That’s why I’ll be thinking long and hard about it. But at least it would have been in the field a month before I get it, so hopefully showstopper issues would have been resolved or at least noted by then. If I do go for it, I might pay for it monthly, if that’s an option, so I can quit if it seems safe to do so.
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Poll: Get AppleCare+?
- Thread starter bdawwg
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I've had several MacBook Pros, all with AppleCare and utilized it multiple times for various things (Logic Board failure, video card failure, battery replacement, topcase/keyboard replacement). It has always paid off for me. I bought it with the computer this time since I knew I was going to buy it anyway.
Yep this was the "cheap" way to be protected. Didn't want to spend another 450 + tax all at once after spending 3500 on the thing, so I'm just doing the yearly plan.
At $75/Year until canceled (EPP discount) was a no-brainer for me.
I plan on keeping the Macbook Pro for more than 3 years, and it's usually after 3 years when Apple Care is needed.
Once used (for whatever reason), it usually pays for itself.
As for the 1st 3 years, I'd rather "have it and not need it" than "need it but don't have it"
I plan on keeping the Macbook Pro for more than 3 years, and it's usually after 3 years when Apple Care is needed.
Once used (for whatever reason), it usually pays for itself.
As for the 1st 3 years, I'd rather "have it and not need it" than "need it but don't have it"
Get AppleCare+ and pay with an American Express card. This way you get 3 years plus 1 year limited warranty from Amex. that's 4 years in case your logic board or display fail. Reason for Amex is they have their own insurance so its easier to file a claim than to deal with other companies.
I called apple to inquire about display costs for these Macs and they go past $1,000 to replace.
If you use your MacBook a lot, you may be able to get apple to replace the battery at no additional cost at end of warranty. They are much nicer about it if you bought Apple Care.
Looking at my 16" 2019 in light mode I saw a wet spot sort of thing in my screen in corner. no idea how that happened within 1 year but these parts are expensive and who knows what pixels die out or how battery fails. These are new tech parts in these Macs. I don't like to pay for warranties but with Apple its a different deal. With Apple I carry the iPads, phones and Macs naked. best warranty service in existence from my experience.
I am because the small humans I live with are monsters.
If it is a cheaper Apple Product, then you can forego it. But for these new M1 Pro/Max MBPs (especially the Max), better to be safe than sorry and just get it. Forget naysayer's explanations against it on here. The most careful person in the world can have an accident happen with a laptop that can max out at $6,000+.
I usually don't think it's worth it, but I sprung for it on this one. Worst case scenario it just helps resale value.
For the base 16":
It's $379 for two additional years of coverage on a $2300 (edu) laptop.
We get the 1st year of hardware defect coverage for free. AppleCare+ is two years beyond that.
Sure- it covers accidental coverage also but at a pretty steep deductible of $100 for the screen and $300 for everything else.
#1: I feel like I can avoid accidentally damaging this. For $379, I'll take that bet that I can go without damaging it for three years.
#2: If there are hardware defects, it's exceedingly unlikely they'll surface in years 2-3 and not in year 1. Most likely scenario is we'll have issues come up in the first few months of usage or 5-6 years down the line... I'll also take that bet that nothing will happen in years 2-3 for $379.
If this were a $5,000 maxed out unit, oh, absolutely I'd be signing up for it. But on a $2300 base model I'm taking my chances.
It's $379 for two additional years of coverage on a $2300 (edu) laptop.
We get the 1st year of hardware defect coverage for free. AppleCare+ is two years beyond that.
Sure- it covers accidental coverage also but at a pretty steep deductible of $100 for the screen and $300 for everything else.
#1: I feel like I can avoid accidentally damaging this. For $379, I'll take that bet that I can go without damaging it for three years.
#2: If there are hardware defects, it's exceedingly unlikely they'll surface in years 2-3 and not in year 1. Most likely scenario is we'll have issues come up in the first few months of usage or 5-6 years down the line... I'll also take that bet that nothing will happen in years 2-3 for $379.
If this were a $5,000 maxed out unit, oh, absolutely I'd be signing up for it. But on a $2300 base model I'm taking my chances.
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If you're relatively careful with your machines, it's insurance, and like all insurance, the one who offers it makes $$.
I've had a dozen Mac laptops going back to 2008 (+ a Powerbook Duo in the mid 90s). Only had AppleCare on a couple company purchased ones. Had only one case ($700 logic board repair - ex-gf spilled wine on it) where AppleCare would have absolutely paid for itself, the rest... would come out behind. Amortized over all purchases very much behind, tossing a good $2k or so into the ether.
A few more expensive repairs (logic board failure due to GPU, top case replacement for butterfly keys, screen replacement from failed coating) were taken care of by service programs free of charge. I find it remarkable that folks have so many issues - most of my Apple purchases have been completely trouble free.
Sure, if you have small children or work in environments where accidents can happen, it makes sense. If you specced out your machine to the hilt where the replacement cost is extreme, it makes more sense. But as a default rule like it seems to be on this forum, I just can't agree with it as all - this or *any* insurance product aside from medical/auto/fire/etc where costs can be exorbitant to the point where it can bankrupt someone, as a good, sensible purchase.
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I just saw this at the Apple Store online. It doesn’t say anything about paying yearly, but apparently it’s possible.
For the MBP you need AppleCare+. Just look at the build quality history of these devices and you know that each iteration is a crapshoot. I think they now call it the butterfly keyboard effect: Apple engineering on one key component is so bad that it increases Apple's profit margins by requiring people to buy insurance.
Nope, you dont need. Amazon will swap it or refund it. Apple is only repairing and you have to pay it in many cases yourself. In Germany we have 24 month seller guarantee. If you don't buy this mbp from a cheap trash seller you will get 24 month free repair. So apple care is for nothing.
They replaced the butterfly keyboards free of charge. I know, I had that done. No AppleCare. Sure, it wasn't like that initially, but pretty much invariably, they always end up having a service program for these types of issues.
So this whole notion that they build some issue into their machines is total bunk. They (Apple, that is) end up paying for that... whether it's a faulty GPU, screen coating, batteries, keys... there always is a service program that is implemented and it usually lasts longer than any AppleCare plan would cover.
Apple was forced into that service program kicking and screaming. Anyway, it's one mere example of a litany of issues over the years for which many issues were not fixed for free unless it becomes a huge and embarrassing a problem for Apple. I was a victim of the video card scandal of a decade or so ago for which Apple had a service program that did not even fix the problem. It's much like the butterfly keyboards, which many say fail over and over again. Anyway, you can just watch a few Louis Rossmann videos and you will see what I mean.
Apple historically has put form over function in MBP design without regard to engineering best practices. I am not saying that the "butterfly keyboard effect" is an intentional strategy -- but it is certainly the end result.
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