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Applecare+ worth it?
- Thread starter gelie
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Water damage, yes, although there's been some talk that water damage would be covered even without AppleCare+ due to their claims of water-resistance.
Screen scratches, maybe/maybe not. Cosmetic damage isn't covered so if they decide the sctatches don't affect the operation then they might refuse.
Screen scratches, maybe/maybe not. Cosmetic damage isn't covered so if they decide the sctatches don't affect the operation then they might refuse.
I never buy extended insurance type plans since they are mostly profit. However I do extreme trail running (mud, rain and fall a few times a year), road running (rain and fall every year of so), biking (and fall ever couple of areas or so) and 5x a week weight training. So I decided to go ahead a get 
Care+ for my Watch because I will probably need it. 
Care+ for my Watch because I will probably need it. 
3.2 Accidental Damage from Handling
If during the Plan Term you submit a valid claim notifying Apple that the Covered Device has failed due to accidental damage from handling (“ADH”), Apple will, subject to the service fee described below, either (i) repair the defect using new or refurbished parts that are equivalent to new in performance and reliability, or (ii) exchange the Covered Device with a replacement product that is new or equivalent to new in performance and reliability (both individually known as a “Service Event”). ADH coverage will expire and all of Apple’s obligations to you under this section 3.2 will be fulfilled in its entirety before the end of the Plan Term when Apple, as a result of ADH claims, has provided to you two (2) Service Events. ADH coverage only applies to an operational or mechanical failure caused by an accident from handling that is the result of an unexpected and unintentional external event (e.g. drops and damage caused by liquid contact other than as a result of defect in material and workmanship) that arises from your normal daily usage of the Covered Device as intended for such Covered Device. ADH coverage does not include (a) protection against normal wear and tear, theft, misplacement, reckless, abusive, willful or intentional conduct associated with handling and use of the Covered Device, (b) protection against any other act or result not covered by the Plan, as described in Section 4.2 below, or (c) any resultant damage to the Covered Device that arises from one or more conditions described in Section 3.2(a) or (b). Apple may ask you to provide an explanation of where and when the accident occurred with a detailed description of the actual event. Apple will deny your claim if you fail to pay the service fee or fail to provide information relating to the accident when asked.
It was a no brainer for me at $49. I feel this thing is going to be subjected to a lot more abuse than any other Apple product to date since its always on your wrist. In fact its the first time I've bought Apple care for any of my devices. I'll risk $49 to not have to pay $399 all over again.
You're risking $118 ($49 plus $69 deductible) to not have to pay $229, the out of warranty replacement price.
If you happened to have used an Amex (and some other cards) they offer double warranty up to a year. So there's no point (other than hassle) unless you absolutely destroy the item.
There is a reason they would change it to that, and paying $50 instead of $80 if the battery decreases it makes sense. AC+ covers the battery too. Changes AC+ to not worth the money to worth it, IMO.
This is on the front page of MacRumors, and this is what i was referring to.
https://www.macrumors.com/2015/06/26/applecare-apple-watch-80-percent-battery/
I hadn't seen that. I looked up and the standard warranty will cover depleted battery of 80% capacity or worse. Extended warranty provided by many major credit cards will cover that in the second year.
Just correcting people who focus on only one aspect of AC+ costs and erroneously comparing it to the full price that they'd never pay in the event of an accidental damage.
All this talk about how much it costs is pointless.
If you buy it and it gives you peace of mind to wear your watch and not worry about every little thing for an extra year, it's priceless.
Plus, with such a small battery, the lifetime charge cycles will definitely happen much faster than a higher capacity battery as in the phones. I am using about 50-60% of my Watch battery every day as opposed to about 75% with my phone. Apple allowing AC+ to replace batteries @80% charge capacity is going to probably be great for people who keep their watches or phones towards the end of two years.
If you buy it and it gives you peace of mind to wear your watch and not worry about every little thing for an extra year, it's priceless.
Plus, with such a small battery, the lifetime charge cycles will definitely happen much faster than a higher capacity battery as in the phones. I am using about 50-60% of my Watch battery every day as opposed to about 75% with my phone. Apple allowing AC+ to replace batteries @80% charge capacity is going to probably be great for people who keep their watches or phones towards the end of two years.
So will extended warranty provided by Amex and the like, at no cost to you.
It's not an aspect that only AC+ will cover, such as accidental damage.
Can you walk into an AMEX store and get personal service within a couple of minutes and walk out of Apple a couple of minutes after that with your replacement?
You can walk into an Apple Store, pay the $229 replacement cost out of pocket to swap it out on the spot (maybe not, as people haven't been able to do that with the Watch lately even with AC+?), go home to put in a simple phone call to Amex to file a claim (no paperwork required), and Amex will reimburse you the $229 in the next billing cycle.
I've done it a couple of times with iPhones and it's very simple.
Actually, the answer to your question is yes, as you can walk in with your defective Watch/iPhone and walk out with a replacement within a couple of minutes.
Another way to put it would be
You're paying $49 to save $111 if it breaks and you have a valid claim.....
Yeah thats the main reason I am going to purchase AC+. My battery has been suffering recently and there is a reason they changed this. Plus I bought the
Watch on my Chase Freedom which also extends the warranty. Double win Yeah thats the main reason I am going to purchase AC+. My battery has been suffering recently and there is a reason they changed this. Plus I bought the
Then there was no need to purchase AC+. The standard warranty would cover depleted battery of 80% capacity or worse and your Chase card would cover that in the second year.
It covers 2 incidents of accidental damage, so I'm actually risking $49 plus $69 X 2 to not pay $229 X 2.... according to your logic. Which would save me $271 in the long run, so I'm not seeing where this is a problem.
Yes, if your historical risk of damaging your iDevices reflects that. Many people, however, don't buy AC+ based on their historical risk. Mostly it's based on FUD, peace of mind, or something that the standard warranty already covers (extended by many CCs), in which case the probability is strongly stacked against you in the long run.
You can't compare the Apple Watch to any other iDevice though, its a whole different product category and will be worn all day on your wrist, not kept in a book bag or pocket. So while I have never broken a Macbook, iMac, iPhone or iPad, they aren't subjected the the abuse that an Apple Watch will get (depending on your lifestyle).
My wife's nickname for me is the Hulk. I'm clumsy and quite literally run into everything. Prior the the Apple Watch I was wearing a Tag Heuer Formula 1 watch. Can't tell you how many times I hit that watch off of stuff. Luckily, the build quality is good enough where there was never damage, but I would still cringe. Since I got the Apple Watch Sport, it doesn't have the build quality of the SS watch with a sapphire display, so getting the AC+ was a no-brainer. If it turns out I don't use it, thats fine. I just won't buy it for the next Apple Watch I get. I've blown $50 on dumber stuff than AC+.