All iPads Do you have AC+ on your devices?

[akash.nu]

This discussion got me thinking, has anyone checked the differences in coverage between what Apple provides with Apple Care + and what the device insurances from banks / house insurances etc cover? They’re significantly cheaper and I don’t think there’s much difference in the coverage.

 

[MiamiBeach]

I don’t have AC+ on any of my devices (currently iPhone and iPad 11 3rd gen). In fact I have never purchased AC+ for any of my Apple devices.

I have only had to pay to replace one screen on my XS due to a drop. I figure the cost I would have paid for AC+ over all the years for my iPhones/iPads would have cost me way more than the replacement cost of the only screen I ever broke.

 

[1rottenapple]

None. I have the Apple eco system with Mac, watch, 2 iPads, iPhone. It’s not worth it for me.

 

[FreakinEurekan]

This discussion got me thinking, has anyone checked the differences in coverage between what Apple provides with Apple Care + and what the device insurances from banks / house insurances etc cover? They’re significantly cheaper and I don’t think there’s much difference in the coverage.

What you don’t get, is Apple taking care of the repair. Stopping by a store and getting it fixed, or having AppleCare FedEx out a replacement & after everything’s transferred, you ship the old one in.

I’m not gonna argue that AppleCare+ is a “Good value.” The value can only be determined after the plan is over - did you use it, did you not? If we had a crystal ball we would know if it was “Worth” getting it or not.

Since my crystal ball is perennially in the shop 😉 (wish I could get AC+ on that!) I tend to get AC+ for “Most” products, and then I don’t have to worry about them. Peace of mind vs. a few extra dollars in my wallet, it’s a pretty easy decision for me.

 

[Yuuuki]

I used to have iPhone‘s since 2013 or something to this date (usually every 2 years a new one) and I never got once AC+ even tho I still drop my phone a lot because I’m just clumsy. But luckily never ever happened anything to my iPhone - so yeah I would not get it tbh. If I ever would destroy my phone for whatever dumb reason, I would rather just get a new one. If you just do the math with all the years you probably would have payed for AC it’s best so save this for a probably new phone IF yours ever get broken.

But ofc that’s just how I see things like this.

 

[ssledoux]

I used to have iPhone‘s since 2013 or something to this date (usually every 2 years a new one) and I never got once AC+ even tho I still drop my phone a lot because I’m just clumsy. But luckily never ever happened anything to my iPhone - so yeah I would not get it tbh. If I ever would destroy my phone for whatever dumb reason, I would rather just get a new one. If you just do the math with all the years you probably would have payed for AC it’s best so save this for a probably new phone IF yours ever get broken.

But ofc that’s just how I see things like this.

I never had it up until the last few years when they started doing the monthly. Actually I think it was when I did the Apple upgrade plan the first time. I don’t do that anymore, but I have gotten the monthly AppleCare because the phones and stuff have gotten so expensive, and so expensive to repair.

With my 14 pro, I went all in with the theft and loss, which I had never done before, but it was a pricey phone so I figured if I was ever gonna lose one, that would, of course, be the one. ;-p

And I never had it on watches until I got SS because it’s a good bit more expensive to repair or replace.

But now I’ve just been adding it all up and realizing how much I’m spending on insurance, and it’s a bit ridiculous. I just KNOW if I cancel it all, everything will break Or get lost. 🥴

 

[1rottenapple]

I have capital one venture and it has extended warranty. The travel points plus 1 yr extra coverage is great.

 

[MacDaddyPanda]

I bought it once for Apple Watch 5. After that I didn't see much value for me personally. I can see if you travel more and have a higher risk of losing or damaging, or theft. But I'm a homebody mostly and just travel back and forth for work. So the risk of those things is much lower. So the value prop for AC+ isn't there for me. And defects would be covered under warranty.

 

[Abazigal]

I think with the exception of my first iMac, I have never bought AppleCare for any of my Apple products. My general rule of thumb is that if the warranty costs more than 10% of the cost price of the product, I would rather just self-insure. I don't know if I can be considered lucky or otherwise, but quite a number of my products have broken down less than a year of purchase, meaning they are still covered by warranty, and so I got a replacement, which lasted long enough till it was time to replace them.

 

[Montaukwhere]

i think it’s worth it on AirPods and maybe the Apple Watch. Everything else, it‘s unnecessary for me.

 

[Andeddu]

I don’t need AC+ as I keep my devices in protective cases which has rendered them pretty much indestructible over the years.

The first picture is of my iPad Mini 5 which is 3.5 years old and is in perfectly new condition despite being dropped a million times onto a hardwood floor. It is normally in an Otterbox Defender case but I took it out today for a clean along with the iPad Mini 4.

The second picture is of my iPad Mini 4 which I purchased on release 7.5 years ago which is still in amazing cosmetic condition. Again, I use an Otterbox Defender case with huge bumpers offering effective drop protection.

I have an iPhone 13 which is my daily driver. I don’t need AC+ as it’s inside a 2 piece case which has massive bumpers protecting it from any drop. I have already dropped it multiple times onto my hardwood floor and once accidentally onto a concrete pavement from over 1m. It is still in new condition with zero blemishes.

 

[wingennis]

I think I’m AC+ing myself to death over here. I almost never purchased it in the past, but now, with the cost of devices, and the ease of doing it monthly, I have it on everything.

For which of your devices do you have AC+?

I have the same feeling. I've paid enough in AC+ this year to buy a whole new device. I have it on everything I take out of the house.

 

[aypues]

Yep! Just used it today actually On my 2019 iPad Air 3. The wifi has started messing up and just disconnecting when every other device is rock solid. AppleCare is great in that if anything ever malfunctions (or if you just want a new battery), you just have them swap it out by Fedex, no need to go to the store to demonstrate anything, it’s a premium service for sure and worth it for me!

 

[Algus]

I've never bought any kind of insurance for any Apple device going back to my Performa 637CD when I was a kid. Knock on wood but I have never needed it. I won't question whether AC+ is a good product or not but if you dont need it that is a lot of money spent on something you never use.

 

[jetsam]

I think I’m AC+ing myself to death over here. I almost never purchased it in the past, but now, with the cost of devices, and the ease of doing it monthly, I have it on everything.

For which of your devices do you have AC+?

I don't usually buy AC+, but I have it on my Apple Watch Series 6, since watches seem so exposed. And it just paid off!

I somehow managed to get a crack in the crystal. Apple replaced the watch for $69. I chose not to do Express Replacement, so I brought the watch in to my local Apple Store. The genius immediately set up the "repair" (my understanding is that watches just get replaced), and they sent the new watch to me FedEx Overnight Priority. It took 3 business days - 5 days total - and I had a new watch. Not bad for $3.99/month.

 

[TorontoJen]

I get AppleCare on *everything* because I have used it a TON. Electronics usually hate me for some reason. I've had MacBooks that have had graphic cards go bad, and phones dead out of the box or that have some stupid issue down the road. Keyboard issues, screen issues...the list goes on. I just bought an iPad Pro 12.9 for work and got AC on that as well. A few days ago I purchased a Mini and it had an issue, but I just returned it instead.
If it has a button you can turn on, I'm probably getting an extended warranty because I know I'll use it. And the thing is, I'm so gentle and careful with my electronics. It's just weird.

 

[okkibs]

Sounds more like lacking QC which should either happen straight out of the box or within the first year. AC+ is of no use then. And the Macbooks with the graphics, that was a series defect and many people even with AC still ended up with a broken device because under AC it would be "fixed" with a part that has the same defect and would just fail again. Rinse and repeat until AC coverage expired.

 

[ssledoux]

I don't usually buy AC+, but I have it on my Apple Watch Series 6, since watches seem so exposed. And it just paid off!

I somehow managed to get a crack in the crystal. Apple replaced the watch for $69. I chose not to do Express Replacement, so I brought the watch in to my local Apple Store. The genius immediately set up the "repair" (my understanding is that watches just get replaced), and they sent the new watch to me FedEx Overnight Priority. It took 3 business days - 5 days total - and I had a new watch. Not bad for $3.99/month.

Well, 3.99/month + $69, but having only paid in a couple years, still cheaper than buying a new watch.

I still have it on everything except my iMac. I haven’t even looked to see what it would cost to put it on there, but since it never leaves my desk, I feel the risk is a lot lower for something to happen. I just haven’t been able to make myself drop it on my watch or phone, and since my iPad goes places with me, I like having it on that as well.

 

[Surfsalot]

Well, 3.99/month + $69, but having only paid in a couple years, still cheaper than buying a new watch.

I still have it on everything except my iMac. I haven’t even looked to see what it would cost to put it on there, but since it never leaves my desk, I feel the risk is a lot lower for something to happen. I just haven’t been able to make myself drop it on my watch or phone, and since my iPad goes places with me, I like having it on that as well.

Good thing with the iMac it includes on site service, I had a screen replaced twice in my home/office with it. Tech drove 5 hours to do it. It's the best value Apple care imo.

 

[ssledoux]

Good thing with the iMac it includes on site service, I had a screen replaced twice in my home/office with it. Tech drove 5 hours to do it. It's the best value Apple care imo.

Oh wow. Guess I need to look into it.

 

[oasantos1]

Yes. All my Apple devices have it because of my Best Buy totaltech

 

[MacCheetah3]

Except for the iPhone X, which was purchased via the iPhone Upgrade Program, I haven’t opted for AppleCare(+) in maybe 15 years.

Since you're asking about Apple Care under Ipads, I don't. However, I did elect with my Ipad M1 12.9 Pro given cost of replacing.

I found that out recently. $500 + tax for a replacement (liquid/screen damage) of my <6 month old M1 iPad Pro.

As "sad panda" as I was about it:

Even if I have to pay for a repair right now it would cost much less than I would have spent total on AC for everything since I stopped buying it.

And this is always the situation when debating purchase of extended warranties/insurance. For me, the above mentioned iPad repair has been the only Apple product repair I’ve needed in decades. So — I haven’t followed APP pricing — I am guessing, I am still ahead in expense/cost investment.

P.S. Back in the day, AppleCare was more of a “no brainer” for PowerBooks/MacBooks because a battery could (oftentimes) degrade enough for justified/qualified replacement in the three year coverage period. Is that still the case (nowadays) with the efficiency of Apple Silicon?

 

[msackey]

I stopped buying AppleCare years ago when I realized I was spending more money on AC than I would have on repairs. I've had only two devices ever malfunction on me, and both times it was within the first year, so covered under warranty.

Even if I have to pay for a repair right now it would cost much less than I would have spent total on AC for everything since I stopped buying it.

Absolutely not. I’ve had Apple devices since the first iPhone and have never broken one. I did the math awhile back with all the iPhones and Apple Watches and iPads and what not and over the years I’ve saved thousands of dollars

“But what if you drop your phone. You can’t always predict it!”

Then I’ll pay for a replacement. Which will be thousands cheaper than having AppleCare all these years. Imagine over a lifetime. Imagine 50 MORE years of buying AppleCare and never using it. Car insurance? Makes sense. Device insurance for me personally when I’m careful with my stuff? Better off without it

I've been on the side of buying AC+ before, but not until somewhat recently and have stopped again. I think I purchased AC+ maybe twice (max three times, but I can't remember).

It's really hard to get the calculus right for whether one is better off getting AC+ or not but given my typical habits over time -- mostly that I'm pretty careful with my Apple products -- I've decided it was not worth it any more to get AC+. I recall getting to form my original AirPods Pro. I think I got it for a phone but don't really recall now.

In the end, it felt like over time (not necessarily within the timeframe of a single Apple product that I own), it would probably work out that for me, it is preferable NOT to buy AC+. Yes, it is painful when a device breaks and you have to shell out full bucks for a new one.

In early 2020, my iPhone Xs suddenly died. It stopped charging. I took to to the Apple Store and they remarked at what pristine condition it was. Yes, I'm pretty careful with my products and even sew my own custom sleeves for each phone that I've owned! For no reason, this Xs suddenly stopped charging (didn't drop it or anything) and Apple determined that it was definitely broken and since it was out-of-warranty that they couldn't repair/replace for free. Fair enough. Still painful because to get a new phone, which I did, I had to pay full price as there was ZERO trade-in value with the Xs now since it cannot turn on. I think this was the first time I paid full price as all previous iPhones I was able to offset cost with the trade-in value of the old phone.

Even then, after some consideration, I decided not to purchase AC+.

I just replaced the battery for the iPhone 12 Pro which replaced the Xs. My 12 Pro is a little over 2 years old. I hope it gives me another several years before I need to upgrade!

 

[AlexJ092]

I have AppleCare+ for my IPhone 14 pro max and my MBP. I had to claim on AppleCare+ with my iPhone 13 Pro Max as the camera stopped working! I received my iPhone replacement the next day! It was a great experience overall so I will continue to buy AppleCare+ for all my future iPhones.

 

[rui no onna]

In the end, it felt like over time (not necessarily within the timeframe of a single Apple product that I own), it would probably work out that for me, it is preferable NOT to buy AC+. Yes, it is painful when a device breaks and you have to shell out full bucks for a new one.

To me the pain point is less the cost but rather the indecision of whether to repair or get a new model and which model to buy if the device breaks close to the release of a new model. This is not helped by the fact that iPads don't have a regular release schedule.

Also, I appreciate very much that AC+ includes Apple's Express Replacement Service.