got it for my base MBP, I usually get it for portable stuff mostly for easier resale 1.5-2 years in, but added to that: I also bought this as an open box from Best Buy. the computer with AppleCare AND tax included was $10 cheaper than sticker price.
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.
Is everyone getting AppleCare on their M1s?
- Thread starter badsimian
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
I just picked up the higher base MBA (8/8/512) from the Apple store. Hadn't intended to get Apple Care+ yet (as not sure if I'm keeping this MBA) but got talked into getting it at the Apple store. Figure there's nothing to lose for now since if I change my mind I have 30 days to get a refund on Apple Care+, and if I return the MBA I can also get a refund on Apple Care+.
I usually do get Apple Care+ just for peace of mind since all these devices get brought everywhere with me... The only thing is that this is the base MBA (so value is less than if I'd added ram/storage). And if I do need to use the accidental damage there is also the service fee to consider.
It's really Murphy's law for me though, every time in the past when I've gotten Apple Care I've not needed it, whereas whenever I've decided to skip it my devices started getting problems after the one year mark...
Edit - oops realised I missed out a "not" in my comment about not needing Apple Care
I usually do get Apple Care+ just for peace of mind since all these devices get brought everywhere with me... The only thing is that this is the base MBA (so value is less than if I'd added ram/storage). And if I do need to use the accidental damage there is also the service fee to consider.
It's really Murphy's law for me though, every time in the past when I've gotten Apple Care I've not needed it, whereas whenever I've decided to skip it my devices started getting problems after the one year mark...
Edit - oops realised I missed out a "not" in my comment about not needing Apple Care
Last edited:
Just got my base m1 MBA yesterday with edu pricing. I've never bought Applecare personally but had my 2014 MBP 13 inch display replaced for free. My girlfriends' 2015 MBP 15 inch battery was also replaced for free last year.
My work will add Applecare for every Mac but honestly out of 10 macs purchased I'd say maybe only 1 would actually need repair outside of the standard one year warranty. There were a few butterfly keyboard replacements but that would have been covered by Apple's repair program.
Thus I'm fairly confident this m1 MBA will be fine and if there is a hardware issue it would happen within the first year or there will be a repair program years afterward.
If something does come up and it costs 500-700 to repair I would just buy a new laptop.
My work will add Applecare for every Mac but honestly out of 10 macs purchased I'd say maybe only 1 would actually need repair outside of the standard one year warranty. There were a few butterfly keyboard replacements but that would have been covered by Apple's repair program.
Thus I'm fairly confident this m1 MBA will be fine and if there is a hardware issue it would happen within the first year or there will be a repair program years afterward.
If something does come up and it costs 500-700 to repair I would just buy a new laptop.
I did exactly this. I paid 70 USD to a third party seller on eBay for one of the old AppleCare Protection Plan boxes. The website to add standard AppleCare has been shutdown, so I called the 1-800 number in the US. After several attempts, a “senior advisor” from AppleCare administration told me that AppleCare Protection Plan was no longer available in the US, but was available internationally. I tried arguing, but she was firm in that APP could not be added in her system, and seemed fairly confident about this “fact”.
I switched the contact form to get the numbers for Europe, and called Apple in Cork. A nice lady (in Portugal) was able to manually add APP to my M1, three days later I got the confirmation email, the checkcoverage website shows AppleCare (not plus) coverage through 2023.
Apple Care for the Air is $250.
You can sell your Air after one year of use, and before the warranty expires, for $750. You can use the $750 (plus a little more) to buy a new M2 Air. Repeat the process every year.
Isn't this better than getting Apple Care for $250 as long as you're willing to spend time finding a buyer?
The thing you're trading for is accidental damage for newer Macs.
You can sell your Air after one year of use, and before the warranty expires, for $750. You can use the $750 (plus a little more) to buy a new M2 Air. Repeat the process every year.
Isn't this better than getting Apple Care for $250 as long as you're willing to spend time finding a buyer?
The thing you're trading for is accidental damage for newer Macs.
Getting ready to purchase an M1 mini Mac. Long time Mac user from performa days to multiple iMacs, iPhones, and tons of other Mac products. Just a Mac nerd. I have many times bought apple care. Not for tech reasons, my son is an apple tech. But for damage that can and will happen. Phones, iPads, dropped ear buds that get run over. Not for desktop Macs until now. In the past I always thought my son and I could, if needed, open the case and try to fix it. From the sound of the new M1 there is no serviceable or replaceable parts.
I have used apple care a few times. The last when my wife dropped her iPhone 11 and cracked the screen. Cost was around 300 bucks if I remember. With apple it was I believe 99 and covered from that day for another 3 years.
Spending a grand for a new M1 with all new tech etc. I will think long and hard about getting apple care. Not for the physical damage. Its just going to sit on my desk, but if something after a year or thre craps out that I can't fix, makes me think
I have used apple care a few times. The last when my wife dropped her iPhone 11 and cracked the screen. Cost was around 300 bucks if I remember. With apple it was I believe 99 and covered from that day for another 3 years.
Spending a grand for a new M1 with all new tech etc. I will think long and hard about getting apple care. Not for the physical damage. Its just going to sit on my desk, but if something after a year or thre craps out that I can't fix, makes me think