Apple May Replace Your Broken Fourth-Gen iPad With an iPad Air 2 Where Necessary

[MacRumors]

Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers now have the option of replacing a customer's broken fourth-generation iPad with an iPad Air 2, according to an internal memo distributed by Apple last week.

An excerpt of the memo obtained by MacRumors:

Starting March 30, iPad 4th generation whole unit repairs may be substituted to iPad Air 2 models. Apple's repair and order management tool will indicate for each repair if a substitution will take place. Please note the substitute part's color and capacity to ensure the customer understands what their replacement iPad whole unit will be.

The fourth-generation iPad was released in November 2012, so when a customer needs a replacement model, it's likely easier now for Apple to just give them a newer and more widely available iPad Air 2 in most cases.

Not every broken fourth-generation iPad will be replaced with an iPad Air 2. The decision will ultimately be decided on a case-by-case basis, likely depending upon availability of each tablet in the affected customer's region.

Article Link: Apple May Replace Your Broken Fourth-Gen iPad With an iPad Air 2 Where Necessary

 

[73b]

I have a 4th gen that barely works but at this point it's probably better just to get a Pro.

 

[emm386]

so... do they also replace old accessories that may be useless due to a different form factor?

 

[thisisnotmyname]

cue people intentionally breaking old iPads hoping to get a new one only to find out they just get a repair bill.

edit: as someone pointed out I used the wrong homophone.

 

[Wildkraut]

so... do they also replace old accessories that may be useless due to a different form factor?

Of course not, you should be grateful to have a new reason to buy new accessories.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

so... do they also replace old accessories that may be useless due to a different form factor?

how do I continuously underestimate the forum's ability to find the negative in absolutely everything?

 

[RyanA]

queue people intentionally breaking old iPads hoping to get a new one only to find out they just get a repair bill.

*cue*

 

[thisisnotmyname]

*cue*

whoops, thanks

 

[stevemiller]

Are any fourth gen iPads even still under warrantee??

 

[NinjaHERO]

Sounds good. Now update the 12.9 Inch please.

 

[Appleaker]

Now that this has been publicised I suspect they may decide not to in a lot of cases. Some people might even break their 4th gen to get the Air 2 because of the way it's been presented by the media.

 

[nviz22]

Are any fourth gen iPads even still under warrantee??

Not many. It's too old to carry a standard warranty in the US. If someone has a warranty, they can get the upgrade to the Air 2.

 

[sdz]

Sounds good. Now update the 12.9 Inch please.

What are you missing on the current one?

 

[ywshang]

Yeah, great. The repair charge is $500, labor+parts.

 

[gnasher729]

Are any fourth gen iPads even still under warrantee??

They don't have to. Apple does "out of warranty repairs", which are usually swapping broken products against non-broken products. I think the cost is supposed to just cover Apple's cost.

 

[macs4nw]

Are any fourth gen iPads even still under warrantee??

I was wondering if I was missing something here too..... those are 4½ year old tablets.....

 

[konqerror]

how do I continuously underestimate the forum's ability to find the negative in absolutely everything?

Given that businesses buy these things, it's a real issue if you have things like kiosk stands, cash register mounts, a mount and certification for your Boeing 767... It can easily cost more than the actual device. This is why real enterprise hardware companies like Dell and HP guarantee parts availability for 5 years after last sale date.

 

[Abazigal]

Are any fourth gen iPads even still under warrantee??

Unlikely. So after paying for the repair, you don't really save all that much compared to just getting a refurbished iPad Air 2. Better than nothing, but I also can't imagine anyone wanting to pay that much to repair such an old device (a 4-year old device!) vs just spending the money on brand new device.

It's really more for convenience to Apple than anything else.

 

[69Mustang]

Are any fourth gen iPads even still under warrantee??

Just gonna take the handoff from @RyanA Warranty is the word you wanted. A warrantee is the person in possession of the warranty.

On topic. This is a good thing. Apple can reduce inventory of the iPad Air 2 and customers can potentially get an upgraded iPad

 

[nviz22]

Yeah, great. The repair charge is $500, labor+parts.

If that's the case, people can get the 2017 9.7" iPad for as little as $299 + tax at Staples. I tried using the iPad 4 as a regular iPad and it was far too sluggish for my tastes.

 

[lkrupp]

Too bad some will take this article as established Apple policy. Wait for the meltdowns at Apple stores when those people don’t get the replacement they were ‘told’ they would get. Overtime for Paul Blart: Mall Cop.

 

[Phatpat]

Per this page, 4th gen iPad out of warranty repair is $299

https://support.apple.com/ipad/repair/service/pricing

Refurb 16gb iPad Air 2 is $319

If that's the case, people can get the 2017 9.7" iPad for as little as $299 + tax at Staples. I tried using the iPad 4 as a regular iPad and it was far too sluggish for my tastes.

 

[macsrcool1234]

What about the forgotten 3rd gen?

 

[nviz22]

Per this page, 4th gen iPad out of warranty repair is $299

https://support.apple.com/ipad/repair/service/pricing

Refurb 16gb iPad Air 2 is $319

Would rather buy a 32gb iPad 2017 for $299 in that case.

 

[gnasher729]

Per this page, 4th gen iPad out of warranty repair is $299

https://support.apple.com/ipad/repair/service/pricing

Refurb 16gb iPad Air 2 is $319

The out-of-warranty-repair costs the same, no matter what model you have. So if you had a 64GB, you get a 64GB for $299. That is, at least 64GB (if they don't build a model with the same storage, they can't give you less).