AppleCare+ for New 16-Inch MacBook Pro Costs $399

[Total Respray]

My own approach towards Apple Care is never to get it, because:
1. It is overly expensive for what it is, with a high deductible when you make a claim - bringing the total cost of Apple Care even higher than just the policy fee;
2. I have household insurance that covers loss or damage with a reasonable excess;
3. I generally trust Apple products will last - I still use an 8 year old MBP;
4. I tend to avoid Gen 1 Apple products, including the M1 Pro/Max architecture;
5. Each year I have the product, depreciation means the Apple Care:residual value ratio is even lower;
6. While not an option for most, I purchase my products in Switzerland, where local laws mean I get a 2 year warranty included; and,
7. If the product fails, I can put my saved money or insurance money to buying the latest generation of the product rather than a repair or refurbished replacement of an item that could be out of date.

 

[Mr.PT]

Nope. It doesn't "add" 3 years of warranty coverage - it only adds 2 years to the included 1-year manufacturer warranty. (Yes, it does add accidental damage coverage for 3 years)

This is a pretty bad proposition from a risk/reward perspective, but that is the case with most insurance. As I learned many years ago in Econ 101, insurance usually only makes financial sense to cover "catastrophic" losses from which you could not financially recover (e.g. your home, or car accident liability). You can "self insure" your Apple products by avoiding AppleCare+ and banking the savings to use toward upgrades or the occasional repair or replacement. In the long run it's cheaper.

in addition, if you purchase on a credit card that doubles manufacturers' warranties, you get a second year of warranty coverage for free, making AppleCare+ an even worse proposition.

This gets even more ridiculous in EU where you get 2 years manufacturer’s warranty, and if you live in a country without official Apple Store, there’s no + option (2 accident/year) coverage option, but the price is the same…in IPad case (2 year only) is real useless…

 

[vinay427]

I found it worth buying AppleCare+ this generation, especially as many credit cards in the US extend the extended warranty and it’s the first-generation of a major redesign with various unknowns in longevity. I’ll end up with a 5 year warranty and 3 years of accidental damage protection, which I consider enough to justify spending an additional ~10% of my laptop’s purchase price, even considering the AC+ accidental damage deductibles.

Homeowner’s insurance that covers electronics tends to deal with accidental damage and/or theft, not warranty issues. This likely vary by country, but this seems to be the case in many from what I can tell.

 

[Mr.PT]

I agree that 'extended warranty' type insurance is generally not worth it in the long run. I have never purchased AppleCare before, and have yet to regret not doing so… but I am also able to do most repairs myself. And I have replaced screens, motherboards, cases, etc. But as @The Clark states, the repairability of recent Apple laptops has been greatly reduced. Apple *should* cover manufacturing defects, and they often (begrudgingly) do, but not necessarily before a lot of users have had to pay out of pocket for repairs or have already chosen the replace the machine.

Also worth noting: AppleCare+ (U.S.) adds two years of coverage to the standard warranty (and 2 incidents of accidental damage every 12 months) for three years of total coverage. And I'm not sure where "20% of the purchase price" comes from. The base price of the 16-inch is $2499, so AC+ is 16% of that price. For the standard 'Max' 16-inch at $3499, AC+ is 11% of the purchase price. AC+ for the 14-inch is $279, so 14% for the base model and 11% for the "better" $2499 model. Annually, that's 3.6% - 5.3% of the purchase price. I think that's still pretty steep, but particularly with all the new technology in these laptops, I would be tempted to purchase the coverage, particularly for a heavily upgraded machine. And the accidental damage coverage is a nice bonus for anyone with kids, pets, or a knack for clumsiness.

Only AC+ is useful, but you can only get those in countries with Official Apple Stores!? Very frustrating…and as it is pretty useless in EU.

 

[Mr.PT]

The way I've reasoned with paying the extra $399 for AppleCare+ is: My laptop runs non-stop for 10 hours a day Monday through Friday and several hours on the weekend. I need my laptop with me at the office, on location and even when I travel. The probabilty of something happening to it within my field is very high so the extra coverage is not very expensive for me.

$399 usd for 3 years of coverage works out to
$133 a year
$11 a month
$2.55 a week
.36 cents a day

In US first year is compulsory, no? So you should divide by 2 years.
In EU divide by 1…not that great, specially if you can’t get the + coverage (2 incidents/year)

 

[bushman4]

Price is reasonable at $399
Remember this is a first generation chip and being it’s a sizable investment the cost to repair it without Applecare+ is going to be high

 

[bsolar]

In US first year is compulsory, no? So you should divide by 2 years.
In EU divide by 1…not that great, specially if you can’t get the + coverage (2 incidents/year)

From the way the parent poster described the situation I think the discussion was more about accidental damage. The baseline 1 year warranty in the US and 2 year guarantee in the EU only cover manufacturing issues, not accidental damage.

 

[bsolar]

Price is reasonable at $399
Remember this is a first generation chip and ring it’s a sizable investment the cost to repair it without Applecare+ is going to be high

Manufacturing issues are covered already in the baseline warranty/guarantee. Furthermore, if a serious manufacturing issue arises Apple can and should offer an extended service program.

 

[Einkoro]

Costco does not include AC+ at no additional charge.

Unless it’s country specific or changed in the past year all the MacBooks included AppleCare+ in store. It was the reason I picked up my previous 16” there as the price was the same as from Apple minus the AC+.

 

[mosh.jinton]

I've generally skipped AppleCare and never had an issue. The first 2-3 years I've never had problems with an Apple device. What's changed my mind is now the ability to have indefinite AppleCare for $100/year (for the 14 inch). Over the 7 years I've had my MacBook Pro, the track pad has developed an issue and the battery has died. I had hardware issues with my black MacBook years ago at about the 4 year mark. All of these items cost hundreds to have serviced by Apple. While I probably won't do better than breaking even, knowing that at any point I can bring my device to Apple and have the repairs fully covered is worth it for me. I definitely don't plan to take advantage of it for the first few years, though (hopefully!). I do wish there was a lower option that didn't cover accidental damage - that never an issue for me.

Can you link to more info about this $100/year option? Can't find much online about it

 

[LV426]

Costco includes AppleCare+ at no additional charge on the Macs so provided they don’t stop doing that this generation I know where I’ll be going to pick one up.

Are you sure? Their website appears to indicate that the manufacturer guarantee will be extended to 2 years. No mention there of AppleCare+.

NB, prior to the UK’s departure from the EU, regulations meant that retailers had to provide 2 years’ cover for electronics goods. I couldn’t tell you what the current legal situation is.

 

[Flight Plan]

...M1 treat never comes back....

Trick!

Honestly, given that these devices are unrepairable for simple things like Memory or Storage failures (common points of failure on any computer), it's worth getting. That said, I really think they need to offer Apple Care up to 4-5 years on some of these devices. $4,500 on a laptop (almost fully spec'd) and you only get 3 years of warranty? Nah. You could just buy a new MacBook each year instead.

For laptops, the 4th year and beyond have exponentially rising risks of catastrophic failure. Apple knows this. Why would they cover it for more than 3 years? They would just lose money.

 

[Flight Plan]

...why spend $100 on microfiber clothes...

My tailor now refuses to make any more microfiber suits for me. He hates getting the pants to fit me. But he always did have fun making those microfiber ties!

I'll wipe my car with it and then my arse before stopping by the apple store. I'll enjoy watching the Apple Genius inspect the cloth for damage.

Well, one Apple Genius in one of my local stores had some major bad body odor and bad breath. I almost died just trying to buy a new case! That dude certainly would not have noticed (or smelled) any damage.

 

[Alwis]

If the purchase price of your device is not going to break your bank, which I think it is not otherwise you wouldn’t have bought the machine in the first place, besides a so called ”peace of mind” I don’t think you should buy this insurance plan.

That is exactly how I handle all insurance, only insure what has the potential to ruin you...

Worst case, when I break my Mac or my iPhone, I have to buy a new device, which is a limited risk. I rather save the money on those insurances and have it available should need be. When summit up the last 20 or so years, this payed out for me.

 

[farmerabc]

I really don't think we are comparing like with like when we consider AppleCare+ in the US and in the EU. In the EU your basic rights cover you against manufacturing defects for longer than the mandatory 2 year warranty they offer.

I can't remember what the exact wording is but basically things sold in the EU need to work for as long as you would reasonably expect them to, accounting for normal wear and tear. For a laptop that is quite a long time. I know people who have had major repairs done on 4-5 year old MBPs, with no AppleCare, and the cost covered completely by Apple.

This is one of the main reasons why, even when you account for tax, Apple products are more expensive here than in the US.

 

[G4DPII]

Pft. My home owner's insurance comes with a protection plan for all electronics and a 250 dollar deductible. Bite me with this overpriced nonsense, Apple.

Exactly this, get things insured on your contents policy. Many are NEW for OLD, so you actually get a new version or the current equivalent not some fobbed off refurbished unit as Apple do to customers.. All for about a few £/$ a month.

Apple charge so much as they know so many are too lazy to checks things out for themselves.

 

[Steve121178]

Exactly this, get things insured on your contents policy. Many are NEW for OLD, so you actually get a new version or the current equivalent not some fobbed off refurbished unit as Apple do to customers.. All for about a few £/$ a month.

Apple charge so much as they know so many are too lazy to checks things out for themselves.

People buy Apple Care as it's peace of mind and you know full well that your expensive purchase is covered for 2-3 years (depending on product) directly with Apple who have an amazing track record with customer service.

Anyone who's used Apple Care knows how useful it is when you do have to make a claim. Like any policy, it's something you hope you never have to use, and you probably never will. But when you do, you will be so glad you have it.

Anyone that's tried to claim for a damaged/faulty piece of tech, particularly a computer, on their home insurance knows full well it's rarely straight forward and can take weeks to get your claim approved. If you rely on your device for work you simply don't have time to mess around with a company trying their best to not approve your claim.

If I was buying a £2000-£3000+ Mac today, then adding Apple Care is a no-brainer. It's not a question of how much AC costs, it's about how easy & quickly I can get my machine back online and in a working state should anything go wrong.

It's very much a personal decision.

 

[Mr.PT]

From the way the parent poster described the situation I think the discussion was more about accidental damage. The baseline 1 year warranty in the US and 2 year guarantee in the EU only cover manufacturing issues, not accidental damage.

My bad then. Unfortunately as I can’t get the + coverage (no Official Apple Store country) AppleCare only is pretty much frustratingly useless…

 

[bsolar]

That is exactly how I handle all insurance, only insure what has the potential to ruin you...

It also depends how deeply you are willing to involve yourself in an issue instead of letting the insurance deal with it. Especially when dealing with third-parties an insurance might lead to a much less onerous commitment on your part.

As example I had to deal with a claim for damages against me and although the original request was well within what I could afford my insurance dealt with the whole issue, challenged the request much better than I could by myself thanks to the professionals they employ and ultimately led to the claim being reduced to less than half what was originally requested.

On top of the financial saving on the claim itself, through the whole process my involvement was limited to notifying the insurance of the issue, receiving a couple updates from the insurance and acknowledging the resolution.

 

[ntr7ptr]

It's only 20% of the base price. If you end up specc'ing the machine higher (which many ppl do), the % decreases making it a bit better...

Also FWIW, while I'm generally a believer that getting extended warranties from most companies are not worth it, if it's ever worth it, I think it's with AppleCare+. Partially because of difficulty / cost of repairs (which others have noted). But also because in my experience, Apple and AppleCare+ differs from almost every other Company's extended warranty program, where they're trying to find a way to DENY your claim. In my experience, Apple goes out of their way for their AppleCare+ customers to find a way to APPROVE your claim. As long as you're reasonable and don't treat the Apple employee terribly / give them a reason not to help you, I've found they're extremely generous and want to find a way to approve claims.

It's not for everyone (definitely can't make a blanket statement that everyone should get it). And there are many small factors along the edges that may nudge one way or the other (% cost of new price, likelihood there might be an issue (Eg. Gen 1 of new design), total $ cost of a repair and whether that would really hurt your finances, your mental temperament and potential peace of mind / less stress of having it and knowing you're covered for a big expense, how clumsy you are, whether the device is mostly just used at home or you commute with it frequently, whether you have little kids / pets who might damage vs you live alone / all-adult household, etc.)

I spec’ed out my 14” and was gonna wait a bit to decide on the AC+. I never buy it. You two are making great points on both sides. I’m leaning against but might end up paying “for the feeling”. I want this one to last a long time.

I purchased mine with Apple Card, which saves me 3%. Maybe I’ll consider that a subsidy for Apple Care+ …

 

[rnizlek]

Can you link to more info about this $100/year option? Can't find much online about it

Not sure where you are located - it is not available in all countries. Here's a general overview of where it is available - this isn't particularly clearly worded but references the monthly option:

Get new AppleCare coverage after your AppleCare plan expires - Apple Support

If your AppleCare plan expired recently, you might be able to start new AppleCare coverage for your device.

support.apple.com

The best place to look is on the page that is selling the Macbooks themselves. Pick a configuration, add it to the cart, and you will see this on the next screen (for the 14" - the 16" annual price is higher):

The page Learn More links to is https://www.apple.com/support/products/mac/ but there isn't a lot of good info on the monthly option there. It is just not well advertised overall.

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I am considering the yearly option for my new 14". I hardly ever keep a product for 3 years these days, usually sell or trade it in prior to that so the discount for paying ahead for 3 years would be wasted on me.

 

[eXoenDo]

This insurance plan costs 20% of the purchase price. Maximum payout for the insurance policy (only for 1-2 extra year) is the cost of your device - actually less since it is usually a refurbished unit, and depreciation. Comparing with other types of insurance, the premium is really high here. If the purchase price of your device is not going to break your bank, which I think it is not otherwise you wouldn’t have bought the machine in the first place, besides a so called ”peace of mind” I don’t think you should buy this insurance plan.

i know this is an unpopular opinion but the money I saved by not paying for AppleCare has saved me money that can buy me several new Apple gadgets already over the 15 years of owning Apple products. If there is any manufacturing defects from Apple, it’s their fault and they should cover it or recall the product. I’m not going to pay 20% more for a feeling.

In the past i've had multiple issues with MacBooks from Logic Board Failures to Video Card Failures to other types of catastrophic failures. With AppleCare on each device, Apple repaired most machines when possible but they have ended up giving me complete replacements twice with newer machines.

Oh, with regard to the battery. A technician will run a test. If it fails, then a replacement battery is done under warranty. If it passes, but still won't run the system very long, it's called wear and is not covered by AC+.

I've found generally they are VERY lenient on this if you have AppleCare+ and tend to replace anyway to make the customer happy.

Friday night I was working at home on my newspaper using my 16-inch Intel MacBook Pro. I got up and was out of the room for maybe four minutes. I came back and my screen had died. I was planning on trading it in on a new 16-inch MacBook Pro. I had Apple Care+, so it's costing me around $100 to get fixed. Otherwise, the repair would have cost me around 800 bucks. I'm getting my repaired laptop back in a couple of days and will sell it for enough to cover about half the cost of the new laptop I ordered on Monday. I was glad to have the coverage when I needed it.

Unless you had some sort of physical damage, if it failed on it's own that would be covered by AppleCare+ with no deductible. (Although maybe the $100 is the annual fee you paid?)

 

[ProfessionalFan]

I've found generally they are VERY lenient on this if you have AppleCare+ and tend to replace anyway to make the customer happy.

I agree with this. Apple treats AppleCare+ customers a bit different which is understandable. If you're under the regular limited hardware coverage that comes with the machine, don't expect them to go above and beyond to make you happy. If you're a + customer, they are more inclined to do everything possible even if they don't legally have to.

 

[dumastudetto]

AppleCare+ includes streamlined access to expert support, express replacements, and ultimate peace-of-mind. It's always a worthwhile purchase.