To AppleCare+ or to not AppleCare+?

[Tapiture]

I’m coming to my 60 day time limit to purchase AppleCare+ for my 2018 15” MBP. I get a student discount but 300 dollars still seems pretty steep, especially considering the deductibles for if something happens are so high. I also have some kind of warranty extension through my Venture Card. What is the general consensus for these 2018 models?

 

[88Keys]

I recommend it. AppleCare+ education discount only applies at purchase of the MacBook Pro.

 

[Tapiture]

I recommend it. AppleCare+ education discount only applies at purchase of the MacBook Pro.

That’s not what they told me at the store when I bought it

 

[Howard2k]

I don’t bother.

But I’m very careful about minimizing risk. I don’t put drinks next to my MBPro, for example. No need to tempt fate. I’m careful. Not saying that all problems are caused by user negligence of course.

 

[artfossil]

I’ve had six Apple laptops in the last 20 years, beginning with the “Pismo” PowerBook. I would never ever ever ever buy a laptop without AppleCare. The peace of mind alone is worth it to me. Plus, when I did get a “differently abled” machine, AppleCare paid for itself many times over. (No amount of “being careful” will make up for a failing logic board.)

 

[blesscheese]

Yes, I consistently buy it. I take uber good care of my Mac's, and I always buy it for my laptops (but not for desktops).

I haven't needed it in recent memory, but it gives me peace of mind. I'm assuming it is still transferable? I used to get extra $$$ on my eBay auctions by selling them with 6 or so months left on the AppleCare warranty.

 

[ipponrg]

I’m coming to my 60 day time limit to purchase AppleCare+ for my 2018 15” MBP. I get a student discount but 300 dollars still seems pretty steep, especially considering the deductibles for if something happens are so high. I also have some kind of warranty extension through my Venture Card. What is the general consensus for these 2018 models?

Do you want a peace of mind?

 

[SDColorado]

That’s not what they told me at the store when I bought it

I think it depends on which educational discount you are talking about. There is the $303 (I believe it is) that you can buy with the educational discount online and then there is the $249 educational discount that can be purchased through university bookstores when purchased with the machine.

 

[Tapiture]

Do you want a peace of mind?

Well I have AppleCare+ for my iPad Pro, and it is nice to have the peace of mind, but that’s a device that is much more prone to accidents and it has a much smaller deductible. I’m just doing the math — 300 dollars plus 300 anytime something happens to a part other than the screen, and it only lasts for 3 years... So if I don’t get AppleCare and I need to get something fixed out of warranty, it’ll likely be around 600 anyway or even cheaper if I get it repaired 3rd party.

I’m just having a tough time justifying buying it when the price of it could get me halfway to a new iPad or iPhone.

 

[Wags]

Depends on value placed on accident coverage. If the CC extended warranty adds 1 year then you are almost buying the AppleCare for 1 year coverage at $300. The CC warranty does not cover any accidental damage though.

 

[ipponrg]

Well I have AppleCare+ for my iPad Pro, and it is nice to have the peace of mind, but that’s a device that is much more prone to accidents and it has a much smaller deductible. I’m just doing the math — 300 dollars plus 300 anytime something happens to a part other than the screen, and it only lasts for 3 years... So if I don’t get AppleCare and I need to get something fixed out of warranty, it’ll likely be around 600 anyway or even cheaper if I get it repaired 3rd party.

I’m just having a tough time justifying buying it when the price of it could get me halfway to a new iPad or iPhone.

I personally have never bought any AppleCare on any device other than my MBP.

If you suffer one accident on your MBP, the AppleCare would've paid for itself and then some.

 

[Royksöpp]

Accidental Damage protection makes it worth the cost.

 

[cmaier]

Accidental Damage protection makes it worth the cost.

Only if you accidentally damage your device.

 

[Royksöpp]

Only if you accidentally damage your device.

Anything can happen, no matter how careful you are. I’m very careful and have never damaged a device, but one day I dropped my iPad Air 2 and it was destroyed. 150 for a new iPad (100 AppleCare + 50 repair cost). Repair costs for the MacBook Pro under AppleCare can’t be beat, 99 for a broken screen or 299 for anything else. Never say never.

 

[thadoggfather]

Regular AppleCare saved my butt on my nTB: had to get screen replaced woulda run me like $450 out of pocket

They also replaced the battery / top case cause of a faulty key and recalled battery that would've been covered free anyways I think, but for peace of mind, I still have a year and a half of warranty left.

 

[deeddawg]

I recommend it. AppleCare+ education discount only applies at purchase of the MacBook Pro.

That seems to be true from Apple.com but doesn't seem to apply to purchases at a campus store. I could be wrong though.
[doublepost=1535542486][/doublepost]

Depends on value placed on accident coverage. If the CC extended warranty adds 1 year then you are almost buying the AppleCare for 1 year coverage at $300. The CC warranty does not cover any accidental damage though.

Also depends on how long you expect to own the system and whether the credit card coverage "stacks".

I ordered my MBP15 with AC+. My Citi card adds 24 months extended warranty coverage... *after* the AC+ expires. Thus giving me a total of five years warranty coverage.

 

[Newtons Apple]

I have never bought AC+ on any of my iPhones and never needed it. I did buy on the first Apple Watch and did not need it.

Just bought a new MBPro and purchased AC+ for it.

If there is no Apple store in your city, I would get it without a doubt just for the express replacement feature.

 

[adamh10]

I’m coming to my 60 day time limit to purchase AppleCare+ for my 2018 15” MBP. I get a student discount but 300 dollars still seems pretty steep, especially considering the deductibles for if something happens are so high. I also have some kind of warranty extension through my Venture Card. What is the general consensus for these 2018 models?

Honestly, $300 may seem steep right now up front, but it is absolutely worth the cost! Some repairs can cost as much as a new computer, and accidental damage can render the machine completely irreparable and if anything like that happens you'll wish you had AppleCare+.

I understand the cost concerns upfront, but the value of AppleCare+ is too great to not get it to be quite frank.

Just my two cents.

Cheers

 

[LogicalApex]

I pick it up for the extended warranty. My Amex adds an additional year to the warranty after Apple Care ends so I end up with a 4 year warranty. I aim to keep my MacBook Pro st least 5 years. So this ends up covering me for the vast majority of that period.

With everything soldered on most things will need a logic board replacement.

 

[Ma2k5]

If you have home content's insurance, you can use that instead I guess (make sure your device is added to the policy and that the policy allows portable devices to be used and damaged outside - most insurers allow this). This is likely to be a lot cheaper and will include other possessions of yours.

The advantage of AppleCare I guess is you wouldn't have to bother making filing a claim as you would with the insurance company and can just walk into the Apple store.

Either way, you should have some cover, be it home insurance or AppleCare for such an expensive device.

 

[SDColorado]

I pick it up for the extended warranty. My Amex adds an additional year to the warranty after Apple Care ends so I end up with a 4 year warranty. I aim to keep my MacBook Pro st least 5 years. So this ends up covering me for the vast majority of that period.

With everything soldered on most things will need a logic board replacement.

Amex also adds at least 120 days of damage protection on their cards. It isn't much, but if anything does happen in the first 120 days, it may be worth filing a claim with Amex, rather than Apple and not having it count as an incident or pay the co-pay.

 

[cmaier]

Anything can happen, no matter how careful you are. I’m very careful and have never damaged a device, but one day I dropped my iPad Air 2 and it was destroyed. 150 for a new iPad (100 AppleCare + 50 repair cost). Repair costs for the MacBook Pro under AppleCare can’t be beat, 99 for a broken screen or 299 for anything else. Never say never.

I’ve owned 8 MacBooks (2 airs, 5 pros, 1 12”), and 20ish iPads and iPhones (between me and family members). I always get Apple care for the macs, and never for the other devices. I’m clearly out money on the deal. I think I’ve had one AppleCare repair, and it ended up being a design defect (gpu solder) and not accidental damage.

On average, people lose money on AppleCare. It’s like Vegas. You might win big, but most people don’t.

 

[deeddawg]

On average, people lose money on AppleCare. It’s like Vegas. You might win big, but most people don’t.

Generally yes, AC is merely an insurance policy -- and insurance typically makes money for the insurer.

Prior to ordering my 2018 MBP15 I've had five Mac computers, six+ ipads, numerous iphones, and various ipods over the years. Out of all of them one would have benefited from AppleCare -- HDD in a 2010 MBP13 died. Replaced it with a small SSD and the system is still going.

Still, I bought AC+ for my 2018 MBP. I don't entirely trust the keyboard is going to be issue-free. By adding AC+, I moved the warranty coverage from three years to five years (credit card 24mo extension), which is the majority of my planned ownership period.

 

[macdudesir]

Never with desktops, always with laptops (unless you plan on using your laptop as a desk top and it doesnt really get carted around.)

I purchased AppleCare+ because I carry my computer around everywhere I go every day...theres a large opportunity for accidents to happen even though im very careful with it.

 

[deadworlds]

There are literally many existing threads on this topic already! Did you really have to come and creat yet another “should I buy applecare+” Thread?