Is AppleCare Worth It?

AppleCare Evolution

Apple hardware products come with a one-year warranty and 90 days of technical support to address faulty hardware. Until 2011, AppleCare was simply a warranty extension policy that enabled owners of Macs to extend both warranty and support to three years. AppleCare for iPhone and iPad extended warranties to two years.

Then, Apple introduced AppleCare+. Initially for iPhone and later for the rest of the hardware product lines, this evolution of the service adds accidental damage protection, warranty renewal for extension beyond the standard term, priority support, and express replacement service on certain devices.

For certain types of damage, owners can get repair service from Apple for an additional flat fee that is significantly less than on an out-of-warranty device. Optionally, owners can upgrade AppleCare+ to include Theft & Loss coverage, which is valuable for those whose home or renter’s insurance doesn’t cover the devices.

How to Buy

AppleCare is available on new devices purchased from Apple and other retailers and on Certified Refurbished models purchased from Apple. The cost is set based on the device model, regardless of its configuration, and Apple Displays purchased with a Mac are covered under the Mac’s AppleCare plan.

When you buy a device, you have the option to purchase AppleCare at the same time and the plan is automatically registered to your product. Alternatively, in most parts of the world, you may add AppleCare within 60 days of purchase.

On refurbished devices, buyers may only purchase AppleCare for their standard, fixed length whereas most new device purchases permit either fixed term or a monthly/annual subscription option that can extend warranty and support until canceled. Sometimes, when a fixed term nears its end, Apple may offer an opportunity to extend coverage with a monthly/annual subscription.

Is It Worthwhile?

This is where AppleCare gets highly subjective, but here’s my take. Although parts availability and service providers are widespread, modern Apple devices — especially Macs — are more proprietary than a decade ago and out-of-warranty repairs can be expensive. Thus, I find it worthwhile to add AppleCare+ to all device purchases and I consistently choose the fixed plan.

I don’t want to be in the minority of owners whose device stops working in the first few years of its life. However, I tend not to renew AppleCare+ as I expect such failures to occur during the standard 2- or 3-year warranty period.

As for my clients, some have suggested that they don’t need AppleCare because they will just call me for support. However, AppleCare is mostly about hardware and I offer next to no hardware repair anymore due to the increased complexity of Apple devices. So, this argument falls flat.

What About Tech Support?

Were you under the impression that AppleCare also offered you exclusive tech support by phone or online chat? You’re not alone in believing this common misconception.

In reality, Apple will talk to just about anyone to try to help them remotely with their device, primarily offering software support. For services like iCloud, contacting Apple may be your own recourse.

The difference is that AppleCare holders receive priority. So, if you rely on Apple’s free phone or chat support, having AppleCare gets you closer to the front of the line.

Nevertheless, working with me has its benefits because I support users across various platforms, beyond that of Apple alone, and utilize broad Internet searches as a resource. Thus, I can often reach solutions faster and provide more valuable learning experiences compared to Apple Support agents.