Extended warranty on Apple Pro Display XDR, necessary or not?

[paulchiu]

Is the $499 extended warranty on the Apple Pro Display XDR necessary? In the past, when my previous Thunderbolt display had a bad pixel cluster and it was past the warranty, Apple just charged me for the parts. In one instance with an iMac 2015, they replaced the entire screen free of charge back in 2018. No extended warranties needed in both cases.

What has been your experience with Apple displays?

 

[Adult80HD]

For something that expensive, why wouldn't you get the extended warranty?

 

[||\||]

If buying with a credit card, check about automatic extended warranty options. You can usually get another two years for free.

 

[gugy]

This is a good question. In the past once you get a MacPro the display was automatically included on the AppleCare if purchased at the same time. Now that's gone.
I for one had instances that AppleCare was a must and other I have never needed on computers. On the displays end, no issues with my 14 year old ACD's but at $6k XDR display, I would consider it since it's so expensive.

 

[Fishrrman]

I'd be wary of a display that requires "a special cleaning cloth" just to wipe off the surface of the screen.
So... with that in mind... if one can afford Apple's new display, one can also afford AppleCare along with it.

It's a completely new, untested product.
Nothing can go wrong.
Right...?

 

[paulchiu]

I ordered the Pro Display XDR and estimated to arrive Feb 10, 2020.
Seems like more demand than the new Mac Pro.

I did not order the Apple Care + at this time.
I will wait and see if there are reports of problems from others....

I have until (i think) a day before a year of delivery to add Apple Care +
I used the Apple Card for the 6% rebate and the card does not offer extended warranty.

 

[chrfr]

I ordered the Pro Display XDR and estimated to arrive Feb 10, 2020.
Seems like more demand than the new Mac Pro.

I did not order the Apple Care + at this time.
I will wait and see if there are reports of problems from others....

I have until (i think) a day before a year of delivery to add Apple Care +
I used the Apple Card for the 6% rebate and the card does not offer extended warranty.

AppleCare+ has a very limited time in which you can enroll. It's not 364 days.

 

[paulchiu]

AppleCare+ has a very limited time in which you can enroll. It's not 364 days.

In that case, i hope to hear something from the pros from now until I receive the XDR. Thanks again.

 

[haralds]

Just do it. It's a very custom screen, repairs can likely only be done by Apple and will be expensive.

 

[Ener Ji]

For something that expensive, why wouldn't you get the extended warranty?

I'd be wary of a display that requires "a special cleaning cloth" just to wipe off the surface of the screen.
So... with that in mind... if one can afford Apple's new display, one can also afford AppleCare along with it.

It's a completely new, untested product.
Nothing can go wrong.
Right...?

Just do it. It's a very custom screen, repairs can likely only be done by Apple and will be expensive.

I'm always surprised by the number of people who push Applecare so strongly. Apple's services gross margin (which includes Applecare) is an insane 64%, almost double their overall gross margin. If Applecare is profitable, the consumer is losing money on that transaction.

There are certainly lots of personal situations where Applecare would make sense, and each individual should consider their own situation and proceed accordingly. But since so many people recommend Applecare, allow me to make the counterargument:

1. Apple has a history of providing free out-of-warranty support in cases where a product has a perceived design flaw. This is particularly true of ultra-high-end halo products like the Pro Display. If there are any first-generation gremlins in the monitor, they will almost certainly stand behind it for years after the warranty officially expires.
2. Most people will likely purchase the monitor with a credit card which extends the warranty by one year. That makes the default warranty two years, so the price of AppleCare is really only for the peace of mind of adding a single additional year of warranty.
3. Many people who can afford the Pro XDR can likely afford to self-insure. Buyers should ask themselves: in the unlikely event that your Pro XDR dies between years 2 and 3 AND Apple refuses to fix it for free or for a reasonable price, could I afford to replace it myself, even if the cost will sting a little? If the answer is yes, then that may be the more fiscally prudent way to go in the long-run.

 

[gugy]

I'm always surprised by the number of people who push Applecare so strongly.

I had two instances that my Mac Pro had so many issues that it went several times to Apple to be repaired. It would cost me thousands. After while, I received a call from an specialist and they offer me to replace my base MP for a top of the line 12 core one. I could not believed they actually took care of me.
Also couple of times, I used AppleCare on my MBPs.
It's one of those thing that when you need you are glad you have it and if you don't, you feel you wasted money. Insurance for you.....
I for one would consider it since the XDR is a new tech and very expensive.

 

[likegadgets]

Called Apple - the agent contacted plan administrations and informed me that it is renewable if I purchased the 3 year plan on a year to year basis. That it will appear on https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ the day after my plan expires. They were unable to tell me what the annual renewal will be.

Until it happens I am skeptical, as I cannot find this anywhere.

 

[phototristan]

Called Apple - the agent contacted plan administrations and informed me that it is renewable if I purchased the 3 year plan on a year to year basis. That it will appear on https://checkcoverage.apple.com/ the day after my plan expires. They were unable to tell me what the annual renewal will be.

Until it happens I am skeptical, as I cannot find this anywhere.

It's $179. I had purchased 2 years of coverage initially and now my renewal is up and I can see that annual price available in my AppStore app - Subscriptions.

 

[paulchiu]

If I never bought AppleCare for the Apple Pro Display XDR, does any of the AppleCare Display Warranty boxes offered on EBAY work? What exactly are those anyway? Thanks.

 

[phototristan]

If I never bought AppleCare for the Apple Pro Display XDR, does any of the AppleCare Display Warranty boxes offered on EBAY work? What exactly are those anyway? Thanks.

No, AppleCare can only be activated for a certain period of time after the item is purchased, I think something like 30 days.

 

[likegadgets]

It's $179. I had purchased 2 years of coverage initially and now my renewal is up and I can see that annual price available in my AppStore app - Subscriptions.

Yes. I did renew last February for 1 year @ $179

 

[phototristan]

Yes. I did renew last February for 1 year @ $179

Do you think it's worth it? I'm debating getting a third year of coverage or not.

 

[likegadgets]

While I have had excellent luck with Macs, I have had several monitors go bad after 2 to 3 years (One Apple iMac 27 companion and others non apple), hence on an XDR that is $5k I decided it is worth it.