AppleCare
Reddit take
AI summary of the Reddit excerpts below — not a quote
AppleCare is generally viewed as a 'peace of mind' service that is highly recommended for mobile devices like iPhones and MacBooks, but often dismissed for stationary Macs. While it can save users from catastrophic out-of-pocket costs—such as motherboard failures or screen replacements—many long-term users argue it is a net financial loss if you are historically careful with your hardware.
Pros
- Provides significant savings on high-cost repairs like motherboard replacements or smashed screens
- Offers peace of mind for users who prefer not to use cases or screen protectors
- Includes international repair coverage, which is highly valued by travelers
- Covers Apple-branded peripherals when used with a covered machine
Cons
- High annual costs (reported up to $200+/year for some plans) can exceed the cost of occasional repairs
- Mac coverage specifically excludes loss and theft, covering only accidental damage
- Requires additional deductibles/excess fees even when the service plan is active
- Subscription-based model can be a recurring financial burden compared to one-time payments
Caveats
- The financial benefit is only realized if you actually experience a major hardware failure or accident
- Stationary devices like the Mac Mini or iMac are widely considered lower priority for coverage compared to mobile devices
- For base-model devices, the cost of the plan can represent a disproportionately high percentage (up to 25%) of the total purchase price
Best for
- Digital nomads and frequent travelers
- Owners of high-end or expensive configurations (e.g., 1TB iPhones or Pro MacBooks)
- Users who prefer the 'naked' device aesthetic without cases
Avoid if
- You are purchasing a stationary desktop Mac that rarely moves
- The plan cost is a significant fraction of the device's total value
- You have a multi-year history of never damaging or losing your electronics
This summary uses balanced time weighting with about a 6-month half-life. The evidence is older (median age ~404 days), so users should verify current pricing and terms as service details may have changed.
Sentiment
23 positive (64%) · 4 mixed (11%) · 9 negative (25%)
Trust + time weighted score: +42% · raw score 39%
What redditors said (10 of 36)
I’d still get Apple care for my phone just for the ease of mind but for laptops where I don’t carry it literally every moment I’m outside I wouldn’t bother
The best case is AppleCare+
My macbook air m3 one morning couldn’t turn on. I did not hit it, water, nothing, just didnt work at all. I barely move it from my desk. Reparation cost was over 600EUR to replace the whole motherboard. Luckily I had AppleCare+ still valid so I paid 0. Got it working back again in 2 days. So only for this I would say it was worth it for me.
I’d have to stop buying AC+, I don’t want another subscription. I want to set it and forget it, a subscription also may be an issue because what if I can’t make bills this month? Just miss AC+ I guess, whereas I wouldn’t have to worry if they offered multi year.
Parent context: My macbook air m3 one morning couldn’t turn on. I did not hit it, water, nothing, just didnt work at all. I barely move it from my desk. Reparation cost was over 600EUR to replace the whole motherboard. Luckily I had AppleCare+ still valid so I paid 0. Got it working back again in 2 days. So only for this I would say it was worth it for me. Reply: That's wild about the motherboard just dying like that - those random hardware failures are exactly why I ended up getting AppleCare too
AppleCare+ for Macs doesn’t cover loss or theft, only accidental damage, and even then there’s an excess to pay if something happens.
I never got AppleCare because I thought it was useless, even with other iphones I’ve had.
Also could add it to AppleCare and get the screen fixed for relatively cheap (not sure repair costs since I’ve never used it) but I would recommend AppleCare.
Parent context: $100 plus the AppleCare price (228$/year) Reply: Yeah people always forget that they paid the AppleCare price. I don’t see how it’s worth it unless you smash your phone on a yearly basis
I like AppleCare, no case or screen protector can guarantee I never pay more than $100 for a repair
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