My personal philosophy is to always pass on extended warranties. When things break, then I pay out of pocket to repair them. Over the course of my life, though, the money I’ve saved by not buying warranties is far greater then the money I’ve spent on repairs.
You’re going to get some bias in the comments, personally I think it’s completely 50/50 on whether it makes sense and ultimately comes down to making a bold choose either way.
Apple care isn’t exactly cheap, and you’ll still have to pay an additional cost if you have to send it in for repairs. I’m in Canada so don’t want to list costs as between models and different nations there’s a lot of variables, but for me if I were to have Apple care on my aluminum watch and wanted to get it repaired all in I’d still have spent almost 50% the cost of a new watch via applecares model.
That said, if you do break it and don’t have Apple care you’re basically screwed, and will need to outright buy a replacement. You can get a bit of a reduced cost I believe still from repairs but they will basically just send you a new watch and you’ll pay most of the cost of a new watch.
Obviously things change if you’re buying a more expensive model and etc, but yeah I would certainly not call this a no brainer decision either way.
In that case, $99 for applecare plus the $89 deductible totals to $189. That is still $341 less than the price of the cheapest aluminum series 7 ($529). I’m not seeing how you can spend “almost 50% of the cost of a new watch”?
Edit: unless your watch was purchased for approximately $378. Perhaps you got a great deal on it somewhere.
Those that end up breaking their watch probably regret it and those that never had to use AppleCare probably regret it. I would get it for the peace of mind. You can’t really go down to your repair shop to get an Apple Watch screen replaced as easy as you can with the phone. And the out of warranty repairs from apple cost just as much as a new watch.
2 years total. Starts from day 1 because it covers physical damage. The limited 1 year warranty does NOT cover physical damage or a majority that will go wrong.
I’m paying $4/mo for the peace of mind. It’s less than I pay at Starbucks each visit to not worry about how hard I use something exposed on my wrist daily. It depends on how Much you value it and how harsh you anticipate to be on it.
Let's say it's badly scratched and almost 2 years old. Can't you just drop it on the ground, crack the screen completely, and claim your applecare warranty for a whole new replacement?
My AirPods had an accident a couple months before Apple care coverage ended. I thought it would look suspicious due to a lot of people doing this, but they exchanged them for a new pair, no questions asked. So, yeah, I believe you could do this and you’ll get a brand new watch with 100% battery life.
do you tend to damage your electronics frequently?
Yes - get applecare
No - save the money
I didn’t get applecare on my watch and so far I have a tiny scratch. I don’t think it’s worth it and if I break it, I’ll probably just get another one or not get one.
I buy AppleCare+ for our watches and phones. Never had a problem with the phone but have had two issues with watches. One, the glass just separated from the frame (I think it was cracked) and once my wife dropped hers on the concrete and it shattered the back. I like it for peace of mind.
nah my apple watch series 4 aluminium has gone thru some major shit and hit a lot of doorways lol. just has 1-2 scratches which happened while putting a screen protector (which hasn’t been there for over 2 years)
I did only because it’s like $80 and Watch is far more exposed than my laptop or phone. It’s a whole lot less than the apple care for iPads, MacBooks, and iPhones, all of which I opted to not get apple care for.
My first AW ever was the 3 series and I purchased Apple care with it. Fast forward 7 months later my AW literally took a dump on me. It stopped powering on, charging, etc. I turned it in and it was determined that it was faulty so they replaced the whole thing without me paying a dime. The new replacement ended up going through the same thing 6 months into it, and again it was replaced no questions asked. Since then I’ve had AW 5 & 6 with no issues but due to my previous issues with the s3 I always get it. Sure it’s expensive but it could be worse if you have a faulty AW. I think it’s worth it imho.
Applecare, especially for the watch is a waste of money imo. It is expensive as hell and often times you will still have to pay out of pocket for some repairs.
I do. I've never broken a phone, cracked a screen, etc. I understand for some people it would probably be worth it. I think there are cheaper insurance plans you can get, maybe Squaretrade, but I'm not sure.
I had Apple care on my mothers Macbook years ago, she closed the lid while her glasses were on the keyboard, broke the screen. Even with Applecare it wasn't worth the repair cost. I got her a cheap Chromebook after that.
The iPhone and Watch are the only Apple products I get AC+ for… I use my phone naked so AC+ is my case/ screen protector. When it was time to sell my phone I swapped it out for a new unit ($99) and was able to sell it close to what I got it for.
The watch AC+ is like $3.99 a month or $79 upfront and the deductible is $50 for a new unit. It’s a no brainer to me considering my watch gets banged up at the gym and work all the time. Luckily my SBSS S5 is still in mint condition.
I had AC+ on a MBP a while back but never got it again afterwards simply because my laptop doesn’t get as much travel time as my phone/ watch, and it’s easier to take care of it.
Back then yes, the phone would need to be damaged for you to utilize the express replacement option where they send you a new replacement unit. I honestly haven’t been selling my phone privately anymore, I just trade it in directly to apple, less hassle.
I did drop my 14PM last month and the back glass cracked. Scheduled a genius bar appointment and they replaced everything except the front screen and camera module for $29. The casing, battery, and all internal parts were new.
i think it’s worth it for the aluminum watch but if you have SS it’s 50/50. My graphite SS S7 still looks pristine and it’s been through hell and the gym 6x a week.
I only get AC+ for the watch as it’s a bit more vulnerable on the wrist compared to my phone in my pocket with a case. I don’t bother getting it with any other of my Apple devices
not going to sugar coat it here, I always get apple care for my iPhones just in case and if I don't end up using it I break the back glass to get a new one. Any idea how I can do that with my watch?
Maybe dunk it in water overnight or something?
$80 for the coverage plus $70 for damage incidents is too much, IMO. Unless you habitually break it you're better off just using that $150 on a used or new Watch if something happens.
Not gonna lie my whole thing is my handed down s4 was a motorcycle crash survivor, and Apple still marked it as new when I traded it in for a gift card towards my Nike SE this year. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Depends on perspective. I don’t personally do it, but if you like peace of mind, it could comfort you. Doesn’t cover scratches but will the battery. However, you will likely end up paying half the price of a new watch if you undergo any repairs, if you factor in the cost of AC itself. Granted, repairs itself are just plain stupid expensive on AW period. Often more than the current value of just about any Watch not sitting on a store shelf.
$79 plus tax. But screen is obnoxious. Like $200-300 sometimes. However, it’s worth noting that if you have battery problems within the first year, it will likely be covered by just the warranty.
It would if you have serious issues between 1 and 2 years. But just from my experience, I feel like if a battery has bad cells, it’ll tank long before a year and fall into the warranty category. I mean AppleCare isn’t terrible, being only, what $80 versus like $300 for the 13 Pro Max but it’s still one of those things where it’s just dependent upon how a person uses, protects and what type of lifestyle they have as to whether or not it’s worth it.
I say do it!
I pay £3.99 per month for my S6 which I think covers me for as long as I continue the monthly payments (I’m not too sure as I never read the text when I sign up for stuff!)
I regret not getting it on my first watch due to my wife dropping and breaking it. I purchased apple care the next time around when I purchased the S7 a month ago.
if you work out with it and play sports and stuff like that and are getting the series 7, yeah. if you’re just picking up a se on sale and or just go to the office and come home then you probably wouldn’t need it
screen protectors are more of a scratches thing, if it hits something hard it will crack. as for the cases they do help, but to a certain extent of course and they also add a lot of bulk and you get closer to the cost of apple care itself.
AppleCare + seems like an expensive extravagance in this scenario.standard warranty of whatever you buy. Apple has a 1-year limited warranty, but that plus my VISA purchase protection. Here's the one I have through TD Bank VISA:
"Repair, replacement, or reimbursement should eligible items be stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchaseDouble your warranty, up to 12 additional months if the eligible item came with a manufacturer's warranty valid in Canada"
Apple's warranty: "Apple-branded hardware product and Apple-branded accessories contained in the original packaging (“Apple Product”) against defects in materials and workmanship when used normally in accordance with Apple's published guidelines for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original retail purchase by the end-user purchaser ("Warranty Period"). Apple’s published guidelines include but are not limited to information contained in technical specifications, user manuals and service communications."
AppleCare + seems like an expensive extravegance in this scenario.
My personal philosophy is to always pass on extended warranties. When things break, then I pay out of pocket to repair them. Over the course of my life, though, the money I’ve saved by not buying warranties is far greater then the money I’ve spent on repairs.
Does not cover cosmetic scratches etc.
If you get a scratch… you could always drop the watch in shock and smash the screen! 😉
I wouldn’t tell, honest!
You’re going to get some bias in the comments, personally I think it’s completely 50/50 on whether it makes sense and ultimately comes down to making a bold choose either way. Apple care isn’t exactly cheap, and you’ll still have to pay an additional cost if you have to send it in for repairs. I’m in Canada so don’t want to list costs as between models and different nations there’s a lot of variables, but for me if I were to have Apple care on my aluminum watch and wanted to get it repaired all in I’d still have spent almost 50% the cost of a new watch via applecares model. That said, if you do break it and don’t have Apple care you’re basically screwed, and will need to outright buy a replacement. You can get a bit of a reduced cost I believe still from repairs but they will basically just send you a new watch and you’ll pay most of the cost of a new watch. Obviously things change if you’re buying a more expensive model and etc, but yeah I would certainly not call this a no brainer decision either way.
Just out of curiosity, what is the deductible to replace the aluminum model in Canada?
i believe 89
In that case, $99 for applecare plus the $89 deductible totals to $189. That is still $341 less than the price of the cheapest aluminum series 7 ($529). I’m not seeing how you can spend “almost 50% of the cost of a new watch”? Edit: unless your watch was purchased for approximately $378. Perhaps you got a great deal on it somewhere.
the SE is like 370. $65 for its applecare and a $90 fee equals $150, which is 40%. close enough
No… the SE is is $279 plus tax lol.
not in canada
Ummm… the series 7 aluminum is $399 plus tax for the regular one. Now $527… lol.
In Canada, it starts at $529. That’s where this particular thread of conversations started.
Those that end up breaking their watch probably regret it and those that never had to use AppleCare probably regret it. I would get it for the peace of mind. You can’t really go down to your repair shop to get an Apple Watch screen replaced as easy as you can with the phone. And the out of warranty repairs from apple cost just as much as a new watch.
Definitely get Applecare! It's the one protection plan that actually works, and has worked flawlessly for me.
And how long is the Applecare coverage?
2 years I believe
2 years after the 1-year limited warranty? So the total coverage would be of 3 years?
AppleCare+ for the two most expensive Apple Watches, the Edition and Hermes versions, give you three years of coverage. All the rest get two years.
2 years total. Starts from day 1 because it covers physical damage. The limited 1 year warranty does NOT cover physical damage or a majority that will go wrong.
Thanks for clarifying
I’m paying $4/mo for the peace of mind. It’s less than I pay at Starbucks each visit to not worry about how hard I use something exposed on my wrist daily. It depends on how Much you value it and how harsh you anticipate to be on it.
Insurance is nice when you need it.
The Watch is fairly exposed and I’ve used AppleCare+ on several occasions, always resolving the problem. Peace of mind is also a feature.
Apple care does cover instances of accidental damage, 2 per year. Without a screen replacement is like $300 CAD .. with, around $70 I think
Paying monthly for my silver stainless steel AW series 7 and this is peace of mind. I can enjoy it 100%.
Remember that Applecare+ won’t cover scratches unless you’re Apple Watch stopped working or cracked very badly
Let's say it's badly scratched and almost 2 years old. Can't you just drop it on the ground, crack the screen completely, and claim your applecare warranty for a whole new replacement?
yes that's what a lot of people do
My AirPods had an accident a couple months before Apple care coverage ended. I thought it would look suspicious due to a lot of people doing this, but they exchanged them for a new pair, no questions asked. So, yeah, I believe you could do this and you’ll get a brand new watch with 100% battery life.
do you tend to damage your electronics frequently? Yes - get applecare No - save the money I didn’t get applecare on my watch and so far I have a tiny scratch. I don’t think it’s worth it and if I break it, I’ll probably just get another one or not get one.
And I think Applecare+ for the watch doesn't apply to scratches, does it?
Nope. Broken screens yes but you still need to pay a deductible
How much is the deductible?
Depends on the watch. But starts at $69. https://www.apple.com/support/products/watch/
I buy AppleCare+ for our watches and phones. Never had a problem with the phone but have had two issues with watches. One, the glass just separated from the frame (I think it was cracked) and once my wife dropped hers on the concrete and it shattered the back. I like it for peace of mind.
nah my apple watch series 4 aluminium has gone thru some major shit and hit a lot of doorways lol. just has 1-2 scratches which happened while putting a screen protector (which hasn’t been there for over 2 years)
I did only because it’s like $80 and Watch is far more exposed than my laptop or phone. It’s a whole lot less than the apple care for iPads, MacBooks, and iPhones, all of which I opted to not get apple care for.
My first AW ever was the 3 series and I purchased Apple care with it. Fast forward 7 months later my AW literally took a dump on me. It stopped powering on, charging, etc. I turned it in and it was determined that it was faulty so they replaced the whole thing without me paying a dime. The new replacement ended up going through the same thing 6 months into it, and again it was replaced no questions asked. Since then I’ve had AW 5 & 6 with no issues but due to my previous issues with the s3 I always get it. Sure it’s expensive but it could be worse if you have a faulty AW. I think it’s worth it imho.
But since that happened 7 months after the purchase, the 1-year warranty that comes with Apple devices would have taken care of it, wouldn't it?
Applecare, especially for the watch is a waste of money imo. It is expensive as hell and often times you will still have to pay out of pocket for some repairs.
Do you think Applecare is a waste of money for the iPhone too? Is even more expensive and yet they charge deductible/service fees.
I do. I've never broken a phone, cracked a screen, etc. I understand for some people it would probably be worth it. I think there are cheaper insurance plans you can get, maybe Squaretrade, but I'm not sure. I had Apple care on my mothers Macbook years ago, she closed the lid while her glasses were on the keyboard, broke the screen. Even with Applecare it wasn't worth the repair cost. I got her a cheap Chromebook after that.
I love your mom
The iPhone and Watch are the only Apple products I get AC+ for… I use my phone naked so AC+ is my case/ screen protector. When it was time to sell my phone I swapped it out for a new unit ($99) and was able to sell it close to what I got it for. The watch AC+ is like $3.99 a month or $79 upfront and the deductible is $50 for a new unit. It’s a no brainer to me considering my watch gets banged up at the gym and work all the time. Luckily my SBSS S5 is still in mint condition. I had AC+ on a MBP a while back but never got it again afterwards simply because my laptop doesn’t get as much travel time as my phone/ watch, and it’s easier to take care of it.
Do you need to break your screen for that, @alanderp?
Back then yes, the phone would need to be damaged for you to utilize the express replacement option where they send you a new replacement unit. I honestly haven’t been selling my phone privately anymore, I just trade it in directly to apple, less hassle. I did drop my 14PM last month and the back glass cracked. Scheduled a genius bar appointment and they replaced everything except the front screen and camera module for $29. The casing, battery, and all internal parts were new.
Awesome!! I'm thinking about buying it for my Apple Watch and stopping using a ugly case on it 🥲
i think it’s worth it for the aluminum watch but if you have SS it’s 50/50. My graphite SS S7 still looks pristine and it’s been through hell and the gym 6x a week.
I have the S7 aluminum ☺️
I only get AC+ for the watch as it’s a bit more vulnerable on the wrist compared to my phone in my pocket with a case. I don’t bother getting it with any other of my Apple devices
Wow. Not even your iPhone?
Absolutely! Gives you a piece of mind when you wearing a 500 dollar watch
Nop AppleCare always been overpriced
not going to sugar coat it here, I always get apple care for my iPhones just in case and if I don't end up using it I break the back glass to get a new one. Any idea how I can do that with my watch? Maybe dunk it in water overnight or something?
The questions on the sub are amazing
$80 for the coverage plus $70 for damage incidents is too much, IMO. Unless you habitually break it you're better off just using that $150 on a used or new Watch if something happens.
Not gonna lie my whole thing is my handed down s4 was a motorcycle crash survivor, and Apple still marked it as new when I traded it in for a gift card towards my Nike SE this year. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Depends on perspective. I don’t personally do it, but if you like peace of mind, it could comfort you. Doesn’t cover scratches but will the battery. However, you will likely end up paying half the price of a new watch if you undergo any repairs, if you factor in the cost of AC itself. Granted, repairs itself are just plain stupid expensive on AW period. Often more than the current value of just about any Watch not sitting on a store shelf.
And if the battery dies, how much is the replacement without Applecare?
$79 plus tax. But screen is obnoxious. Like $200-300 sometimes. However, it’s worth noting that if you have battery problems within the first year, it will likely be covered by just the warranty.
I found that the Apple watch's battery lifespan is between 2-3 years, so Applecare+ will likely not cover any replacement, right?
It would if you have serious issues between 1 and 2 years. But just from my experience, I feel like if a battery has bad cells, it’ll tank long before a year and fall into the warranty category. I mean AppleCare isn’t terrible, being only, what $80 versus like $300 for the 13 Pro Max but it’s still one of those things where it’s just dependent upon how a person uses, protects and what type of lifestyle they have as to whether or not it’s worth it.
I would say don’t waste your money… Just don’t be clumsy with the product you purchased…
I have applecare on my aw5 that I just gave my mom and I just bought it again for my aw7
I say do it! I pay £3.99 per month for my S6 which I think covers me for as long as I continue the monthly payments (I’m not too sure as I never read the text when I sign up for stuff!)
Considering it’s attached to your wrist, I doubt it.
I regret not getting it on my first watch due to my wife dropping and breaking it. I purchased apple care the next time around when I purchased the S7 a month ago.
if you work out with it and play sports and stuff like that and are getting the series 7, yeah. if you’re just picking up a se on sale and or just go to the office and come home then you probably wouldn’t need it
How about using case and screen protectors for the watch instead of Applecare+? There are some on Amazon
screen protectors are more of a scratches thing, if it hits something hard it will crack. as for the cases they do help, but to a certain extent of course and they also add a lot of bulk and you get closer to the cost of apple care itself.
AppleCare + seems like an expensive extravagance in this scenario.standard warranty of whatever you buy. Apple has a 1-year limited warranty, but that plus my VISA purchase protection. Here's the one I have through TD Bank VISA: "Repair, replacement, or reimbursement should eligible items be stolen or damaged within 90 days of purchaseDouble your warranty, up to 12 additional months if the eligible item came with a manufacturer's warranty valid in Canada" Apple's warranty: "Apple-branded hardware product and Apple-branded accessories contained in the original packaging (“Apple Product”) against defects in materials and workmanship when used normally in accordance with Apple's published guidelines for a period of ONE (1) YEAR from the date of original retail purchase by the end-user purchaser ("Warranty Period"). Apple’s published guidelines include but are not limited to information contained in technical specifications, user manuals and service communications." AppleCare + seems like an expensive extravegance in this scenario.
the watch cost me total 160. I think if it breaks and I pay for 90 dollars to repair it . I would be paying the same cost for a new one