Apple silently upgrades AppleCare+ plans to cover unlimited repairs for accidental damage
Apple launched the much awaited iPhone 14 series yesterday. The Cupertino company also made a change to its AppleCare+ plans, they now include unlimited repairs.
AppleCare+ now covers unlimited repairs
For those who don't know what it is, AppleCare+ is an extended warranty plan for Mac, iPhone, iPad, etc. But it has other benefits, not unlike an insurance plan. It's perceived as expensive, but could be worth it depending on the user. Let me explain.
In case your Mac, iPhone or iPad runs into some hardware issues and your warranty has run out, you have to bear the cost of the damaged part. This can cost a lot, and it may also take a while to get the device fixed. With AppleCare+ however, you don't have to pay for the part replacement, it's free, but you have to pay a small service fee. The coverage is not only valid for warranty support, but also includes accidental damage caused by the user, i.e. spills and drops, e.g. a broken screen.
Let's say a user bought AppleCare+ for an iPhone 13 ($149 for 2 years). If they dropped their mobile and the screen cracked, they would have normally had to pay around $320 for a new display. But with AppleCare+ they just need to pay $29 for the service. So, while the plan itself is expensive, the user actually saved quite a bit of money since they didn't have to cough up the price of the replacement screen.
I subscribed to an AppleCare+ plan a few months ago to protect my MacBook. The Apple representative who explained the plan's details to me over the phone mentioned that the coverage includes 2 incidents of accidental damage per year, i.e. I could only claim the free replacement parts for the repair twice every 12 months. The email that I received after subscribing also states the same.
Here's a screenshot I took on my machine at the time, you can see that the About This Mac screen says "2 incidents every 12 months".
The first image in the article is a screenshot that I took today, it reads Unlimited repairs for accidental damage protection. That means my plan has been upgraded, and the best part of it was that it was a free upgrade. Apple also sells self-repair kits (in the US) for users who are skilled to handle such tasks on their own, but with unlimited repairs now available in AppleCare+, the latter could be more enticing for most people.
But what about new subscribers, will they have to pay extra for AppleCare+? The answer is no, the price of the plans remains the same. The 2 incidents per year rule was fair, how often does one damage their device anyway? But it's good to see that the limit has been removed, it could be useful for people who are terrible at handling devices.
Please refer to the terms and conditions on Apple's website for more information about AppleCare+ for Mac, iPhone, iPad and other devices. 9t05Mac reports that AppleCare+ Theft and Loss plans are not affected by this change, they only cover 2 incidents per year.
Now that AppleCare+ includes unlimited repairs, will you opt for it to protect your device?
I think this article makes a lot of sense, particularly for anyone who has an Apple iPhone and is struggling to fix some common problems.
I wonder what Louis Rossmann has to say.
@clazy8:
If Louis Rossmann can beat Apple’s reputedly glacial turnaround time on repairs, he’ll probably continue getting plenty of business from Apple customers. And even if Apple manages to lock him out of the Apple repair business *entirely*, I expect he’ll still be able to make a perfectly adequate living upgrading laptops with soldered-in RAM, SSDs, WiFi modules, and whatnot.
“All other damage” for the iPhone is a bit hefty at $99. For example, if a button became jammed, or didn’t work anymore after the phone had been accidentally dropped I’d be a bit peeved at being asked for $99 to replace it.
As a sideline insurance is a gold mine, and Apple seems to have found the Mother Lode.
Money spent on such insurance is wasted. Apple products generally are of good quality, so the risk of something happening is low. As a user one has to balance risk/reward, and as an MacBook Air owner, I decided I’ll take the risk. If something happens I’ll pay for repair. So gar I have had 3 years without any problems at all.
Apple products are Chinese junk with a posh veneer. I always feel bad for the people that purchase Apple things. For a fair amount, you can purchase the identical technology with considerably more openness.
Didn’t Apple move their manufacturing to India recently?
> Didn’t Apple move their manufacturing to India recently?
Now that you say that
The machine I own (limited edition) is “Made in California” because it is an old one, but since then, I see that China, and then India (iPhone) and Vietnam (iPad, AirPods, MacBook) are also manufacturing sites. In addition, “part of the Mac mini production facility” is planned for Malaysia.
In short, it is said that they are diversifying their production bases as a “countermeasure against unforeseen risks” such as exchange rate fluctuations, international conflicts, and pandemics of infectious diseases.
> Apple products are Chinese junk with a posh veneer. I always feel bad for the people that purchase Apple things. For a fair amount, you can purchase the identical technology with considerably more openness.
I love Apple products.
This is because they are in a realm that has nothing to do with technology or amount of value, and because their design (artistry) and usability are decidedly outstanding. It is not just a tool that accomplishes a goal, but the “object (work of art)” itself has its own appeal.
Choices differ depending on what the user values.
Simply put, Uniqlo (Android) vs. Patagonia (Apple).
And by the way, the assembly is in China, but the design and design is by selected designers and engineers.
> Apple products generally are of good quality, so the risk of something happening is low. As a user one has to balance risk/reward, and as an MacBook Air owner, I decided I’ll take the risk. If something happens I’ll pay for repair. So gar I have had 3 years without any problems at all.
I agree with you.
I have been using my iPad Mini 2 for 9 years.
https://www.ghacks.net/2022/09/01/ios-12-5-6-update-for-iphone-5s-6-and-6-plus-fixes-a-critical-security-issue/#comment-4547173
A little, I experienced minor problems, but they were all solved by the “attentive customer support (toll-free phone support)” that only Apple can provide.
I was so pleased with the quality of their customer support that I did not choose to pay for the charged support.
However, if hardware or parts are damaged and need to be repaired, it would be up to the user’s use case, as I heard that depending on the extent of the repair, the user would have to be prepared to pay quite a lot (enough to make replacement possible).
Ghacks Article
> Let’s say a user bought AppleCare+ for an iPhone 13 ($149 for 2 years).
My family and I have been actively implementing a digital detox lifestyle (for a year now) and have limited use for the device we own (iPad Mini2). If the device breaks (repair required), I plan to “the end” then, so I think twice (hesitate) the AppleCare+ subscription.
With the SDGs being advocated,
the reuse of valuable resources is an important perspective. It would be important to reuse through repairs and transfers, rather than dispose of them because they are no longer useful (no longer in use). From the perspective of employment, it would be desirable corporate governance to reinforce repair and customer service as well as sales and marketing.
If Apple announces “AppleCare+ plans to cover unlimited repairs for accidental damage” it will be welcomed by users and set a precedent that rival industries will not be able to ignore.
On a related topic,
https://www.ghacks.net/2022/09/07/eu-wants-oems-to-support-phones-with-3-years-of-os-updates-and-5-years-of-security-updates/#comment-4547639
I agree with Peterc’s insight.