As a user (and seller) of Apple products for years, I have always recommended to hire Applecare +. Especially on expensive devices such as MacBook Pro or an iPhone 16 Pro.n Small payment per month can save you a much greater aversionEspecially when seeing how repairs prices are increasing. For example, changing the screen of an iPhone 16 with Applecare + would only cost you 29 dollars. Without Applecare +, more than 300 dollars.
It is Apple's insurance and why not hire it directly, right? Direct treatment with the Apple Store and the good work of the brand. However, a recent case made me seriously rethink these tips, or at least know its limits.
The case that questioned Applecare +
It all started when Reddit's FRK1974 user shared an image that left a lot of speech: his MacBook Pro completely folded after a car accident. So far, an unfortunate situation, but, for which in theory, I had paid monthly insurance. With his Applecare + by hand, he addressed an Apple store, waiting for the premium service that he had paid religiously each month.
The surprise came when Apple employees, generally if a service told him that they could do nothing for their MacBook. The reason? I was “too damaged”. A answer which, frankly, makes us ask us: is it not precisely for these serious cases for which we hire insurance?
Concretely, The MacBook Pro was sent to the Netherlands For the evaluation and after ten days, they returned it under the same conditions. The reason for the rejection was overwhelming: in the words of Applecare +, “the bent and crushed devices are not covered”.
A former Apple coach and leader confirmed that this was considered “catastrophic damage” and is specifically excluded in terms and conditions. Apple clearly establishes that it does not cover “excessive physical damage (For example, products that have been crushed, folded or overwhelmed in the liquid), caused by imprudent, abusive, intentional use or any use of the equipment not normal or planned by Apple.
Commentary by an ex-Genius from Apple Store
The Reddit community exploded before this Apple interpretation. Several users have indicated that A car accident should not be considered as “reckless behavior” And that this interpretation feels a worrying precedent. If Apple can reject the repair by unilaterally considering what constitutes an imprudent behavior, the roofing limits become quite diffuse.
Fortunately, the user was configured in time, so at least he has not lost his data. However, the case He raises serious doubts about the real limits of Applecare +. Experts suggest that in these most appropriate cases is to use car insurance or home insurance, as they generally cover damaged personal objects in accidents.
What really is Capplare +?
After seven years of work with Apple products, I can tell you that Applecare + normally covers broken screens Even liquid damage, thanks to battery problems and material failures. I did not find any cases that did not finally repair. But if we review the small impression of the contract, Apple specifies that it does not cover “the damage caused by fires, earthquakes, floods or other similar external causes”. And here is the interesting thing: there is a clause on the “reckless behaviors” they used to reject this case.
A car accident is something that, unfortunately, can all happen to us. An imprudent behavior would be to wear the iPhone in a russian mountain in your hand and fall. Maybe Applecare + did not know if the car accident was caused “because of this” or that of the other driver and, therefore, they chose to derive it from the automotive insurance company. This is an isolated case, but to take into account.
As a sector of the sector, I always think that Applecare + has its value. The normal thing is that we come to the groundThe screen is broken and nothing else. It is true that the Mac was completely unusable. A screen break would have been covered, but of course, it is not something that is chosen. It just happens.
There are other types of insurance for electronic devices that respect what we understand as “at full risk”. They also offer simpler coverage, such as screen break or flight. From this situation, we can learn that before hiring something, let's look at the little impression. In addition, now with Chatgpt, it's as simple as joining the PDF file which always gives you before signing the contract and asking questions freely on what it covers and what does not.
You I will continue to trust Applecare +So far, it is the assurance that the best experiences have given me. But, like everything in life, I should improve this aspect. I would not want to see myself in a situation like the one that occurred our protagonist in history.
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