Applecare on a Desktop?

[Ifti]

I've always had laptops in the past, even though they are mainly used on my home desk all the time, for which I have always purchased Applecare, mainly as a 'piece of mind' over anything else.
Saying that, I once had to use Applecare on a MBP16 where external drives kept randomly disconnecting. The entire mainboard was replaced - and that was in the last 2 weeks of Applecare coming to an end, so a 3 year old laptop......was very glad AppleCare covered that!

Now I am looking to purchase my first Mac desktop (M4 Max Studio with ASD) I'm wondering whether I should get AppleCare for both these items?
My experience above tells me I should - just in case - but then I wonder whether it's really needed on a desktop that doesnt move.....?

Did you get Applecare with your desktop??

I am entitled to educational discount, which helps take the sting out somewhat!

 

[Canadia69]

Wondering the same thing for my newly received M4 max… had Apple care on my 2019 mbp and only used it once for a loose thunderbolt port..but considering this is stationary idk if its worth it

 

[DamonOrl]

I go it with my M4 Max Mac Studio for piece of mind if something goes wrong outside warranty. I’ve always owned iMacs before this and always got it as well. With the iMac more so as it covers the display.

 

[JSRinUK]

I got AppleCare with my Studio because it cost me almost £4,000. Maybe I don’t need it, but it’s not a massive extra after spending that kind of money.

If I’d bought a £600 mini, I wouldn’t have bothered.

 

[tigo013]

Don't think twice. Pick it up, the apple care for the machine.
Their hardware is solid till it breaks - the apple care will pay itself immediately with the first claim that you do.

 

[blen]

Not worth it

 

[tigo013]

Absolutely not worth until something happens with the machine. Had my studio motherboard (CPU & RAM) + ports replaced as they became faulty 18months after picking up the machine. The apple care that cost a few hundred - had the parts replaced for free. Cost of the repair was about $4K!

Applecare is a personal preference matter!

 

[OldMike]

Applecare is a personal preference matter!

Very well said. As I get hit each month with AppleCare coverage for all of the family's devices - I've been more hesitant to blindly get AppleCare.

That being said, I think for a couple of years after the one year warranty it is not a bad idea if you purchase something expensive. After that, the cost to replace with a used device goes way down. Also many times you can pick up a replacement that can be covered by an included few year warranty if purchased from something like Ebay Certified Refurbished resellers.

When deciding on AppleCare, I really ask myself if I would be ok with replacing an item out of my own pocket if it broke in the second year.

Obviously, self insuring and not paying AppleCare is the best move in the long run. Most of my Macs and Apple devices have never had a problem. That's why AppleCare is a profit center - but I still hedge my bets by purchasing it at times.

 

[Ifti]

Thank you for all your comments - I think I'll most likely get it for both the Studio and the ASD - I believe it is 3 years coverage for both? As someone stated above, these are expensive devices, with high repair costs!
After the 3 years, one can always re-assess on whether to extend further or not.....

 

[xraydoc]

For myself, I like to have AppleCare on almost all my Apple devices. I don't bother with things like AppleTV, since replacing it is nearly the cost of a couple years of AppleCare and I'd prefer to just buy a newer one anyway if one were to die. But for the expensive stuff -- Macs (both desktop and laptop), displays, watch, phone, iPad, etc., I will always buy the AppleCare. And for the things I'm able to purchase through work, they require AppleCare as well.

 

[Smoke Bar]

Given the cost of my new Mac Studio M3U the £169 for three years peace of mind was a no brainer really.

 

[arc of the universe]

I've always had laptops in the past, even though they are mainly used on my home desk all the time, for which I have always purchased Applecare, mainly as a 'piece of mind' over anything else.
Saying that, I once had to use Applecare on a MBP16 where external drives kept randomly disconnecting. The entire mainboard was replaced - and that was in the last 2 weeks of Applecare coming to an end, so a 3 year old laptop......was very glad AppleCare covered that!

Now I am looking to purchase my first Mac desktop (M4 Max Studio with ASD) I'm wondering whether I should get AppleCare for both these items?
My experience above tells me I should - just in case - but then I wonder whether it's really needed on a desktop that doesnt move.....?

Did you get Applecare with your desktop??

I am entitled to educational discount, which helps take the sting out somewhat!

the only times that i have ever needed repair on any apple device is long after the initial coverage (2 year apple care period) is over.
the point is, however, that if you dont buy it now, you cant add it later.
so, while 1st two years for ANY apple device has very few if any repairs, if you are looking for keeping your device for, say, 5 years, or 7 years, then figure the monthly price X that amount of months and see if the likely repairs (screen, etc) are still worth it.
if you only keep your device for, say, 4 years, then, (except for battery replacement for battery powered devices), its a toss up (repair-wise).
for any device that can get apple care + coverage, its a different calculation depending on how careless or apt to be stolen it might be. for any device that you can get apple care + for, I would always get it.

 

[Mrbobb]

I understand what OP is saying. Desktop vs portable.

I can counter-argue that u may want to AppleCare your expensive desktop but buy one of those insurance thingies for your portable instead because AppleCare doesn't do physical nor water damage, if affordable.

 

[splifingate]

Peace of Mind.

Nothing AAPL I've ever purchased as New has needed a repair/replacement, but each has always carried the AC rider. Interestingly, none have failed after their AC Expired.

Yet, devices do become broken (or fail to perform), at some eventual point in time.

An interesting case-in-point to support the thesis that 'desktops' are less/not prone to breakage is the recent sale of the "fully-functional" #91 Apple-1 at auction.

IIRC, it was 'meticulously-restored', but it is still functional. I believe the original Apple Care has Expired on that unit

Nevertheless . . . when you hear hoofbeats, think of easily-dropped iPhones not stationary Studios.

It's up to the individual to decide if they are more comfortable with some form of failure insurance.

 

[crw]

I get AppleCare mainly for predicatbility. I know how much it costs but a repair could be an unexpected large bill. It has helped me over the years on desktops:

• Intel Mac Mini: 10gb Ethernet port failed. Motherboard replaced. Close to $1k bill avoided
• iMac 27”: Replaced display free of charge due to a yellow screen tint
• Another iMac: replaced faulty memory DIMM
• Power Mac G4: Replaced failed SuperDrive
• Not a desktop but I also just had my Pro Display XDR replaced due to a faulty fan

This is over about 20 years.

 

[BotchQue]

NO company, whether its for computers, cars, watches or snow tires, will offer an extended warranty if they won't make money overall by doing so, that's what businesses do. And they have THE STATISTICS to back up their decision. I have never paid for an "extended warranty" in my life.
However, the "comfort" that an EW gives to some people is a factor, I admit that; and it may be a larger factor if you have just one computer and depend on it for your livelihood. In fact Consumer Reports did state that EW were worth it for laptops/tablets, although that recc was from 4 or 5 years ago.
I'm retired and have the ability to replace/repair any new tech I buy, and enough of a cushion to afford it, so I go with the statistical side and don't buy EW for anything, but your own situation may be different. FWIW.

Oh, and I'm curious (if anyone has both), what's the difference between an EW for, say, an iMac M3, and a Macbook M3? Or similar?

 

[MisterSavage]

but then I wonder whether it's really needed on a desktop that doesnt move.....?

I don't think that should be part of the equation. My ASD that never moves had a faulty logic board. The replaced it and my screen and said that it would have been over $1K. I was very happy that I had AppleCare.

 

[mdhaus72]

If someone is dropping several thousand dollars on a new Mac Studio, I think it's totally rational to buy an AppleCare plan for it for $60 a year. Just one claim over the course of a couple years would save you money...and if you don't use it, it's not like you're breaking the bank compared to what you paid for your machine.

 

[Ifti]

Ended up getting it for both the Studio and the Display

 

[benwiggy]

Like all insurance, it's a bet. Apple is betting you that your Mac won't need a repair. You're betting them that it will.

The amount I've paid out in repairs over 25 years is less than the cost of AppleCare for those years.

 

[picpicmac]

NO company, whether its for computers, cars, watches or snow tires, will offer an extended warranty if they won't make money overall by doing so

That's true of all insurance companies too.

Yet... I bet you still have fire/property insurance of some sort.

 

[richpjr]

The only thing I have ever gotten Apple Care on was an iPhone and I don't bother anymore. I am pretty careful with my devices and the amount I have saved on not paying for it has far more than paid off the one time I cracked the screen on an iPad and had to pay to get it fixed.

My daughter, on the other hand, is a destroyer of devices and she has it on her phone and has used it about a half a dozen times over the past 10 years. Sticking your phone in your back pocket and sitting on it is a just a recipe for disaster!

 

[H_D]

Got AC+ on everything Apple and wish I could get it for the keyboard and mouse as well. Mostly desktops are safer than laptops but I had two iMacPro with defective boards, the replacement almost as expensive as a used iMP, and got them fixed on AC+. It’s a worry-free insurance that I wish others would offer as well.

 

[picpicmac]

wish I could get it for the keyboard

I've got an 18 year old Apple keyboard (came with an iMac) that still works. A couple of keys can act sticky once in a while, but otherwise it works fine.

 

[Sharky II]

I didn't bother when I got my M1 Ultra at release in 2022. No issues, except for some light whine if you place your ear next to it...