how long do i have to purchase applecare plus ipad air

A truly defective battery will almost certainly go bad in the first year. AppleCare does cover you for a battery that has “depletion of 50 percent or more from the original specification.” I would argue that, in most cases, this doesn’t mean much. In years’ past, AppleCare was sometimes recommended just for its battery coverage. You also aren’t covered for loss or theft under any circumstances. Problems after that aren’t covered even with AppleCare.Įxcept for AppleCare+ for iPhone, AppleCare does not cover any damage due to “accidents.” So if you damage your iPad by dropping it or spilling water on it, you’re not covered even with AppleCare. Problems before that are covered for free. So the cost of the coverage is really paying for just one year: days 366 to 730 of ownership. If you put an extended warranty under a magnifying glass, you’ll likely find that it covers less than you thought.įor example, AppleCare for iOS devices “extends your service coverage to two years from the purchase date.” However, you already have the first year covered without buying AppleCare.

As you’ll see in a moment, I part ways with CR here.Įxtended warranties cover less than you may think The logic is that devices that leave home with you are far more likely to be stolen or damaged than stay-at-home devices. Second, CR suggests that an extended warranty may be worth buying for mobile devices (such as laptops and smartphones) - if the warranty includes theft and accidental damage coverage. But if it does matter to you, get AppleCare. Especially if you live near an Apple Store (where you can make an appointment with a Genius), I doubt telephone support matters much anymore. With AppleCare, for example, you get one year, rather than 90 days, of “free” telephone support. Despite their general disapproval, they offer two reasons to consider an extended warranty for computer devices.įirst, if you want the handholding of additional technical support, an extended warranty can be worth it. As recently as the November 2011 issue, CR reiterated: “Extended warranties for most electronics and household appliances aren’t worth the money.” Why? Because the average cost of a repair is “not much more” than the warranty price - not to mention that, for most electronics, you’re not likely to need a repair during the warranty period.Ĭonsumer Reports does hedge a bit. Their advice about these warranties is always the same: Avoid them. It’s not just Apple extended warranties are a bad bet in generalĬheck out any issue of Consumer Reports (CR) that mentions the topic of extended warranties. My conclusion remains essentially the same: AppleCare for iOS devices, and especially AppleCare+ for iPhone, are still a bad bet.

As such, it seemed like a good time to reconsider the merits of AppleCare - this time with a focus on iOS devices (iPhone, iPad and iPod touch). They will all have to decide whether or not to purchase AppleCare for their new devices. With the 2011 holiday season upon us, many many many people will be getting Apple products as gifts over the next few weeks. I strongly recommended against getting Apple’s extended warranty: “AppleCare is almost always a bad choice.” Back in 2006, I wrote a column titled “ Should You Care About AppleCare?” In it, I weighed the pros and cons of purchasing AppleCare when buying a Mac.

How long do i have to purchase applecare plus ipad air