Let’s face it: Apple products can be expensive.
After spending $1,000 on a new iPhone or almost $2,000 on a new MacBook, you’ll want to do everything in your power to look after it, and that often includes buying a case. But once you’ve got that protection in place, the next logical step is to consider insuring your devices through a scheme such as AppleCare.
Today, we’re delving deeper into AppleCare and deciding whether it’s worth it for your needs.
What is AppleCare and AppleCare Plus?
AppleCare is the standard insurance policy offered by Apple, and each new device will come with a year of AppleCare. It’s possible to pay to upgrade to AppleCare Plus (AppleCare+) to add an extra year of warranty to your device and protect against accidental damage, too.
AppleCare Plus offers accidental damage to a whole host of Apple devices, including iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks. If you drop your phone in the water or you spill a cup of coffee on your Mac, you should be able to call into an Apple Store and have it fixed.
It’s important to note that AppleCare Plus won’t cover your costs entirely.
You’ll still have to pay an excess, as you would on any insurance policy, and that figure can be anywhere from $20 to $2,000 depending on the nature of your claim. This is to discourage consumers from claiming on incidents that aren’t critical and to ensure that only genuine users claim on it.
AppleCare+ also covers for extended telephone support, great if you’re new to iOS/macOS.
PROS: Offers peace of mind
Perhaps the most obvious benefit to AppleCare+ is that you’ll be covered should something go wrong with your phone. Bear in mind that we now pay more than $1,000 for an iPhone, and it soon makes sense to pay a couple hundred bucks more for that protection.
Some new iPhones and iPads are all-glass, and all it takes is one drop to break your device entirely.
CONS: Can be expensive
To insure your iPhone 11 Pro it will cost $199 per year for AppleCare+ – and another $100 if you want to add theft and loss protection. This can be expensive, and if you usually hold onto a device for two or three years, it could make more sense to put $299 into a pot every year and use that to buy your next iPhone. That’s provided you don’t break it beforehand!
PRO: Theft and loss cover can be added
Although Touch ID and Face ID mean iPhones are no longer as attractive to criminals as they once were, 446,000 handsets are still stolen each year. Add in accidental loss – hey, we’ve all left our phone on the top of a toilet or at the bar after one too many drinks – and it makes sense to pay for that added protection. Because nobody likes to lose their phone!
CON: You have to buy it within 60 days of buying your device
Just as most insurance policies work, Apple wants you to buy AppleCare+ as soon as you can.
It encourages consumers to purchase a plan with their new device, but its cut-off point is 60 days. To purchase coverage, go to Settings > General > About and select AppleCare+ Coverage Available, or visit an Apple Store, where a full device inspection will be required.
PRO: First-class Apple service
Just as you prefer Apple over other smartphone manufacturers, it makes sense to choose Apple for aftercare, too. AppleCare+ customers get 24/7 priority access to Apple experts via chat or phone, and most of the time, repairs and services can be done same-day in Apple Stores around the world.
Onsite services are also offered, where technicians can repair your screen at your home or workplace, and an Express Replacement Service is offered, allowing you to receive a new device so you don’t have to wait for a repair. Third-party companies may offer cheaper insurance policies, but cannot offer the same level of customer service.
CON: Repairs are cheaper elsewhere
Rock up to any mobile phone store or authorized Apple reseller, and you’ll find that they can repair your screen or hardware for much less than Apple would charge. Therefore, most of us take the risk – rather than splashing out $199 on an insurance policy, we live dangerously in the hope that we won’t ever need to have our smartphone repaired. And most of us won’t.
Do you have an AppleCare+ policy? Let us know whether you think it’s worth it on social media.