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AppleCare+ : Is It Worth Paying For Extended Warranty

For users who are prone to dropping their devices, AppleCare+ provides peace of mind


There are more than 1.4billion active iPhone users worldwide, accounting for 21% of the world’s smartphone-using population. This is without mentioning the countless MacBook, AirPods and iPad users around the world that use the Apple eco-system.

Like other manufacturers, Apple has its own extended warranty AppleCare+, which is an optional purchase. Let’s take an in-depth look into this and evaluate whether it is cost-efficient to include it in the receipt.

AppleCare+ Covers Majority Of Damages

AppleCare+ extends the warranty beyond the complimentary one-year limited warranty and 90 days of technical support for new devices. Depending on the device, the coverage and duration also differs. For example, AppleCare+ covers MacBooks for 3 years whilst iPhones are only covered for 2 years.

Device Duration of Coverage
MacBook, Apple TV 3 Years
iPad, iPhone, AirPods, Beats, HomePod 2 Years
Apple Watch 2 Years (Apple Watch, Apple Watch Nike and Apple Watch Ultra), 3 Years (Apple Watch Edition and Apple Watch Hermès)

In terms of coverage, AppleCare+ typically provides the following for devices:

  • Unlimited accidental damage protection
  • 24/7 priority access to Apple experts by chat or phone
  • Express Replacement Service
  • Battery service coverage (except for Apple TV and HomePod)

Read Also: Apple Education Store: How Much Can Students Potentially Save on Apple Products When Buying Their Gadgets

You Still Have To Pay For Repairs

For certain types of damage, the user will still have to foot part of the bill. Here is a list of AppleCare+ pricing for each product type, as well as the additional fees that will be incurred for damage.

iPhone

Device Price Of AppleCare+ Coverage
iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max $319
iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 14 Plus $279
iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13 $229
iPhone SE (3rd generation) $119

With AppleCare+, screen and back glass damage will cost $42 whilst other accidental damage will cost $148.

 

Mac

Device Price
MacBook Air 13 inch (M2) $269
MacBook Air 13 inch (M3) $299
MacBook Air 15 inch (M3) $329
MacBook Pro 14 inch $399
MacBook Pro 16 inch $579
iMac $249
Mac mini $128
Mac Studio $249
Mac Pro $749
Apple Studio Display $219
Pro Display XDR $749

With AppleCare+, screen and external enclosure damage will cost $138 whilst other accidental damage will cost $428.

 

iPad

Device Price
12.9‑inch iPad Pro S$229
11-inch iPad Pro S$199
iPad Air (5th generation) S$119
iPad, iPad mini S$99

With AppleCare+, damage to the iPad will cost $68 whilst the Apple Pencil and Apple-branded iPad keyboard will cost $42.

 

Apple Watch

Device Price Of AppleCare+ Damage Costs
Apple Watch Ultra 2 $149 $118 (Service fee)
Apple Watch Series 9 $119 $98 (Service fee)
Apple Watch SE $79 $98 (Service fee)
Apple Watch Hermès $219 $118 (Service fee)

 

AirPods, Beats

Device Price Damage Costs
AirPods, AirPods Pro, Beats $59 $39 (Service fee)
AirPods Max $109 $118 (Service fee)

 

Apple TV, HomePod

Device Price Damage Costs
Apple TV $45 $19 (Service fee)
HomePod $59 $59 (Service fee)
HomePod mini $25 $19 (Service fee)

 

Read Also: Understanding Xiaomi (HKEX: 1810): China’s Smartphone and Smart Electronics Pioneer

Must Be Purchased Within 60 Days

If outside of the 60 days purchase period, device owners can purchase external warranties for more peace of mind. For example, QCD Technology, an authorised service provider of Apple, provides a plan called AppleCare+ 365 where it is purchasable 365 days from the date of purchase. The price for repairs is also identical to Apple’s pricing if under AppleCare+

However, do take note that repairs are only done by QCD themselves and not Apple. QCD also only covers damage for up to 2 incidents, as compared to Apple’s unlimited incident coverage.

Provides Peace Of Mind

The cost AppleCare+ for an iPhone 15 is $229.

Damage (iPhone 15) Without AppleCare+ With AppleCare+
Cracked screen (front only) $426.83 $42 + $229 = $271
Back glass damage $253.65 $42 + $229 = $271
Cracked screen and back glass damage $610.19 $84 + $229 = $313
Battery $146.34 $0 + $229 = $229
Rear camera $253.65 $148 + $229 = $377
Other damage $834.31 $148 + $229 = $377

For someone who is careful with their device and unlikely to accidentally damage the screen or camera, $229 is significant additional cost. In some cases such as back glass damage or rear camera replacement, the user may spend more overall with AppleCare+ rather than simply sending it for repair.

Nevertheless, AppleCare+ covers the device for more than one repair. For users who have a tendency to drop their devices often, AppleCare+ results in significant cost savings as compared to repairing the device twice. For instance, if the user repairs a cracked screen twice, the cost will be $853.66, whereas with AppleCare+, it will be just $313. For users who may be more prone to dropping their devices, this provides the peace of mind that the cost to repair will be significantly lowered.

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