Is it Worth Buying AppleCare+ for iPhone X?

[Chupa Chupa]

I think this time more than ever the "let's destroy an iPhone" videos -- at least the ones based on realistic drops and not 1000ft catapults -- will be quite helpful in determining how fragile iPhone X is. If it's like the iPhone 8, and no reason to think it's not, some protection insurance is rational.

I won't be buying AC regardless but I will likely be applying for a WF CC with phone protection. H/T to the MR users that have pointed that benefit out.

 

[Ecupip1]

Why would a rear glass replacement be “other” and more expensive than a screen replacement? Kinda doesn’t makes sense. I’d demand the rear glass be covered for the same cost as the front glass.

 

[IJ Reilly]

The answer from a financial point of view is that extended warranties are never good deals. They are priced to be high-profit products, and they are. By purchasing one you are simply betting that your luck is going to be worse than the manufacturer thinks it will be, and since they know the actual probabilities, and you don't, it's a bet that over time the house will always win.

 

[HallStevenson]

This article would be better if it mentioned that the SECOND breakage of screen/body means you’d be saving a lot of money with AppleCare+.

What percentage of owners break their devices multiple times ?

Using your logic, why not include the 3rd time, the 4th time, and so on ? Eventually, it's practically like Apple is paying you !

 

[tob!]

Deleted

 

[KaliYoni]

I do financial markets stuff for a living so I can't restrain myself from making a technical point here. The breakeven point for AppleCare/no AppleCare is also dependent on the return you could get from putting the $$$ into a savings account or the stock market.

Obviously, with interest rates incredibly low at the moment, choosing between AppleCare and a money market account over a two or three year period is essentially a wash. But global stock markets are up big this year, with the US at +14% and global developed economies at +17.6% at the moment (see https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SPY?p=SPY and https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ACWI?ltr=1 ). So, somebody who didn't buy AppleCare for their iPhone 7s and salted the money away last year could end up ahead, even if they had to pay out-of-pocket for a screen replacement in Year 2 or 3 of owning the phone.

Just sayin'.

 

[shaud]

No need for Apple care. Wells Fargo cash wise card comes with phone insurance in the event of damage or theft. Covers up to 2 claims per year ($600 per incident with a 25 dollar deductible) and up to the first 4 phones per account. All you have to do is pay the full amount of the monthly cell phone bill on the card. Easy and free.

 

[iapplelove]

You do know Macs are devices, right?

iOS devices. I guess I could call a computer a device, I call it a machine.
[doublepost=1509302970][/doublepost]

Not sure why'd you buy AppleCare for an iMac. If it doesn't go bad the first year it likely never will. And it is not like it is portable and you lug it all around. Plus most credit cards will extend the warranty for 12-24 months - just as long as AppleCare coverage. Did you end up even using it for your iMac?

Actually I did, and on two occasions as well. Over the phone tech support.

 

[scrapesleon]

Wow phone really have become a luxury item I’m not using any of these anyway

 

[KaliYoni]

No need for Apple care. Wells Fargo cash wise card comes with phone insurance

And as another bonus, Wells will automatically sign you up for 5 more credit cards, 2 checking accounts, and a HELOC!
;-P

 

[IJ Reilly]

I do financial markets stuff for a living so I can't restrain myself from making a technical point here. The breakeven point for AppleCare/no AppleCare is also dependent on the return you could get from putting the $$$ into a savings account or the stock market.

Obviously, with interest rates incredibly low at the moment, choosing between AppleCare and a money market account over a two or three year period is essentially a wash. But global stock markets are up big this year, with the US at +14% and global developed economies at +17.6% at the moment (see https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/SPY?p=SPY and https://finance.yahoo.com/quote/ACWI?ltr=1 ). So, somebody who didn't buy AppleCare for their iPhone 7s and salted the money away last year could end up ahead, even if they had to pay out-of-pocket for a screen replacement in Year 2 or 3 of owning the phone.

Just sayin'.

I understand what you are just sayin' but I think you are overcomplicating the financial proposition. It is enough to know that extended warranties are not gifts, they are for-profit products, and highly profitable products at that. They would not be sold if the companies selling them paid out more in coverage than they collect in premiums.

 

[justperry]

And this is one reason why some things cost more in the EU than in the states. The consumer protection the EU requires isn’t free. It’s passed along as a cost increase. Currency fluctuation, legal requirements, regulations, expected volume and taxes can really impact pricing in a region.

At last, someone who gets it, job well done.

Not quite. From your own link: „Any defect or non-conformity of goods with the contract which becomes apparent within 6 months of delivery are presumed to have existed at the time of delivery. After the expiry of this 6 month period, the burden to prove that the defect or non-conformity of goods with the contract existed on delivery generally shifts to the consumer.“

In other words: after 6 months, you have to prove that the product was defective from the start, which is very hard to do. Hence a manufacturer‘s warranty is much better than these consumer law rights. Also accidental damage is obviously the main reason to get Apple Care+, so it doesn‘t make sense to brush that aside.

For the X, I would say if you‘re generally careful with your stuff and put a case on it to protect the glass back, it‘s probably ok not to get AC+. If you tend to drop your phones or (like me) go caseless, AC+ is a very good idea and at the very least gives you peace of mind.

Believe me, you don't have to prove anything the first 1-2 years.
Yes, I know it's there but in practice you almost never have to prove it (if ever), at least not where I am from in Europe.

 

[rishiomedia]

If you don’t get AppleCare and happen to break your screen, you just pay $50 more than you would pay if you do have AppleCare. Given I’ve never broken an iPhone screen and I’m buying a bumper, I’ll take the $50 gamble. The worse gamble for me is buying AppleCare and not breaking a screen.

 

[soupcan]

"After spending at least a thousand dollars on a brand new iPhone X"

Everything wrong with the X in one sentence.

 

[OneMike]

Other than for a kid, never did, never will buy Apple care.

 

[Glassed Silver]

In the EU Apple Care has little to no use since EU consumer protection laws are quite good. Furthermore, in the case one might damage ones screen, might as well repair it and spend as much as Apple Care +the fee.

Wrong.

Individual countries' implementations of the EU guideline may be good, however as a German citizen I can tell you from first hand experience that after 6 months (so before the limited Apple guarantee runs out!) the 2 year seller warranty becomes useless if the seller decides to play hardball.

Reverse onus, look it up.

Several sellers are lax about it, Amazon has a reputation of being very pro-consumer in this regard and don't insist on you proving anything to them, however if you got your phone with your contract from your carrier, in my case that was an iPhone 4 with Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile Germany) you're SOL, because those guys play hardball.

Glassed Silver:mac

 

[Peepo]

I have bought AppleCare+ always. The only time I used it is when my kids destroy the iPhones I hand down to them.
I honestly don't recall ever making a claim for myself that was self-inflicted damage. Now kids don't get old phones and can suffer with real old once, cracked screens, and even cheap Android LOL.

 

[ColdShadow]

I’ll be honest it’s outrageously expensive and I will never burn that much money for “piece of mind”.
always remember,it’s a phone.they want 200$ just to insure a phone.that’s crazy.

 

[44267547]

For me, I've never needed Apple care for any of my devices. I'm one that's fairly cautious and I have been fortunate over the years to not have any accidents. So I will continue to do without AppleCare and use my devices for what they're worth to me.

 

[ochie629]

The story should have mentioned that if you are a member of Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program, the AppleCare+ is already included, which is a great added benefit.

 

[justperry]

Could you imagine your auto insurance was 20% the cost of your car for a 2 year policy?

Ai, there's this stupid car analogy again.

You can't compare these 2, there are not even close regarding price.

 

[alphaod]

It's peace of mind vs babying it every step of the way. I never squirm or feel bad when I drop my phone.

I know people who use an inch-thick case and some wrist loops and these are the same people who use those ridiculous bumper guards. I'd rather have scratches on my bumper than see those stupid foam pads.

 

[macfacts]

Consider this: Apple isn't losing money by offering AppleCare+

 

[kwokaaron]

Not quite. From your own link: „Any defect or non-conformity of goods with the contract which becomes apparent within 6 months of delivery are presumed to have existed at the time of delivery. After the expiry of this 6 month period, the burden to prove that the defect or non-conformity of goods with the contract existed on delivery generally shifts to the consumer.“

In other words: after 6 months, you have to prove that the product was defective from the start, which is very hard to do. Hence a manufacturer‘s warranty is much better than these consumer law rights. Also accidental damage is obviously the main reason to get Apple Care+, so it doesn‘t make sense to brush that aside.

For the X, I would say if you‘re generally careful with your stuff and put a case on it to protect the glass back, it‘s probably ok not to get AC+. If you tend to drop your phones or (like me) go caseless, AC+ is a very good idea and at the very least gives you peace of mind.

From my experience Apple has been pretty lax about enforcing those rules. I've had my MacBook Pro, Beats headphones and iPhone replaced on different occasions for different reasons numerous times after the initial 6 months, and their respective limited warranty period, for free because of the consumer law protection. For my MacBook Pro, I've even had the entire logic board replaced 5 years after the purchase, with them saying that as long as I'm covered under the consumer law, I wouldn't have to pay for the replacement.

Like you've mentioned, obviously the AppleCare+ comes in useful for its accidental damage coverage, but for me, everything is cased up/well-protected, and hence isn't necessary.

 

[adamski23]

The story should have mentioned that if you are a member of Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program, the AppleCare+ is already included, which is a great added benefit.

You’re still paying for the AppleCare+.

Never bought AppleCare for any of my devices and never needed repairs. I have been lucky I guess. My main train of thought when it comes to extended warranties is that businesses would not offer such a service if it was a losing proposition for them (I.e., it’s a money grab).