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hajime

macrumors G3
Original poster
Jul 23, 2007
8,092
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Hi, my iPad Pro 12.9" 2017 has been having some issues. I called Apple Care. They said that I did not buy Apple Care for the iPad and they could not repair it. However, they offered me an option to pay $440 to get a brand new one of the same model. Since this model no longer exits in the market, I asked them again if it is a brand new one or a refurbished one. They said that it is a brand new one. Is this really true? Is it worth to pay $440 to replace mine or just buy a new iPad or Samsung tablet?
 
Hi, my iPad Pro 12.9" 2017 has been having some issues. I called Apple Care. They said that I did not buy Apple Care for the iPad and they could not repair it. However, they offered me an option to pay $440 to get a brand new one of the same model. Since this model no longer exits in the market, I asked them again if it is a brand new one or a refurbished one. They said that it is a brand new one. Is this really true? Is it worth to pay $440 to replace mine or just buy a new iPad or Samsung tablet?
There are no guarantees that the replacement will be new. Mind, refurbished iPads look and work just as good as new so I'd be more than fine getting one through AppleCare+ or something.

At $440 though with just 90 days warranty, I'd probably just upgrade to a 2018/2020 iPad Pro. There are some nice discounts on the 2018 iPad Pros when they pop up on the Apple Certified Refurb store. Gotta pull the trigger quickly though. They sell out really fast.
 
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At $440 though with just 90 days warranty, I'd probably just upgrade to a 2018/2020 iPad Pro. There are some nice discounts on the 2018 iPad Pros when they pop up on the Apple Certified Refurb store. Gotta pull the trigger quickly though. They sell out really fast.

2nd this. If memory serves @hajime , you're not in the US but if buying a certified refurb from Apple is an option for you that's the way to go. You'll get longer warranty on it and the ability to add AppleCare to it vs the option they're offering you for $440.
 
Wouldn’t pay to replace a 2nd gen - though it’s more prevalent in the 10.5, the 12.9 doesn’t seem to be immune from the bright spot issue.

With 2018 refurbs and the higher base storage on the 2020, the newer form factor has become more tempting price wise than it used to be.
 
Agree w/ Kim. Getting a newer refurb should definitely be a consideration, with the price evaluation including all updated peripherals in order to get an apples/apples cost comparison. You'll get a lot more out of the newer model at the expense of the slightly higher price tag plus the cost of new keyboard/case and pencil if those are needed as well.
 
Thanks. It is half the price of the latest version. Will there be a new version that supports 5G this Fall?
 
Might as well look at Swappa then.
For me, they're not the same.

With new chassis, battery, 1 year warranty and option to add AC+, I consider refurbs just as good as new.

Plus, I often buy LTE models and trying to buy unlocked, SIM-free iPads is a bit of a crapshoot. All iPads sold in the US are technically SIM unlocked but the carrier branded ones are limited by carrier visibility rules. Hence, for example, you can't sign up for the T-Mobile $10/5GB/5mo plan on AT&T or Verizon branded iPads.

Buying from Apple, you're guaranteed to get what you bought and if they make a mistake, returns are easy (at least in urban areas in US during normal times).
 
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Hi, my iPad Pro 12.9" 2017 has been having some issues. I called Apple Care. They said that I did not buy Apple Care for the iPad and they could not repair it. However, they offered me an option to pay $440 to get a brand new one of the same model. Since this model no longer exits in the market, I asked them again if it is a brand new one or a refurbished one. They said that it is a brand new one. Is this really true? Is it worth to pay $440 to replace mine or just buy a new iPad or Samsung tablet?


$440 is quite a bit less than the the cost of even an Apple Certified Refurbished 3rd Gen iPad Pro 12.9. And yes, the one that you'd get from Apple would likely be refurbished; but their refurbishment process isn't bad most of the time (and if it is bad, you have a 90-day hardware warranty on the replacement unit).

The thing that would give me pause about the first (2015) and second (2017) generation 12.9" iPad Pros over the third (2018) and fourth (2019) iPad Pros is that the Smart Keyboard for the former has an Apple Repair Extension Program that replaces defective units with units that are going to inevitably have that same defect. Seeing as a keyboard attachment is a mandatory part of the 12.9" iPad Pro proposition to me, I wouldn't have an interest in such an iPad myself. If you feel similarly, I might not invest in the replacement or maybe invest in the replacement and hope that you make more back in profit from reselling than you would by selling your iPad Pro in a broken state.
 
How likely will Apple change the adapter again? The one I have is lightning. Then, they moved to USB-C. Not sure if they will change the connector again in the near future?
 
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