Just got AppleCare plus for my new 6. Typing from it now! Have gotten AC+ on 4 Apple devices....
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
iPhone 6 and 6 Plus Out-Of-Warranty Repairs Cost Up to $299/$329
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
That's even worse lol. I am seeing less and less point in getting Apple care instead if just paying $129 for that accidental drop, cracked screen repair. Which may not even happen of course.
Probably the result of too many people deliberately damaging their iPhones in order to get a replacement, thereby jacking up the the price of AC+ repair to $79 last year.
Personally, I rely on Amex's extended warranty protection. It'll reimburse me for exactly the OOW replacement cost plus tax, as $299 plus tax is the price I paid for my 64 gigs iPhone 6. Sure, I won't get damage protection other than Amex's 90-day accidental damage protection but I'm fine with that.
The store I went to did not do iPhone 5s screen repairs at all last month. They had only heard rumors about that being done. I don't think screen repairs have ever been listed on Apple's web site before. Part of the reason this story is news.
So, with Applecare, if you drop it, and say, dent the corner and shatter the screen, it is $79 to repair the screen+case or is that a higher cost repair than just a cracked screen?
Not sure I agree.
I've owned 3 iPhones over 6 years, 2 laptops over 11 years, an iMac for 5 years, an iPad for 3 years, numerous iPods... I could go on.
The cost of Applecare for all those things would have been well over $1000.
I've had exactly one out of warranty repair needed, when my 3 year old stepped on the iPad. For $40 I bought a replacement digitizer and fixed it myself.
I've saved myself over $1000.
Extended warranties, especially Applecare with its $79 deductible are almost never worth it. Only a small fraction of people will ever need them. Even if you're clumsy, drop your iPhone 6+ and the screen cracks (probably the most common kind of repair), with Applecare its $99+$79 = $178. Without Applecare: $129. So unless you do it twice, Applecare is not worth it!
Apple products are exceptionally well built.
What if, along with cracking the screen, you dent the corner of the case. Still $129??
I wonder if the 6 & 6 Plus is harder to open and they might have to do battery & screen replacements as an exchange instead of repair?
I'm very happy to see they added a separate option for a screen replacement only! I don't think this was a thing a few weeks ago. I think you had to pay the full price of an out of warranty replacement even if it was just the screen. So this is much more reasonable.
But I am, however, confused as to why the iPhone 6 screen replacement is $109 but the iPhone 6 Plus, as well as iPhones 5, 5c, and 5s are $129. I mean I obviously understand the elevated cost of the 6 Plus, but shouldn't the 5 series phones be less than, or at least no more than, the 6?
But I am, however, confused as to why the iPhone 6 screen replacement is $109 but the iPhone 6 Plus, as well as iPhones 5, 5c, and 5s are $129. I mean I obviously understand the elevated cost of the 6 Plus, but shouldn't the 5 series phones be less than, or at least no more than, the 6?
Similar position. Five iPhones, three iPads and a Macbook Pro (Plus a few other products such as Apple TVs etc).
The 6 Plus is the first time I've purchased Apple Care + (It wasn't available in Australia until last week...we've just had regular Apple Care until now).
In that time I've had my MacBook serviced twice. Once was a button snapped/fell off the keyboard and the second the battery completely died while out of warranty. For the batteries case the battery was completely dead as in it had zero capacity to hold a charge for so much as one second, not that it had simply dropped in lifespan. At the time I think I had only gone through roughly 1/3 of the batteries rated charge cycles, so it should have been holding up fine. Both times the repairs were done for free on that Macbook.
I also had an iPhone 3GS replaced under warranty due to the touch display failing in regions.
The one and only time I've had any issue with any damage other than the above was when I put an iPhone 5 through a washing machine. That damaged the display and possibly other components, so in that case I paid the $280 for a refurbished replacement through Apple.
Ultimately over about six years and half a dozen devices I'm up having not purchased Apple Care. That said, I decided to go with it this time since for the first time I don't think I'll be putting a screen protector on my phone, however I do have it in a case currently. The old Apple Care product without the insurance policy built in was a bit of a waste anyway unless you wanted over the phone support since Australian laws and regulations pretty much give you warranties that exceed Apple's or other companies stated 12 months warranty anyway.
If you have the full mobile protection plan it is $10 a month. That includes the warranty and an extra support phone number to call att if you have a question. If you don't need the support number, as you probably don't, you can get the Mobile Insurance as a standalone option for $6.99. I just noticed this today and changed it on my bill...I know it's just $3 but $3 is $3!
Also, the deductible is actually $199 per claim, up to 2 per year. However this summer att introduced falling deductibles, so for every 6 months you go without a claim your deductible drops $50, to a maximum of $100. So if you break your phone tomorrow you would pay $199, in 6 months it would be $149, or if you broke it 12 months out or later it would just be $99. Then once you file a claim it increases again to $199 for another 6 months...and repeat.
I've had AppleCare only once, on a 27" iMac. I remember it was simply an extended warranty. No charge on repairs for three years.
Of course iOS devices are different, there is accidental damage that doesn't usually occur with iMacs.
What I don't understand is that it's $99 for AppleCare AND $79 per repair? A total of $178 for the first repair. This repair is quite a bit less expensive to start with.
I've purchased every iPhone since the 3GS with the max storage on the last 4 iphones. The only repair I've ever had done is (it just came back today!) on the iPhone 5 sleep button that was covered by an extended warranty (or recall).
I think why I've never had a cracked or broken screen is because I use a case. I did shell out $39 for the iPhone 5s leather case which is minimal protection (but adequate) and $39 on the iPhone 6 Plus silicone case. Hopefully that case wraps around nicely. I have never used a screen protector because they are usually inferior to the glass itself. Glass is hard, it won't scratch easily, I don't put it in pockets with other items much less sandpaper.
The bottom line, I buy a nice minimal case. It's cheaper and it's always worked for me!
Of course iOS devices are different, there is accidental damage that doesn't usually occur with iMacs.
What I don't understand is that it's $99 for AppleCare AND $79 per repair? A total of $178 for the first repair. This repair is quite a bit less expensive to start with.
I've purchased every iPhone since the 3GS with the max storage on the last 4 iphones. The only repair I've ever had done is (it just came back today!) on the iPhone 5 sleep button that was covered by an extended warranty (or recall).
I think why I've never had a cracked or broken screen is because I use a case. I did shell out $39 for the iPhone 5s leather case which is minimal protection (but adequate) and $39 on the iPhone 6 Plus silicone case. Hopefully that case wraps around nicely. I have never used a screen protector because they are usually inferior to the glass itself. Glass is hard, it won't scratch easily, I don't put it in pockets with other items much less sandpaper.
The bottom line, I buy a nice minimal case. It's cheaper and it's always worked for me!
I agree the consumer ALWAYS loose when it comes to extended warranty. It's like you go to a casino playing slots and expect to win. Rarely happens.
Agreed. I think warranty programs are generally a waste of money. Put a case on your phone, and save the $99 (and/or $10 per month).
Apple gives you a defect warranty for a year. After that year, the cost of upgrading to the newest iPhone is approximately $250. That's about how much I paid to upgrade from the 5s to the 6 this year after trading in the old phone and paying the early termination fee. In comparison, the price of a two year AppleCare plus carrier insurance would be $240. Since buying a new iPhone yearly would result in an indefinite manufacturer's warranty, all you're really getting is accident damage and theft insurance.
Now with those insurance programs, you're still paying $79 or $200 to have your phone fixed/replaced. The cost of having Apple fix that same phone wouldn't be all that much more, assuming it wasn't stolen or dropped in a lake.
So for it not to make financial sense for you to simply self-insure, you'd have to be extremely prone to accidental damage or theft.
Like any extended warranty, it's generally a ripoff. They wouldn't offer a service that didn't net them a profit. Just be careful with your phones and FOR THE MAJORITY of consumers, nothing will go wrong. If something is faulty, then it'll likely fail within the first year, in which case the standard warranty would cover repair costs anyway.
Of course, it's hard to put a price on peace of mind. And if you're a clumsy or forgetful type, then AppleCare is a wise investment. Can't say I've stressed about being gentle with my phones, and I've saved $200 so far. I guess we'll see if I can make it $300 in another two years. Perhaps I would've even been more reckless if I knew I had coverage, which would've added to the overall cost of AppleCare.
I had my 4 and 5 for two years each without any issue. Neither were insured.
Of course, it's hard to put a price on peace of mind. And if you're a clumsy or forgetful type, then AppleCare is a wise investment. Can't say I've stressed about being gentle with my phones, and I've saved $200 so far. I guess we'll see if I can make it $300 in another two years. Perhaps I would've even been more reckless if I knew I had coverage, which would've added to the overall cost of AppleCare.
I had my 4 and 5 for two years each without any issue. Neither were insured.
Not sure I follow your math. The cost of an iPhone 6 is (minimally) $699. If you buy under contract, you can't change phones every year. Plus, most plans contract price for service is higher than the cost of the same service plan out of contract. ATT for instance, is $40/mo under contract for service (per line) and $15 not under contract. That's an extra $25/mo for a contract phone. So $200 for a contract phone, plus $300 "premium" for service, your first year you've paid $500 for that phone. Break the phone in the first year, the ETF are more than $200 for most carriers I've seen, so now that phone has cost $700+. At that point you can get a new phone, but $700 isn't $250.
My numbers come up to much more than an easy $250 for a $700 phone.
----------
There are clumsy people, and there are responsible, careful people that have an accident with their phone. My wife is super careful, but had an accident and dropped her phone. You can't plan for an accident, they just happen.
So, put an ugly Otterbox on your phone, and it'll probably never break, no matter what you do to it. You're right about the quality of the phone, though...the odds are, it will never fail, and if it does, it will be in the first year.
Insurance is gambling. The insurance companies bet you'll never need it and you are betting that you will. Like casinos, the insurance companies have the better odds. BUT, given the overall cost of owning an iPhone or other expensive smartphone, including service, the monthly cost of an insurance plan or the one-time cost of AppleCare+ is really minimal. In the US, the FEES tacked on to most consumers cellular bills are higher than insurance will cost!
It really depends on the individual user. With this apple care, you pay $99 + $79 ($178) to avoid paying $329 IF you drop it in the toilet or sink (or if it sustains water damage some other way). For me, the 6+ is my 5th iPhone and I have never cracked the screen or had water damage. I would have paid $400 in apple care for my past iPhones for nothing and it would be cheaper to pay out of pocket if needed repair. So for myself, who is a grown-up, uses a case, and is careful, it is a no-brainer NOT to get apple care.
On the other hand, my wife is a kid, and insists on using her iPhone caseless. She has cracked or water damaged 3 or 4 iPhones so it might make more sense to get apple care for her.
----------
Paying $99 (and an addition $79 if used) is hardly "minimal" for a potential max $329 payout.
I have an iPhone 5S and just couple of days ago cracked the screen. I called apple and they said it will cost $269. Now apple says $129 In this email. I wonder if this is a new program.
Apple care would not have been a good deal for me. Wife and I just got our 7th and 8th iPhone. Have yet to have an issue (hopefully not jinxing us). So had we bought apple care every time we would have spent $800 with nothing in return. Even if we had to pay full price to replace a phone at this rate we would be breaking even.
With Applecare+ repairs have no deductible. With Squaretrade every use has a $75 deductible.
Nope, Applecare+ has a service fee of $79 for each incident (up to 2).
http://store.apple.com/us/product/S4575LL/A/applecare-for-iphone
-Kevin