AppleCare - Useful Insurance, or another Apple Tax?

Is AppleCare just another way to siphon money from your bank account to Tim Cook? Or is it a useful product to protect your expensive Apple devices? In this video I talk about my recent experience getting my Studio Display repaired, and consider when it's a good idea to buy AppleCare insurance.

PLEASE SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Apple Store on Amazon

Join this channel to get access to perks:

#apple #applecare #studiodisplay

[ConstantGeekery]

Sorry for the sub-standard sound quality on this one. Genius here clipped the microphone next to a metal zipper 🙄

[ninoluciosantiago]

My 2020 Intel Macbook Pro suddenly had random shutdown issue after 2 years and they couldn't see battery issues. When they found out i have AppleCare+ they offered a replacement M2 and refunded the prorated AppleCare+ fee left on the device so I can buy a new one.

[fitch]

My 15" mid 2015 MBP had a delaminated screen battery and keyboard replaced. The screen and battery/jkeyboard were at different times. In both cases they sent a packing box, shipped it to their Texas repair facility and had it back in my hand at the front door in three days. As the process was taking place they kept me informed by a text every time anything of significance happened - arrivals, departures, beginning and end of repair. The speed, attention to detail and quality of work was impressive. I 100% agree with your recommendation.

[Chimpur]

I've had AppleCare on my last three Macs and its always done well for me. Better than any instore insurance from a large box retailer.

[slaphead]

What happens is that the bugs, or eggs which later hatch, get into the display during the manufacturing process - they then crawl around and often die on the display itself. In my time with Apple gear I've seen quite a number of displays like this. It all started around 2012 with the introduction of the thinner iMacs with the glued on display.

[anasimion]

Some very interesting insights here! I'm going to be honest, AppleCare+ on the Mac has been a life saver a couple of times. 2 of my new M1 Max 16" models I'd got at launch sustained water damage whilst travelling back from a business trip (my water bottle burst in my bag). I'd only needed to pay £229 for each Mac compared to over £1500 worth of repairs. Therefore in my view for the more expensive computers, it's definitely worth having it for peace of mind.

[ianmedium]

I just got the Air M3 15", I also have an M2 iPad Pro I bought last year. A couple of years ago I bought a used iPhone 10. I have apple care for the iPad and air but non for the phone. I will be upgrading to a iPhone 15 sometime this year as the battery is going on the 10 and I can no longer update. I will add apple care to that as well. For me, its just peace of mind and that is worth more than the actual cost!

[davewhite]

I’ve got one in my iMac 2017 but it was after my Apple Care expired 😢

[ChristopherLecky-ex]

Absolutely useful. I cracked my ipad screen and I received a new one the next day for $49

[richardschembri]

I had the same experience with my iMac 2015 and Apple replaced the screen, there mush have been about 6 or 7 of them behind the LCD, that same thing happened to with my LG4K screen at the same time and they did not want to know, Apple care was definitely worth having.

[foundlost]

I bought Apple Care for 2 iMacs and it saved me twice. But I’ve never bought it for my MacBooks. I haven’t had issues with my MacBook so far when out of warranty

[bryans]

I purchased the base M3 Pro MBP 14 two weeks ago and I will probably extend the AppleCare because I will be traveling with it.

[sharonb.]

Great video. Most of the time we don’t need AppleCare to get good service. Everything is relative! Apple customer service is outstanding compared to my nightmare experiences with other manufacturers. So many others are absolute trash. Manufacturers blamed problems on the software and Microsoft said it was the Manufacturer. Do not mention Microsoft’s sketchy CS $25 fee. If the store I purchased my device from did not help me, manufacturer support was nonexistent. It’s been a few years since it all boiled over into my decision to buy a Mac but I am not willing to chance whether PC manufacturers have gotten any better. AppleCare covers issues outside of Apple’s responsibility and I’m not sure I agree such a freakish occurrence was a build quality issue.

[Technocrat.]

I pay $149cad a year for my M1 Mac Book Pro and $4 cad a month for my iPad.
If I had a iPhone I would buy Apple Care for that too.

[nnnnnn]

I have insect like you in 1700€ LG monitor. Drive me crazy.

[Exploringthemagic]

apple care is worth it on the\at display its $49 a year, and covers accidental damage.I cracked my studio display saved me $800. It was on a standing desk but plugged into a wall plug by my wife by accident when she had to plug a charge in she moved them account and display came right off the desk.

[justinavila]

Reading the comments - many say - "ah it only cost me $49 or $229" but keep in mind a MacBook Pro 3 year warranty (which is really just an additional 2 years if I'm correct cause you have 1 year included minus accidental with your purchase) regardless its $279 for MBP in USA plus your deductible which I just checked $99 for screen or external issues. $299 for accidental damages. Which means you're really paying upon first use $378 for screen damage and $578 for 1st accidental cause you have to factor in what you've paid upfront for the coverage initially $279. Incidentally, if you never use the insurance you've spent an additional $279 on your computer. So how much is it to replace the screen if you DONT have apple insurance? And how is that weighed against your CHANCE of breaking the screen? etc (depends on your usage) BUT don't think it just cost you $99 to replace that screen when you had an accident. Yes, at the time of the accident, but in total your net worth was really $378

[Ronniezim]

Id consider AppleCare if they were to mail you out a replacement/loaner while your unit was being repaired...

[masterphoenixpraha]

sadly no apple care possibility in CZ...

[movdqa]

I've used Macs since the 1980s and have never purchased AppleCare on any of my Apple products. And I've never needed the paid AppleCare service. Apple has replaced lots of motherboards for me from recalls and the free AppleCare. On the Studio, it's really a computer as it has RAM, CPU, SSD and would need ventilation so you can't really seal it up. Insects are a general problem if you can't remove the screen yourself. Other potential problems are condensation. If you are in a very humid environment, then you can get condensation on the inside of the screen. When the water runs down the inside, it can result in some streaking as there can be dirt that's pulled down with the water. I don't have a Studio Monitor but I have backup monitors that I can use in a pinch if something goes wrong with my production monitors.