Apple to Charge $279 for iPhone X Screen Repairs and $549 for Other Damage Outside of Warranty

[Lepton]

On the iPhone Upgrade plan, I pay an extra $90 to get an iPhone X. Since the phone is a month late, I've made 13, not 12, payments on the iPhone 7. So that's an extra $40. Then when the 2018 phones come around, I'll have made 11, not the minimum 12 payments to get a new phone. So they will tell me if I want to get the upgrade, I must make that 12th payment, $50. So in total, I'm out $90 I would not have been if the phone was not a month late.

 

[5105973]

It's true this is making me sad.

To quote Samwise Gamgee: "don't go where I can't follow you"

The 2016 MacBook Pro was tough enough on my pocket book. The 7+ was livable, the 8+ is pushing the limits, and the X is out of the stratosphere...

For a good portion of our marriage and going as far back as our dating years, I got my husband’s tech hand me downs. We’ve enjoyed a recent few years of being able to splurge on new devices on not just ourselves but the kids and parents and in-laws too, after years of them taking our tech hand me downs.

However, I’ve noticed it’s once again making sense to returning to taking hubby’s hand me downs. I’ve already started by taking his last year’s iPad Pro as a Mother’s Day gift....or was it my birthday...I can’t remember. He got me an Apple Pencil and a pretty new case for it and it felt like a brand new gift and works great. I don’t mind hand me downs. But I had better nag him to get Apple Care on his new iPhone X if I want to take it over eventually, assuming I can stomach that notch. Can we still go back and add Apple Care to the preorder?

 

[ke-iron]

What does that have to do with an OLED screen? One is just a large sheet of glass shaped in a form, the other is an electronic device that gives light, touch and image. It also cost less to replace the cupholder in my car...
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Or just has better and cheaper phone insurance on their insurance plan and/or provider. You're actually crazy if you take AC+ when the alternatives are better and cheaper.

This is actually way cheaper than replacing the cup holder in my car. Mine which is currently broken and because of the design, Infiniti cannot just replace the insert with the moving flap. That piece I need comes with the entire kit that costs upwards of $500. I’ll stay with my broken cup holder.

 

[otiose2day]

I begin to agree with the long chorus of those who say that Apple has peaked. Two weeks ago, my wife's iPad screen cracked spontaneously. I was there when it happened. I saw it. It even made a noise when it happened. Within a few days, the crack spread, making the iPad unusable.
It was still under the extended warranty. I took it to an Apple store, and they acknowledged that the damage was covered. They then said it would cost us $49 to get the repair, because the crack was "spidering" instead of a clean, long crack.
I refused to pay the $49. The store manager came out. After a hassle, she agreed to waive the fee.
Two years ago, a MacBook Air failed two days beyond its warranty. They would not waive anything and charged me $500 to fix it. Okay.

Four or five years ago things were different. In 2012, my son's MacBook failed two weeks beyond the extended warranty. I expected to have to pay for the repair. The Apple Store clerk waived the expensive fees on his own authority.

A year earlier, in 2011, my iPhone screen cracked. I dropped it. I told Apple I dropped it and expected to be charged, as the crack was my fault. Apple said no problem about the drop: they would fix it for free anyway. They got it repaired and back to me within a day. No problem, no hassle.

Since 2012, something has changed. Given the very high prices and the equally dear fees for extended warranties, I would expect a little more leniency in dealing with customers. It makes them loyal and causes them to return.

 

[NightFox]

So many people on here saying you must be mad not to get AC... well do the maths. Assume you'd bought AC every year you've owned an iPhone - based on the number of times you've used it, has it saved you money over all those years? If it has, then AC is for you, you're probably damaging your phone more than the average person. But if not, why do you think that's suddenly going to change? You've got to take into account the cost of all those years you have AC but don't drop your phone - at the end of the day Apple (and all insurers) have done their homework here - it's quite simply gambling, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the house always wins at the end of the day.

I've had iPhones for 9 years and have never had any insurance, nor (luckily) have I needed it. If I drop my X then that's £500 I'll need to pay (and I'll be very, very pi**ed off), but that's still less than AC would have cost me over those 9 years. Of course, if you're accident prone, wouldn't be able to stump up £500 in one go, or just want the peace of mind, then that's your call. But big money tends to panic people into not thinking rationally.

 

[shrubberyuk]

Only if you can technically proof that it was faulty to begin with after 6 months also this is with your retailer and not Apple unless you bought it at the Apple Store.

All that you have to prove is the you haven't physically caused the damage yourself - anything else was either already there when you bought it or a component of unacceptable quality must have been used that has since failed.

It is just a case of sending to a registered company to check the phone out that will cost about £20-30. If you didn't cause the damage yourself Apple will have to repair the phone and refund the fee that you paid to have it checked out.

Most of the time, Apple will repair it in the first instance as they know that they will have to do it eventually anyway. Just don't walk away when they try and fob you off like most companies in the UK will. You have consumer rights - use them.

 

[ke-iron]

Loving my 8+.

But you wanted an iPhone X.

 

[djcingular]

Any concerns with the back also being glass? If that cracks, it’s a $99 premium, right?

I don't think the back matters. Guess I'll find out on the 3rd, lol!

 

[dragje]

Damn.. iPhone Xpensive.

You're lucky, in my country the iPhone X is even way more expensive....

256 model with Apple Care will cost you: $1,348.00 including tax
The same in my country well cost me: € 1.558,00 including tax

€ 1.558,00 is worth:`$1.809,32 a difference of $461,32

With this kind of prize difference I could buy an iPhone X + an Apple Watch 3 with Cellular in your country.....

I can afford buying an iPhone X, I simply choose not to, I don't find that it's worth $1.809,32.....

 

[ssspinball]

Ok what is it really? Take calls,messages ,email,browse the net play a few games and run some useful apps really it’s just a phone in the sense of a modern day mobile ‘communicator’. Does it really justify the price?

To me it is the single most important device I own that is also used the most each and every day. It is my main communication device, entertainment device, and my ONLY camera. The camera alone easily justifies it to me. Since I'm not a professional photographer, for similar prices I'd rather have a high end phone that excels at so many task than say a single-purpose DSLR.

 

[SashJ]

I’m probably asking for trouble by not getting Apple care. I’ve never broken a screen before, but those prices are terrifying me.

 

[ke-iron]

Or just buy a $30-$40 case.

I refuse to hide the beauty of this phone. I’m getting the Belkin screen protector and AppleCare plus.

 

[jdiamond]

Get the screen fixed or buy a SE instead!?

You can do better: I recently bought a 128GB iPhone 6S for $549, new.

 

[KingslayerG5]

Since 2012, something has changed.

Yeah, Apple became Microsoft.

Dang, I remember when it only cost $40 to replace the back of an iPhone 4. Screen repair was about $120-$150 for it. For those prices, might as well buy another flagship phone.

I really hope Angela Ahrendts or anyone with taste or high level of standards can take over once Tim decides to retire. Tim lacks vision or taste. Nice guy. But Apple doesn't a soft leader and YES MAN.

Apple becoming Microsoft since Steve Jobs died. Yuck to iOS7 and iPhone 6 generation designs.

 

[shrubberyuk]

So many people on here saying you must be mad not to get AC... well do the maths. Assume you'd bought AC every year you've owned an iPhone - based on the number of times you've used it, has it saved you money over all those years? If it has, then AC is for you, you're probably damaging your phone more than the average person. But if not, why do you think that's suddenly going to change? You've got to take into account the cost of all those years you have AC but don't drop your phone - at the end of the day Apple (and all insurers) have done their homework here - it's quite simply gambling, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the house always wins at the end of the day.

I've had iPhones for 9 years and have never had any insurance, nor (luckily) have I needed it. If I drop my X then that's £500 I'll need to pay (and I'll be very, very pi**ed off), but that's still less than AC would have cost me over those 9 years. Of course, if you're accident prone, wouldn't be able to stump up £500 in one go, or just want the peace of mind, then that's your call. But big money tends to panic people into not thinking rationally.

You seem to be conveniently ignoring the fact that the X (and 8) now also has a glass back.

If you drop it then you will now most probably either break the front, the back or both.

I haven't bought AC before as the odds of breakage (and the cost to repair the screen) were acceptable to me. That all changes with the X.

 

[techwhiz]

Ouch!

 

[Kaibelf]

Unapologetically user-unfriendly and greedy.

Do you know of any company that gives very cheap parts and labor for items that are outside of warranty?

 

[stulaw11]

So many people on here saying you must be mad not to get AC... well do the maths. Assume you'd bought AC every year you've owned an iPhone - based on the number of times you've used it, has it saved you money over all those years? If it has, then AC is for you, you're probably damaging your phone more than the average person. But if not, why do you think that's suddenly going to change? You've got to take into account the cost of all those years you have AC but don't drop your phone - at the end of the day Apple (and all insurers) have done their homework here - it's quite simply gambling, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, but the house always wins at the end of the day.

I've had iPhones for 9 years and have never had any insurance, nor (luckily) have I needed it. If I drop my X then that's £500 I'll need to pay (and I'll be very, very pi**ed off), but that's still less than AC would have cost me over those 9 years. Of course, if you're accident prone, wouldn't be able to stump up £500 in one go, or just want the peace of mind, then that's your call. But big money tends to panic people into not thinking rationally.

Ive never broken a phone or had Applecare either.

BUT saying that, the phone is now glass on back too (yes the 4 series was, but the back glass was all of what, a $50 repair AND you could do it yourself in 2 seconds with 2 screws too for less as it just slid off), AND the repair cost without Applecare has never been anywhere near $550 either. You never saw repair cost over $350 on models before the 8/X; so it was a decent gamble before.

For $550 back glass break you could buy Applecare ($199) and pay the deductible for general damage ($99) nearly 2 full times.

 

[Dboy1704]

If you buy a new iPhone every year, doesn't AC kind of a waste (of 1 yr) or do they pro-rate it? Thanks in advance.

 

[stulaw11]

If you buy a new iPhone every year, doesn't AC kind of a waste (of 1 yr) or do they pro-rate it? Thanks in advance.

If you buy it for $199 up front (not iphone upgrade plan monthly)?

Yeh, they prorate it so you would get the unused 50% back, so $99.50, minus a cancellation charge of 10% of what you get back (or $25, the lesser, which is 10% here), but that is only like $9.95. so you still get $89.55 back.

If you cancel more than thirty (30) days after your receipt of this Plan, you will receive a pro rata refund of the original purchase price. The pro rata refund is based on the percentage of unexpired Plan Term from the Plan’s date of purchase, less (a) a cancellation fee of twenty-five ($25) dollars or ten percent (10%) of the pro-rata amount, whichever is less, and (b) the value of any benefits provided to you under the Plan

 

[Kaibelf]

AppleCare prices should be cheaper

Why exactly? Shouldn't the prices be the maximum that the market will bear? Apple's not a nonprofit and never was. Would you open a third party repair shop and offer your services for less than you need to?
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Ok what is it really? Take calls,messages ,email,browse the net play a few games and run some useful apps really it’s just a phone in the sense of a modern day mobile ‘communicator’. Does it really justify the price?

No one is forcing you to buy one. There are a wide range of feature phones out there if you dislike this price point, and the world doesn't have to adjust to your personal use case/price point wishes.
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Yeah, Apple became Microsoft.
Dang, I remember when it only cost $40 to replace the back of an iPhone 4. Screen repair was about $120-$150 for it. For those prices, might as well buy another flagship phone.

1. The back of an iPhone 4 was a little piece of glass and nothing more.
2. The new screens are not only far more advanced and expensive, but also larger. Why in the world would they cost as little as a much more primitive, cheaper, and smaller old commodity part?

 

[Dboy1704]

If you buy it for $199 up front (not iphone upgrade plan monthly)?

Yeh, they prorate it so you would get 50% back minus a cancellation charge of 10% of what you get back, but that is only like $8 or $9.

Thank you @stulaw11
I just saw that from Apple site as well. I'm not on IUP (paid full price) and I wonder do they do anything differently for IUP plan? Since they pro-rate this, AC is more attractive to me now.

 

[Rum_Becker]

This is the reason why I just use cheap phones like the Samsung A5 that I got for $60 brand new and iPhone SE that I got for $10 Brand new. In Canada the cost of ownership of the iPhone X would be $2200 all in (Tax, quick charger, AC+, Service fee for 1 exchange), Even if you forgo the AC+ the price will still be $1727. There is even more savings considering I only have to pay $2 for a screen protector and case since I dont mind using cheap ebay stuff for a device that has cost me almost nothing. I bet with the iPhone X most people will be spending hundreds of dollars on accessories.

 

[tdar]

Given this news I will most likely order the AppleCare + soon after my iPhone X arrives next Friday. I have owned iPhones all the way back to the 3G in 2008. Never broken a screen. (KNOCK ON WOOD- got to cover the fates) Do not use cases.

But the price of that changing is getting too high to risk. For a fixed price of $199 +$29, I can know I'm protected. I will be trading in this phone in 10 months when the 2018 phones come out anyway, and I believe that AC+ is cancelable with a prorate of the full 24 months - the number of months used. SO it's not going to cost me very much to be safe.

 

[stulaw11]

Thank you @stulaw11
I just saw that from Apple site as well. I'm not on IUP (paid full price) and I wonder do they do anything differently for IUP plan? Since they pro-rate this, AC is more attractive to me now.

There's only 1 Applecare total, its the same.

This is what I was planning on doing as well since I trade up yearly. I can eat the $9.95 just fine.

For $99.50 for the year (until trade-up next lineup) plus $29/99, I'll take that over a $279/550 repair bill.

Given this news I will most likely order the AppleCare + soon after my iPhone X arrives next Friday. I have owned iPhones all the way back to the 3G in 2008. Never broken a screen. (KNOCK ON WOOD- got to cover the fates) Do not use cases.

But the price of that changing is getting too high to risk. For a fixed price of $199 +$29, I can know I'm protected. I will be trading in this phone in 10 months when the 2018 phones come out anyway, and I believe that AC+ is cancelable with a prorate of the full 24 months - the number of months used. SO it's not going to cost me very much to be safe.

Yup see my post 146 above. You would get $89.55 back even if the new phones next year are still a 12 month cycle. A bit more if 11 month.

So it's not even $199+29 but really more like $108 (Assuming 12 months for sake of numbers, you're paying in half and then eating the tiny cancellation fee) plus $29. An even easier choice at $140 vs $279; or $200 vs $550.

Ok you pay tax on $199 in some states too, but we're talking a few bucks on $199.