Extend AppleCare+ for a year or two?

[dmk1974]

My kids are in college and just finished up year #3. I got them MacBook Air's with the 3-year AppleCare+ before their first year (M2/8gb/256gb) and they still work just fine for them.

I was going to get them new machines once the back-to-school deals come around (and sell off the old ones), but recently learned that the AppleCare+ can possibly be extended on a monthly or yearly basis after the initial 3-year coverage expires? Is that true and if so, has anyone else done that, and if so, was it an easy process to extend? Thanks!

 

[someoneoutthere]

When the current coverage expires, there will be a red badge on the System Settings icon. You will have 45 days (it will show a countdown) to extend or forgo your coverage. All you need is a credit card and few seconds of your time.

 

[Bazza1]

Yes, Apple now offers AppleCare+ beyond the original time frame. On things like iPhones and Watch, you can do a monthly thing (less than most take-out coffee), while I believe computers are only yearly.

There will be the arguments for / against AppleCare+ in the first place, but I think its worthwhile, especially when a device is mobile and may lead a slightly rougher life than a desktop device.

That said, I got AppleCare+ when I bought my M2 Air (my first desktop, so I didn't want to tempt fate), and that lapsed a couple of months ago. To extend it a year was $CDN50 - I thought this a worthwhile investment...

To do this was as easy as someoneoutthere describes, as above.

 

[goodcow]

Yes, Apple now offers AppleCare+ beyond the original time frame. On things like iPhones and Watch, you can do a monthly thing (less than most take-out coffee), while I believe computers are only yearly.

Computers can be monthly now, too.

AppleCare

Enjoy easy 24/7 support, fast repairs for accidental damage, and peace of mind with theft and loss coverage — for one or all your products.

www.apple.com

And you can even cover an Apple TV for $9.99 a year now.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

To add to the other correct answers, note that payment comes out of your account balance, if any, first. I have a few client AC+ plans on my personal account (stupid, I know) and it can no longer be transferred to another account.
I had to have the clients purchase gift cards for me and applied them to my account so it wouldn't charge my own balance.

 

[doctoroncall]

Posting here instead of making a new thread. I bought an M2 in early 2023 and I just now got the 45 days to extend AppleCare+. So far I've been careful enough with it, not that I baby it, but it hasn't been dropped or anything like that I travel less now than I did in previous years so it stays at home most of the time. It still feels very new, no scratches or anything. I guess I would be paying for my peace of mind more than anything else.

 

[Bazza1]

...would be paying for my peace of mind more than anything else.

Not a bad reason at all, really.

 

[iaynnu]

AppleCare is a no brainer especially on new a machine. I made a mistake in the past not buying it on my MacBook Pro when the whole "butterfly keyboard" recall program was going on. My machine broke after the program ended and fixing it cost 1/2 the price of a new one, and I purchased a new one + AppleCare with all my devices moving forward.
But the longer warranty option and just renew when it expires.

 

[doctoroncall]

AppleCare is a no brainer especially on new a machine. I made a mistake in the past not buying it on my MacBook Pro when the whole "butterfly keyboard" recall program was going on. My machine broke after the program ended and fixing it cost 1/2 the price of a new one, and I purchased a new one + AppleCare with all my devices moving forward.
But the longer warranty option and just renew when it expires.

Def a not brainer for a new machine. I bought my first mbp in 2008 and got apple care, that one was affected by the GPU thing and that AppleCare came in handy. This time I was debating about renewing for me 3 yo mba. Ended up getting it, peace of mind and all.

 

[Geekett]

I never took Apple Care and never needed it in 20 years.
Regarding the butterfly keyboard, It’s a problem Apple should fix without cost, because it was a structural defect, and legal warranty applies (at least in France)

 

[whitby]

For essential mobile devices AC+ is a great protection insurance. Mobile devices can be dropped or mishandled quite easily, especially by college offspring, and they need them to work in order to do their college/university work. For desktops, coverage for 3 years or so seems appropriate but once they have settled in and proved they are not going to self destruct then AC+ is not really needed. Unfortunately and obviously Apple know all this so they charge more for AC+ on mobile stuff. Desktop stuff is dirt cheap, but saving unnecessary cost always helps.