AppleCare is worth it for your MacBook Air! AppleCare is a simple and affordable protection plan provided by Apple for the products that they sell. It could save you plenty of money in the long run if you have any accidents!
My name is Ty Robinson, and I am an IT Field Tech by day. I spent over a year in Geek Squad, dealing with MacBooks and Apple devices daily.
Through this article, I want to stress the importance of a safety net like AppleCare to ensure you can use your device with peace of mind.
Let’s get this started!
Contents
Key Takeaways
- MacBook repairs can get very pricey.
- Applecare is an easy way to feel safe with your device
- Accidents HAPPEN; make sure you are adequately covered.
How Much are MacBook Repairs Without AppleCare?
Let’s start by going into what a MacBook Air repair looks like with absolutely ZERO coverage. Trust me; once you read these costs, you’ll have no problem paying AppleCare’s yearly fee.
When you take your device in to be serviced, wherever that may be, the service technician will inform you which Tier of damage you have. Several factors could impact the pricing, but I show below Apple’s prices listed on their service page.
Tier 1 Damage
How much could it cost for something small? If you crack the trackpad, or the finger sensor bar isn’t working as well as it used to (maybe press down on it a little softer). It will cost about $230 for whatever part and labor fees on top.
Labor fees vary depending on the part you damaged and how much work will go into replacing or fixing whatever damage is visible. This usually ends up being about $100+. So expect to add that to whatever that part fee is.
Tier 2 Damage
Tier 2 ONLY covers display damage; if there is a scratch or dent anywhere else on the device, it can not be in tier 2. The price for this tier will run you about $480+, including all the labor fees.
Tier 3
Tier 3 is the final tier, and this one covers the display, as well as any other damage. This will even cover liquid damage. This tier will be $650+ labor.
As you can see, these out-of-coverage repairs can quickly skyrocket to almost the price of a brand-new device.
How Much Does AppleCare Cover?
As you can see, the price for the parts alone can be highly damaging to your bank account. The cost of a year of coverage is about $99, with an additional service fee of $90 at the time of repair.
No matter where you purchase your MacBook Air, they should offer you AppleCare, and you should say YES unless you want to buy it later.
Once an accident happens, you’ll bring it into the Apple store or Geek Squad to have it checked out and serviced. Pay the $90 service fee, and let those technicians work their magic.
Most AppleCare coverage plans give you about two incidents for the year. As long as your device has not been wholly obliterated, they will take it in and count it as one of your incidents.
For those who are very accident-prone, you may want to be a little wary once you run out of coverage for that year. But if you have the annual AppleCare, you only have to wait until your subscription renews for the year, and you’ve got two more accidents fully covered!
AppleCare Helps Prevent Unexpected Repair Costs
Accidents Happen. Many people like to think, “oh, that could never happen to me,” so they recklessly advance without a care in the world. You do not want to be this person, especially concerning precious and delicate hardware.
Kids running through your house, a glass of soda tips over and spills, and the MacBook Air slips out of your fingers and crashes against the hardwood. These things happen daily, and they could happen to you.
For a measly $99 a year, you can be completely covered for these random incidents. These accidents shouldn’t cost you an arm and a leg.
Can I Buy AppleCare After I Purchase my MacBook Air?
Yes, you can purchase AppleCare for your MacBook Air up to 60 days after purchase. After 60 days and before one year, you can bring your device into an Apple Store and have a technician inspect it. If your MacBook Air is in suitable condition, they will allow you to purchase AppleCare
Final Thoughts
As you can see, AppleCare is well worth it. Spending $99 to cover your MacBook Air for a year and another $100 service fee only adds up to about $200. The most basic damage without warranty already costs more than just one year of AppleCare.
Do yourself the favor of purchasing it right away; your future self will thank you!
