance of bad things happening, even though they will one day happen—more than offsets the cost of the warranty.

I'm not swimming in cash by any means, but I have enough saved up that I'm not living 100% paycheck to paycheck so I'm able to afford it if something does go wrong, while my savings of generally not having a warranty are noticeable in a positive way, if that makes sense.

I try and buy things through Costco now as it's an automatic 4 year warranty if you buy things with their credit card. And their return/exchange policy is so good it's comical. But I also have the Apple Card, which is very helpful (though I wish their 24 month financing extended to all their products, not just the iPhone). AKKO insurance is also good as it covers a phone and 24 other items for 15 dollars a month (up to 2000 dollars repair coverage per item).

 

[izzy0242mr]

I try and buy things through Costco now as it's an automatic 4 year warranty if you buy things with their credit card. And their return/exchange policy is so good it's comical. But I also have the Apple Card, which is very helpful (though I wish their 24 month financing extended to all their products, not just the iPhone). AKKO insurance is also good as it covers a phone and 24 other items for 15 dollars a month (up to 2000 dollars repair coverage per item).

Do you have to buy things from Costco with the Costco card to get 4 year warranty? Or can you do that for any new item you get with your Costco card?

 

[Cognizant.]

Do you have to buy things from Costco with the Costco card to get 4 year warranty? Or can you do that for any new item you get with your Costco card?

It requires the Costco credit card, not just the Costco card. Any electronics purchased with the credit card get an automatic 4 year warranty.

 

[Dealmans]

Australia has 2 year warranty on all Apple products so with AC you only get one more if using it. Also our laws would cover you against apple if a expensive laptop had issues in that 3rd year as would be expected to last longer.
Doesn't help stupidity though lol.
I do it on my daughters iPhone though.

 

[Appletoni]

What will happen if you have very hot weather and very very wet fingers for 8 to 12 hours per day and you need to type on the MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 MAX keys 8-12 hours per day because you are studying or you need to do work?

 

[ihakim]

What will happen if you have very hot weather and very very wet fingers for 8 to 12 hours per day and you need to type on the MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 MAX keys 8-12 hours per day because you are studying or you need to do work?

Nothing.

 

[SalisburySam]

What will happen if you have very hot weather and very very wet fingers for 8 to 12 hours per day and you need to type on the MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 MAX keys 8-12 hours per day because you are studying or you need to do work?

OMG! What? What?

 

[UbuntuFu]

It requires the Costco credit card, not just the Costco card. Any electronics purchased with the credit card get an automatic 4 year warranty.

It's not any electronics. Computers purchased at Costco with the Costco Citi card will have 4 years warranty, while those purchased with any other card at Costco will receive two years warranty (one year manufacturer, one year Costco). Citi covers year 3 and year 4.

For warranty service in years 3 and 4, you pay for the warranty repair and then you file a claim to have Citi reimburse you.

Citi® Card Benefits

Other credit cards like Amex will also include a second year of warranty at no cost, just gotta go through the claim/reimbursement process. It's not the same as Applecare+ however. I personally would not purchase Applecare+ but for some, it might be worth it to them for peace of mind when it comes to budgeting.

 

[rpmurray]

I've never really needed AppleCare, but when I bought the 27-inch 2020 iMac I decided to go with it because the SSD is not replaceable and if it decides to let out the magic smoke I can get it repaired. I'm not really worried about losing data since I have backups but it would be a pain to have to make an unscheduled purchase just to have a working computer.

 

[MaxMacs]

Note that in most EU countries and the UK, and other places outside the US (the OP gave the price in Euros, so...), the statutory warranty (against manufacturing defects/inadequate quality) for goods is up to 6 years (with various caveats as to how the 'burden of proof' changes during that period). So AppleCare+ is not really an extended warranty - it's almost entirely accidental damage cover (and that's how Apple describe it).

So if you're contemplating AppleCare in the EU/UK it's all about whether you think the cost is going to be worth the accidental damage cover - which it may well be for a laptop that you're carrying around daily. However - it's important to check whether you already have accidental damage cover under a household/possessions insurance policy and, if not, whether it would be cheaper to cover it that way.

The fundamental problem with actual "extended warranties" is - apart from being mostly redundant in countries with strong consumer rights - that they cover your equipment during the period when they are least likely to develop faults (see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bathtub_curve). Obviously, that doesn't apply to accidental damage - which is likely to be a fairly constant risk.

I have to disagree slightly with this position. In the UK, yes, you have 6 years' cover, but that cover only extends to faults or design flaws that were present at the point of purchase. If an electrical component fails you are not covered unless you can prove it failed due to a flaw in initial manufacturing or design. You may get lucky, or you may have a fight on your hands, but it is not the same cover as that which Apple offers.

In the end I decided not to purchase AppleCare however, since I am not particularly risk averse, I am exceedingly careful, and the statistics are overwhelmingly in my favour. I have owned Apple products for 27 years and not one of them, with the exception of batteries, has failed on me within 6 years anyway.

If you are prone to accidents, then one can argue a stronger case for AppleCare. As other have said though, tuck away all those premiums and become your own insurance provider.

 

[TVreporter]

I always get it - repairs are too costly without it. Better safe than sorry.

 

[theluggage]

I have to disagree slightly with this position. In the UK, yes, you have 6 years' cover, but that cover only extends to faults or design flaws that were present at the point of purchase. If an electrical component fails you are not covered unless you can prove it failed due to a flaw in initial manufacturing or design. You may get lucky, or you may have a fight on your hands, but it is not the same cover as that which Apple offers.

The fitness-for-purpose rules require that products are reasonably durable, so the naive answer to that is that, with solid-state electronics, if a component fails within 3 years and requires an expensive repair it’s probably a design/manufacturing flaw. Of course, in reality that might be hard to prove (although the internet helps) and you’re right that Applecare cuts out the risk/quibble - but random component failure still probably the least likely cause of failure, and this question is all about relative risk. I’m sure that the bulk of the cost of AppleCare+ is going to subsidise people dropping their Macs.

Ultimately you hit the nail on the head: you just have to look at the electronic gear you have used over the years, add up how much you’d have spent on extended warranties and subtract what the actual repair costs would have been.

 

[theluggage]

I always get it - repairs are too costly without it. Better safe than sorry.

So, add up how much you've spent Applecare and other extended warranties over the years and subtract what you would otherwise have spent on repairs (excluding Apple repair schemes for butterfly keyboards, MacBook GPUs which would have been free anyway, liquid damage that wouldn't have been covered, and remember that there's an excess/deductible on accidental damage claims).

Your mileage may vary - but I suspect it largely depends on whether you're regularly taking laptops & tablets into 'harm's way' and get a lot of accidental damage.