Are you an Apple user? Did you purchase a new Apple device in-store? If so, you probably got pitched hard on purchasing an AppleCare or AppleCare+ extended warranty for your device. Apple retail staffers are highly motivated to sell these plans, and they rely on the company’s stellar service reputation to sell them.
But a few months down the road, perhaps you regret your decision? Maybe you’ve run into some of the limitations of AppleCare support, or maybe you’ve been denied on a claim you thought would’ve been covered?
Whatever your reasons, if you’re looking for a way out of AppleCare, Upsie has the answers you need.
AppleCare service is (usually) impressive, but like all things Apple, you pay a serious premium for it. AppleCare’s cost is divided into two categories:
These vary across devices, of course, but
all prices are a little steeper than you might expect.
iPhone 12 Pricing
AppleCare+ has two plans: AppleCare+ and AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss. Take the iPhone 14 with the basic AppleCare+ plan, for example. Two years of AppleCare+ coverage costs you $199 in premiums, or $269 if you want theft and loss protection.
That’s already a pretty substantial cost, but what happens if you need to make a claim? If it’s screen-related, you have to pay another $29. Any other claim? Another $99.
MacBook Air Pricing
If you purchase AppleCare+ for your MacBook Air, you’ll pay $249 upfront. If you end up making a claim, you’ll pay $99 for screen/enclosure damage or a whopping $299 for any other damage.
Is AppleCare Worth It?
These high prices lead many people to wonder: Is AppleCare+ really worth it? It’s a good question, one that even Apple-centric sites like
MacRumors struggle with. Take that MacBook Air example: Nearly $550 ($249 upfront plus $299 for the claim) for a single out-of-warranty non-screen repair on a machine most people spend around $900 on.
Apple machines are notoriously difficult to repair. The truth is that many types of internal damage result in replacing most of the internal components, if not replacing the machine altogether. But the costs are very, very high.
Not to mention, there are cheaper options out there. Upsie, for example, offers the same level of quality service. You can even get your Apple products repaired at the Genius Bar!
For the MacBook Air, Upsie charges $121.99 compared to Apple’s $249 for coverage. And Upsie’s deductible is just $25, not Apple’s crazy $299! Even with this massive difference in deductible, Upsie covers accidental damage just like AppleCare+ does.
How to Cancel AppleCare and Switch to Upsie
If you’re a current AppleCare+ customer feeling a bit of buyer’s remorse, we have good news. It’s probably not too late to switch to better coverage! Just about every AppleCare+ user can cancel their AppleCare. How this works depends on how you’re paying for your coverage.
Canceling AppleCare or AppleCare+
If you’re paying monthly for your AppleCare+ coverage, you can cancel at any time. Unfortunately, you won’t get money back for the months you’ve paid, but you won’t be obligated to keep on paying.
If you bought AppleCare in full using the one-time payment method, you can cancel and get a refund! If you haven’t made a claim and cancel within 30 days, you’ll get a full refund. However, if more than 30 days have passed, you’ll get a partial, prorated refund. You can even get a refund if you’ve made a claim that was less than the value paid. Apple will deduct whatever value you’ve already extracted via your claim, though.
Monthly customers can cancel on their device in the settings menu under their name, then select “Subscriptions.” It’s simple and easy.
One-time payment customers have to contact Apple Support to cancel and request their refund. There are a few more steps to this method, which Mac Reports outlines in their
helpful explainer.
Switching to Upsie
Switching to Upsie is easy! All you need to do is navigate to the relevant category page such as the
MacBook Extended Warranty or the
iPhone Subscription Warranty pages and fill in the relevant information. Upsie offers coverage for new or used devices, but keep in mind there’s a purchasing window for some devices (60 days for MacBooks). There is no eligibility window for smartphones. As a result, you can purchase an Upsie warranty for new, used, or old smartphones.
Add your warranty to cart and purchase - that’s it! Now you’re protected with industry-leading coverage, including accidental damage on most Apple products, for far less cash than you paid for AppleCare+.
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