Do you guys recommend AppleCare?

[ondioline]

Last year my 2019 i9 MBP completely died. They sent me a new one to replace it, was quick and hassle free.

That was ~$4500 new so the single event covered all of my previous AppleCare purchases, and some future ones!

 

[Beau10]

Due to the highly integrated and difficulty in parts and repair process, I would get Applecare for any Apple laptops. We are no longer in the age where we can simply replace the RAM or drive ourselves, unfortunately. And the lack of schematics available for 3rd party repairs made repairs of Apple laptops more difficult.

While this is true, I've gone through 8 personal Apple laptops and had 3 out of warranty repairs, all were covered by extension programs

1) Logic board replacement for 8600GT issue in 2008 MBP
2) Screen replacement for delamination in 2013 rMBP
3) Top case replacement for unresponsive butterfly keys in 2016 MBP

All my work laptops have had AppleCare, of course, and none have had an issue.

Personally I feel like it - and just about any extended warranty - is tossing $$ into a furnace. Over your lifetime of ownership as a consumer it's in aggregate a big loss financially to take this tact. It's a fact... it's a 'product' they sell. They make money off of it.

If you're exceptionally hard on or clumsy with your electronics... maybe. And if you buy a more top of the line config it makes way more sense as it's a fixed cost. But for someone like me who tends to buy base models and upgrades more often (again, a more prudent move financially speaking if performance matters, considering how well these machines hold their value)... holding off from purchasing it 2x virtually pays for every 3rd upgrade to a new machine.

As much as Apple laptops have become closed box systems, they also appear to be better built than ever, and when they eff up, there almost always is public outcry and a program to fix that extends way past the warranty.

 

[TVreporter]

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.

I'm clumsy and I have two kids who are rough on the iPads. And I've broken my phone on drops even with a case on. My home is filled with hardwood floors which have met the devices.

Did all the repairs add up? Probably not but peace of mind is worth it, IMO.

 

[planteater]

If you can't afford a possible repair bill in full and are concerned you might have another accident etc., AppleCare+ may be a good option for you.

I agree. It's really a confort and financial decision. I haven't bought an extended warranty on any purchase in the past ~20 years and am so far ahead on the savings that I could easily pay cash for another 2021 16" MBP and have plenty left over in the black column.

But if the OP doesn't feel confortable with the risk of paying for a new one a week after the warranty runs out, perhaps the best course would be to buy the warranty. But if the goal is long term savings, STOP buying warranties!

 

[ian87w]

While this is true, I've gone through 8 personal Apple laptops and had 3 out of warranty repairs, all were covered by extension programs

1) Logic board replacement for 8600GT issue in 2008 MBP
2) Screen replacement for delamination in 2013 rMBP
3) Top case replacement for unresponsive butterfly keys in 2016 MBP

All my work laptops have had AppleCare, of course, and none have had an issue.

Personally I feel like it - and just about any extended warranty - is tossing $$ into a furnace. Over your lifetime of ownership as a consumer it's in aggregate a big loss financially to take this tact. It's a fact... it's a 'product' they sell. They make money off of it.

If you're exceptionally hard on or clumsy with your electronics... maybe. And if you buy a more top of the line config it makes way more sense as it's a fixed cost. But for someone like me who tends to buy base models and upgrades more often (again, a more prudent move financially speaking if performance matters, considering how well these machines hold their value)... holding off from purchasing it 2x virtually pays for every 3rd upgrade to a new machine.

As much as Apple laptops have become closed box systems, they also appear to be better built than ever, and when they eff up, there almost always is public outcry and a program to fix that extends way past the warranty.

Reading various stories here and others, I don't think clumsiness of the users is what I'm worried about. I'm more worried about Apple's own design defect, especially on the logic board and components, where repairs is practically replacing the whole laptop. And waiting for Apple to publish repair programs is, a bit dodgy, as today's Apple doesn't seem to be as ready to acknowledge their own failings, and productivity loss waiting for Apple.

I mean I'm sure we can argue both ways and both are valid. Considering the price of Macs, and that Apple care for Macs is for 3 years (instead of 2 on iphones), at least it feels like a better deal

 

[Lucas Curious]

AC+ has usually been beneficial to me and I think that if you use the crap out of a device daily than its worth getting. I usually use only one MacBook.

The one time I didn't buy AppleCare for a MBP 15" 2011, I got a battery failing alert 1 month after basic warranty expired and Apple wouldn't cover the battery.
Got AC+ on the 2012 retina MBP and had screen replacement cause of 1 dead pixel and then $500 of repairs at the 3 year mark. Used the crap out of that Mac.

Used MB 12" on battery for 3 years, putting 780 cycles on it and got that battery replaced right before 3 year mark.

None of my devices ever failed but I did get apple to at least swap the batteries. I think its probably harder to make these new ones fail but if you use only 1 MacBook a lot and you take it out of the house than id say get AC+. its a weird gamble because if something does fail, its a big repair cost but if you dont get AC+ than you'll have that slight insecure feeling carrying the Mac around.

 

[Beau10]

I'm more worried about Apple's own design defect, especially on the logic board and components, where repairs is practically replacing the whole laptop. And waiting for Apple to publish repair programs is, a bit dodgy, as today's Apple doesn't seem to be as ready to acknowledge their own failings, and productivity loss waiting for Apple.

Examples? I provided my own calling in 3 repair programs, literally 8 personal machines and at least 5 work machines over a 15 year period. Not one cent spent vs. what would have been ~$2k in extended warranties down the drain. I realize yes that perhaps I'm a bit lucky here and there are some shockingly unlucky people, but odds are very much against coming out ahead paying for extended warranties for electronic devices, apple or not.

It's not like medical or car insurance where your life can be destroyed by an extreme event.

 

[techfoamer]

Apple products are pretty tough. My daily driver laptop is a 12" macbook that took a 4' drop to concrete about 6 months after purchase. I had to grind off the sharp edges with a Dremel. Two years later, I'm still using the computer daily, and I get to show off the scar to anyone that is interested.

 

[ian87w]

Examples? I provided my own calling in 3 repair programs, literally 8 personal machines and at least 5 work machines over a 15 year period. Not one cent spent vs. what would have been ~$2k in extended warranties down the drain. I realize yes that perhaps I'm a bit lucky here and there are some shockingly unlucky people, but odds are very much against coming out ahead paying for extended warranties for electronic devices, apple or not.

It's not like medical or car insurance where your life can be destroyed by an extreme event.

The too-shot-flex cable, the way they design high power connectors to be too close to data connections on some logic boards, stage light disease, and even those that you mentioned, there are people who had to have expensive repair because Apple had not acknowledged the issues. Even the butterfly keyboard thing, you got replacement with the same defective design, which will only accrue problems later on. And the length of these programs are increasingly shorter and shorter compared to the old Apple. I think you can easily peruse the forums here as well for other people's experience.

Yes, you re lucky enough to get things within the programs. Good for you. But there are many others who are not that lucky, and/or who got the short end of the stick with Apple repair in terms of cost since any slight issue often times require the replacement almost half of the device due to their integrated nature. I mean would you tell people not to get health insurance just because you never had to go to a hospital?

Considering the cost of MacBooks vs the AppleCare coverage spanning 3 years, imo it's a decent investment just to have the white glove service when repairs are needed.

 

[poorcody]

It is always a better value to self-insure when that is possible. Seriously sit down and estimate how many Macs you might buy over the rest of your life, then add AppleCare cost to each of them. How many new machines will that AppleCare cover over that time period? Usually you will come out way ahead saving the money on warranties and putting it toward new machines.

Also, from a practical standpoint, getting warranty repairs is almost always a pain (although Apple is better than most companies), and you usually end up with used parts or a used replacement machine. And the advantage of instead buying a new machine is that you usually end up upgrading to a newer model as well.

 

[randomgeeza]

Every device I have ever owned from Apple, aside from my HomePods which never leave the house, all other devices do. I get AppleCare and on each one I have had to call upon it at least once. And in some instances twice and three times. I have never been out of pocket with AppleCare. It has ALWAYS paid for itself and then some!