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Totty1987

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 7, 2011
153
14
Hello all.

Just want some clarification. Does this mean I can purchase AppleCare on the 12th January or does mean it needs to be purchased prior to this date. Sorry my comprehension isn’t the best regarding expiration dates for whatever reason.

It’s £349 over here in the Uk. Is it really worth purchasing or is the M1 Max MacBook Pro reliable enough to serve me for the next 6 years plus without issue? How long does the coverage last for?

I chose not to get AppleCare for my iPhone Pro Max 13 and Applewatch 7 as I felt I may trade/sell them in the next 2-3 years anyway, but the MBP i don’t envisage selling for a while yet.

Thanks for reading and any comments are welcome.

Have a nice Sunday guys. ?
 

randomgeeza

macrumors 6502a
Aug 12, 2014
622
461
United Kingdom
I'd buy it... no later than the 11th. I have done so for my machine and every previous machine and to date, it has ALWAYS paid for itself, in repairs, parts or full replacements.

It's also a valuable asset in resale and can be transferred over to any new owner. You can also get a pro-rata refund on unused AC+ should you chose to do that instead.

Additionally, you can now pay a yearly subscription. It's slightly more expensive but that may suit you better. If you follow the prompts up until checkout, you will get the info you need to make a more informed decision.
 

wilberforce

macrumors 68030
Aug 15, 2020
2,915
3,185
SF Bay Area
I personally think AppleCare+ insurance for MBPs is too expensive, and I don't mind taking the risk of a loss, and if I do get a major loss I take the opportunity to upgrade. I am way ahead by not getting AppleCare on most of my Apple products.

It somewhat depends on how much exposure your MBP will have (like do you travel with it a lot, or just keep it safely at home). Another factor is that it is a new model with unknown durability.

If you have so-called "loss aversion," you may wish to get AppleCare. Many people hate incurring a loss, even though the long term average cost with AppleCare is more.

 
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Fatus_Asticus

macrumors 6502
Oct 24, 2021
281
252
Insurance plans like this are high profit items for the selling company. The only device I purchased it on is my iPad and that is only because my 8 year old daughter uses it all the time. Pretty sure that $60 will replace a screen before the year is out.

I don’t buy it on my other devices. Yes if something happens it’s a $$ but we have a mbp 16 M1, iPhone 13pm, iPhone 13 mini and soon to be iMac 27 if I bought AppleCare for all those I’d have replaced one already.
 

Technerd108

macrumors 68040
Oct 24, 2021
3,007
4,246
The cost for AppleCare is high but on a machine that costs $2k and up that has the cpu, gpu, ram, and storage integrated on the same chip and if any component fails I would guess the cost to repair or replace would be rather significant. Also screen repair and replacement would also be significant. When I say significant I mean possibly half or more of the cost of your device!

These new MBP 14" and 16" are completely redesigned and first gen. So far M1 seems reliable but it is too soon to tell.

I guess it comes down to do you feel comfortable in the next 3 years betting that you won't have any accidents or any component failure at all or not?

Insurance may be a high mark up item for Apple but we all know repairs on Apple devices are not cheap.

A lot of people give advice like they are certain. You know you and your risk comfort level. I know mine and if I am already extended on the device in terms of cost then I really don't want any issues in a couple years and have to be out of pocket more money. Apple Care hurts every time but I think of it like one accident is all it takes....

Do what you are comfortable with but my advice is it is always better to have something and not need it then need something and not have it. But that is me! Good luck!
 

aevan

macrumors 601
Feb 5, 2015
4,519
7,201
Serbia
I've never bought it in 27 years and never needed it for 12 different apple computers. I take good care of mine though, unlike many people.

Good care can't prevent certain hardware failures that may happen almost at random (these are devices that heat up and cool down multiple times a day and have electrical current going through them - of course they can break down, even with best care).
 
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digger10

macrumors member
Sep 12, 2014
78
66
The cost for AppleCare is high but on a machine that costs $2k and up that has the cpu, gpu, ram, and storage integrated on the same chip and if any component fails I would guess the cost to repair or replace would be rather significant. Also screen repair and replacement would also be significant. When I say significant I mean possibly half or more of the cost of your device!

These new MBP 14" and 16" are completely redesigned and first gen. So far M1 seems reliable but it is too soon to tell.

I guess it comes down to do you feel comfortable in the next 3 years betting that you won't have any accidents or any component failure at all or not?

Insurance may be a high mark up item for Apple but we all know repairs on Apple devices are not cheap.

A lot of people give advice like they are certain. You know you and your risk comfort level. I know mine and if I am already extended on the device in terms of cost then I really don't want any issues in a couple years and have to be out of pocket more money. Apple Care hurts every time but I think of it like one accident is all it takes....

Do what you are comfortable with but my advice is it is always better to have something and not need it then need something and not have it. But that is me! Good luck!

I agree with this.

Recently I'd been hearing a whining noise every time the fan spins up on a 2019 MBP. It was a little annoying so I took it to the store over the holidays. Their diagnostics said the fan was on the way out.

Apparently it is attached to the top case and so not a simple low cost swap. It would have cost around £500 but for AppleCare. On the plus side it did mean new keys, trackpad, speakers and a zero cycle battery.

Given the thread is about an M1 Max it's probably used quite intensively (for work?). £350 for 3 years peace of mind on a ≥£2,800 ($3750ish) machine seems a fair deal.

If it was a MBA used for casual browsing or something I'd be more inclined to go without.
 

jyyz

macrumors regular
Oct 17, 2014
178
80
Logic board replacement on one-month old M1 Max here... so IDK. In the past year I had a 2019 MBP that needed to be replaced for ongoing issues. I bought another 2019 MBP as I couldn't be without one for work while waiting a month for a replacement, wouldn't start out of the box. Now an M1 Max failing within a month of ownership. Maybe bad luck, but not very confidence inspiring... So put my vote down for AppleCare.
 

Sitti

macrumors member
Apr 21, 2010
62
25
I received my 16 inch M1 Max a few days before Christmas, I planning on buying AppleCare for it as well. I have 4 week long vacation coming up (6 weeks if quarantined). Since it covers accidental damage, it would be a great insurance for taking MBP with me on vacation.
 
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