Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

All iPads New iPad Buyers: AppleCare+ or not?

K

*~Kim~*

macrumors 65816
Original poster
May 6, 2013
1,192
475
UK
I thought I had settled on not (could save the money towards a new one if it went wrong from Year 3 onwards, as I don't upgrade regularly.) My current iPad is 6 and a half years old. Now I'm starting to reconsider it. I've had three Apple products before (2 iPhones and an iPad) and only purchased AppleCare+ once, on my iPhone 5s. Other than an issue which could likely have been easily solved via Google or even posting here if I hadn't had the AppleCare+ for live chat support, and the free swapping out of a broken lightening cable after 18 months (don't think it was technically covered but Apple replaced it free anyway) I never needed it.

I would definitely buy it I were getting the Pro (I'm getting the Mini) or if it also had theft coverage as I believe the iPhones do now.

Am I right in thinking we don't have the installment option in the UK? It would be another argument for it if we did, as I could do with the direct debit to meet a bank account requirement. That would then offset part of the cost.

What do you do?
 
*~Kim~* said:
I thought I had settled on not (could save the money towards a new one if it went wrong from Year 3 onwards, as I don't upgrade regularly.) My current iPad is 6 and a half years old. Now I'm starting to reconsider it. I've had three Apple products before (2 iPhones and an iPad) and only purchased AppleCare+ once, on my iPhone 5s. Other than an issue which could likely have been easily solved via Google or even posting here if I hadn't had the AppleCare+ for live chat support, and the free swapping out of a broken lightening cable after 18 months (don't think it was technically covered but Apple replaced it free anyway) I never needed it.

I would definitely buy it I were getting the Pro (I'm getting the Mini) or if it also had theft coverage as I believe the iPhones do now.

Am I right in thinking we don't have the installment option in the UK? It would be another argument for it if we did, as I could do with the direct debit to meet a bank account requirement. That would then offset part of the cost.

What do you do?
Click to expand...
I’d get AppleCare+ if I were you.
 
I don’t usually buy AppleCare either but I did for my 10.5 Pro and my Mini 5. I had a 9.7 Pro that was 14 months old and just out of warranty that died on me.

The iPad would not take a charge and I was told the board or something went out so swapping the battery out would not resolve the issue..hence how I came about buying the 10.5 Pro rather than pay out of warranty replacement cost. Apple was not willing to help me out on the cost. So now I pay for AppleCare+.

I realize that my issue on that device is probably a rare occurrence but I bought the AppleCare anyway. You don’t necessarily have to be careless with a device for something to go wrong.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Josieb1
pshufd said:
I've never purchased AppleCare. I'm very careful with electronics.
Click to expand...
"Careful" does not guard against chance and unintended consequences. There's a reason we call them "accidents."

I'm glad this strategy has worked for you. For me, I'm clumsy, distracted, I live and work on tile floors and I have cats. I have AppleCare on anything over $200. The peace of mine is worth it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: bensisko and Josieb1
I go back and forth on this with my 12.9 iPad Pro. I still have a little over 30 days to decide (you’ve got 60 days to decide if you’ve got an Apple Store near by; they will inspect to make sure it’s not already damaged.) but I did check and my credit card will extend the warranty a full year, so two total. Though that does not include accidental damage as the new AppleCare+ does. Though I am pretty darn careful with my electronics... So I don’t know... yet.
 
artfossil said:
"Careful" does not guard against chance and unintended consequences. There's a reason we call them "accidents."

I'm glad this strategy has worked for you. For me, I'm clumsy, distracted, I live and work on tile floors and I have cats. I have AppleCare on anything over $200. The peace of mine is worth it.
Click to expand...

Warren Buffett wrote a piece on how great the insurance business in the Berkshire Hathaway annual report. This was over a decade ago when I was a shareholder. People give you money in the form of premiums, which you can invest and generate a return. If you get claims, then you pay out those claims. If the claims exceed the premiums collected, then you raise prices for insurance the following year to recoup your losses. If the claims are lower than premiums collected, then the difference goes straight to the bottom line.

AppleCare is 15% of the purchase price on the new iPad Mini. So you can keep your money, have it earn a return and use those funds if you need to replace or repair your device. I usually like to trade the company making the device I want and use the profits to fund the device. So I consider devices from Apple as being free. Same with Dell, Microsoft, Garmin, Planet Fitness, etc.
 
  • Like
Reactions: kristalsoldier
Totally worth it. Got it on my Air 3. Getting after hours phone support is worth it alone. Plus no hassles on exchanges under warranty, they ship it right to you. Totally worth the $69.
 
  • Like
Reactions: artfossil
I bought my 11” 1TB cellular model brand new outright, I’m paying my little $5.99 a month just in case lol.

I can’t afford to replace screens, or buy new replacement iPads. I’m broke lol.

I’d get AppleCare+

You could sit on it and bend it, drop it, or smash it..
 
  • Like
Reactions: artfossil
If it is for top of the line iPad Pro then you should.
otherwise nope
I never see any iPad that breaks within 2 years
If Apple Care extended to 3 years then I would
and you don't need replacing battery early like iPhone
 
The iPad mini is cheap enough that I don't need any insurance for it. If it breaks, so be it. My credit card can cover the repair cost anyway for the first two years.
 
My wife just bought me an 256GB 11” iPad Pro LTE with a Smart Keyboard and Pencil. Whole thing was around $1300 (I get educational discount). You better believe we added AppleCare. I don’t need a $700 charge for a cracked screen.
 
  • Like
Reactions: artfossil
What I have been wondering when reading the discussion about Applecare is that does the home insurance differ much over there in the states and UK.

Here the accidental damage is covered under home insurance with the deductible of 100 euros per accident. Therefore the Applecare sounds really awfully expensive.
 
I suppose that rather depends on the terms of your home insurance policy. I don't take accidental damage cover on my policy as it sends the premium skyrocketing. Home insurance is for catastrophe, not inconvenience.

AppleCare+ is cheap by comparison, and I'd rather deal with Apple than the insurance companies, most of whom are shysters.
 
  • Like
Reactions: artfossil and Fenhalls
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back