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Case vs. AppleCare+

Dormammu

Dormammu

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Sep 21, 2013
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A mysterious location in the middle of nowhere
I'll be going for an iPhone 7 Plus and was just pondering whether or not I want to get a case, or go case-less with AC+. I really love the feel of the iPhone in the hand. On the other hand I have certainly had small accidents with my current 6S Plus where the case I currently use may (or may not have) saved me from a broken phone/screen. Because of the latter I'll probably opt for a case ... But oh boy the matte black iPhone is going to be gorgeous.

But how would you reason things if you were in this situation?
 
Aml216 said:
I'll be going for an iPhone 7 Plus and was just pondering whether or not I want to get a case, or go case-less with AC+. I really love the feel of the iPhone in the hand. On the other hand I have certainly had small accidents with my current 6S Plus where the case I currently use may (or may not have) saved me from a broken phone/screen. Because of the latter I'll probably opt for a case ...

But how would you reason things if you were in this situation?
Click to expand...

I purchase AppleCare with every iPhone because:

  1. It covers everything in the box (earpods, lightning cable, charger, phone). Apple replaced my ear pods once (right ear went out) and a frayed charging cable (most people don't know the cable is covered)
  2. The hassle free repair/replace for any parts that go bad. Apple replaced my entire iPhone 6+ recently instead of just the battery that was starting to show bad health.
  3. Accidental damage (which I have yet to claim because it's always been in a case and I don't drop my phone).
 
Aml216 said:
I'll be going for an iPhone 7 Plus and was just pondering whether or not I want to get a case, or go case-less with AC+. I really love the feel of the iPhone in the hand. On the other hand I have certainly had small accidents with my current 6S Plus where the case I currently use may (or may not have) saved me from a broken phone/screen. Because of the latter I'll probably opt for a case ... But oh boy the matte black iPhone is going to be gorgeous.

But how would you reason things if you were in this situation?
Click to expand...

With a screen replacement only being $29 now I'm going iPhone upgrade program which includes apple care + and no case. I'm excited.
 
Forgot to add AppleCare with my phone; shouldn't be a problem to add it afterwards, right?

Seriously, I wouldn't think twice about buying it for a new phone. It isn't that expensive and comes really handy if something happens, especially now that the replacement costs are that small.
 
Aml216 said:
I'll be going for an iPhone 7 Plus and was just pondering whether or not I want to get a case, or go case-less with AC+. I really love the feel of the iPhone in the hand. On the other hand I have certainly had small accidents with my current 6S Plus where the case I currently use may (or may not have) saved me from a broken phone/screen. Because of the latter I'll probably opt for a case ... But oh boy the matte black iPhone is going to be gorgeous.

But how would you reason things if you were in this situation?
Click to expand...
Apple care has a few restrictions. Just showing up every week with a broken screen will only work once a year or something like that. Keep that in mind. The case is there each day. In comparison. a broken screen is now $30 to replace.
 
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I always get AC+. I've replaced my iPhone 6+ twice already and each replacement was free. I now have a brand new iPhone 6+ with a perfect battery (the battery on the prior one was not performing well) that I can give to my wife.
 
RMSko said:
I always get AC+. I've replaced my iPhone 6+ twice already and each replacement was free. I now have a brand new iPhone 6+ with a perfect battery (the battery on the prior one was not performing well) that I can give to my wife.
Click to expand...
I always want Apple care, but I just can't afford it. I put my money in the product and then some, and I don't regret it, but I regret not having more for the extra spoils. By the time I have money again it's too late to order apple care for the product.

My next iMac will 100% have apple care, I saved up for it.. I just can't risk something being wrong and being brushed off like a non-apple-care customer. It has to last me many years. The first few years it has to prove itself. My next phone will have Apple care as well. I had some protection on my 4 and 5s, but i never really liked it. So bulky! The 6s plus i have now only has the leather case. And I am - i really am - quite careful with the devices, but i am more and more getting used to it being another tool on my belt. It should not bother me there is rain, or dirt, or wind, or .. It should just be a phone like the bricks we used to have that we didn't care too much for if it got a scratch. The leather case fixes the scratching problem, but a proper drop, or heavy rain .. probably not. I am hoping the 7 plus in the future will come with apple care for me, and I feel i can be a tiny bit less careful and be more like casey neistat who says they're tools to help tell the story, and not worry too much about breaking something to get that done. I have no budget. Well, just enough for apple care :)
 
Armen said:
I purchase AppleCare with every iPhone because:

  1. It covers everything in the box (earpods, lightning cable, charger, phone). Apple replaced my ear pods once (right ear went out) and a frayed charging cable (most people don't know the cable is covered)
  2. The hassle free repair/replace for any parts that go bad. Apple replaced my entire iPhone 6+ recently instead of just the battery that was starting to show bad health.
  3. Accidental damage (which I have yet to claim because it's always been in a case and I don't drop my phone).
Click to expand...

Just to clarify the normal warranty in the first year will cover the cables/ear buds. I had a frayed (plastic coating came off one of the ends exposing the wire) lightning cable replaced under normal warranty.

That's not AC+ exclusive.
 
Armen said:
I purchase AppleCare with every iPhone because:

  1. It covers everything in the box (earpods, lightning cable, charger, phone). Apple replaced my ear pods once (right ear went out) and a frayed charging cable (most people don't know the cable is covered)
  2. The hassle free repair/replace for any parts that go bad. Apple replaced my entire iPhone 6+ recently instead of just the battery that was starting to show bad health.
  3. Accidental damage (which I have yet to claim because it's always been in a case and I don't drop my phone).
Click to expand...

Purchasing on a credit card that extends warranty (Costco Citi) takes care of #1 and #2 for me. In fact Costco Citi extends it to 3 years besting AppleCare. You have to pay for the repairs up front and get then get reimbursed which might be an issue for some. I haven't had to use Citi yet. When my iMac was knocked off the counter by an errant Soccer ball two weeks after I bought it - AMEX reimbursed me in like a week.

So the only real benefit is accidental damage (and again for me my CC covers 120 days) and really only if you damage something other than the screen since the cost of AppleCare+ and the deductible was the same or more than what it was to replace the screen anyway. With Apple changing the deductible of screen down to $29 that changes slightly but still only saves you like $40-60.

Now if I didn't prefer a case, which I do, my thoughts might change and might want longer accidental protection. Although doesn't AppleCare+ have a 2 use limit now? Or maybe if I didn't live close to an Apple Store.
 
AppleCare+
For those second year phone and accessorie failures
Accidents will happen, like when the dog brought me my phone
It's always helped with battery life and resale value

Case because
Phones have an affinity for the floor no matter who uses them
I like bare foot also but won't do it in Manhattan
 
I've seen too many iPhones get dropped with cases on them and end up with cracked screens to fully trust a case. This time around I'm going jet black Plus with AC+ without a case most of the time but a leather case for certain occasions.
 
Do you guys still buy applecare+ even though your credit card extends the warranty?
 
noobinator said:
Does your cc give you accident coverage in year one?
Click to expand...
first 120 days. I guess that's the pros of applecare vs just the extended warranty. What will be the repair cost of out pocket for a screen repair without applecare?
 
stulaw11 said:
Just to clarify the normal warranty in the first year will cover the cables/ear buds. I had a frayed (plastic coating came off one of the ends exposing the wire) lightning cable replaced under normal warranty.

That's not AC+ exclusive.
Click to expand...

Did not know. Thanks.
 
RSNL said:
first 120 days. I guess that's the pros of applecare vs just the extended warranty. What will be the repair cost of out pocket for a screen repair without applecare?
Click to expand...

For Pluses $149, for non-plus $129. That is screen only (which is the most common accidental damage issue).
https://support.apple.com/iphone/repair/screen-damage

So that is kinda my point with Apple Care +. If you just have screen damage it is $129 for the AC+ to begin with and now $29 deducible, which is $29 MORE total than if you didn't purchase AC+ to begin with. And if you don't have an accidental repair, then that is $129 you are out of for pretty much nothing (yeah you do get additional phone support, but who uses that?)

Even if it is additional damage with AC+ it is $129 + $99 deductible for $228. Regular repair is $299-$349. So basically it is a $129 lotto ticket to save maybe $71-$121. (again assuming 1 full non-screen repair).

I guess piece of mind is worth something, but in the 8 years I've had an iPhone I broke the screen ONCE. The math for me just doesn't work.
 
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