AppleCare+
{{Outdated|date=February 2025|reason=AppleCare+ changed in February 2025. This article may not completely reflect that}}{{Short description|Apple's warranty plan}}
AppleCare+ is Apple's brand name for extended warranty and technical support plans. It allows the customer unlimited incidents of accidental damage with a deductible (which, like the price of the plan, varies by device).{{Cite web
|title=AppleCare Products [overview]|author=Apple Inc.
|url=https://www.apple.com/support/products
|access-date=July 6, 2016}} AppleCare+ is available for Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro, Apple Display, headphones, Apple TV and HomePod.{{Cite web |title=AppleCare Products |url=https://www.apple.com/support/products/ |access-date=2025-02-16 |website=Apple |language=en-US}} AppleCare+ plans include Apple software associated with the covered hardware.{{cite web |author=Apple Inc. |title=AppleCare Products [details] |url=https://www.apple.com/shop/browse/home/applecare |access-date=July 6, 2016}}
Most Apple hardware comes with complimentary telephone technical support and a limited warranty from Apple. In the United States, AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss runs alongside the warranty from the purchase date, and provides one-stop service and support from Apple experts.{{Cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/support/products/|title=AppleCare - Apple|website=www.apple.com|access-date=2016-09-27}} Customers can elect to continue their AppleCare+ coverage on an annual basis upon the expiration of their initial plan.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-03 |title=Extend your AppleCare+ coverage |url=https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT210580 |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Apple Support |language=en}}[https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-debuts-invites-app-applecare-163935852.html?guccounter=1 "Apple Debuts Invites App, Care+ Changes in Subscription Push"] – Yahoo! Finance The monthly option will run until canceled.
AppleCare+ is sold by Apple and its authorized resellers. It can be attached, via the serial number, to devices at the time of purchase, or up to thirty or sixty days (depending on location) post-purchase.{{cite web|url=https://support.apple.com/en/HT202702|title=Buy an AppleCare plan|website=Apple Support|publisher=Apple|access-date=30 September 2019}}
AppleCare+ also includes an express replacement service for iPad and iPhone. AppleCare+ insures against accidental damage, unlike the statutory warranty.{{Cite web |title=Apple Products and Consumer Laws in the United Kingdom |url=https://www.apple.com/uk/legal/statutory-warranty/ |access-date=2016-11-04 |website=www.apple.com}}
AppleCare+ services may be provided in all countries where the program is offered regardless of country of AppleCare+ purchase, subject to local terms and conditions.
AppleCare+ does not override any existing warranty laws or consumer rights laws.
As of October 2023, Theft and Loss coverage is provided in Australia, Austria, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.{{Cite web|title=iPhone Theft and Loss Claims - Official Apple Support|url=https://support.apple.com/iphone/theft-loss-claims|access-date=2023-10-01|website=support.apple.com|language=en}} AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss includes up to two incidents of accidental damage, theft or loss coverage at a reduced cost to the end consumer.{{Cite web|url=https://9to5mac.com/2018/09/12/applecare-iphone-theft-loss-monthly/|title=AppleCare+ for iPhone adds new theft and loss option, monthly payments|last=Potuck|first=Michael|date=2018-09-12|website=9to5Mac|language=en-US|access-date=2019-09-30}} Currently, Theft and Loss coverage is unavailable in some parts of Europe, South America, Asia Pacific, Africa, North America (Canada) or Antarctica. To be able to claim on a stolen or lost device, the customer's Find My feature needs to be active.{{Cite web |title=AppleCare Products - iPhone |url=https://www.apple.com/support/products/iphone/ |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Apple |language=en-US}}
Included Mac and iPad accessory coverage
Customers who purchase AppleCare+ with any Mac computer or iPad are also automatically entitled to receive coverage for some other related Apple accessories and in-box accessories (such as power adapters and cables). Along with coverage for the MacBook, any additional Apple display purchased at the same time as a Macbook device is covered.{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Apple - Support - AppleCare - FAQ |url=https://www.apple.com/asia/support/products/faqs.html |access-date=2016-09-27 |website=www.apple.com}} AppleCare+ for iPad also covers accidental damage to Apple Pencils or Magic Keyboards.
AppleCare+ Extended Service
In some countries or territories where there are no local Apple offices, such as parts of Latin America, the "AppleCare+ Extended Service" product is available in place of the AppleCare+ product. This offers the same hardware warranty, but without phone and online support.{{Cite web |title=Legal - Sales and Support - AppleCare - AppleCare Extended Service Agreement Terms and Conditions - Apple |url=https://www.apple.com/legal/sales-support/applecare/esageos.html |access-date=2023-07-10 |website=Apple Legal |language=en-US}}
Compliance in various jurisdictions
= China =
On March 15, 2013, China Central Television aired a program for the World Consumer Rights Day. The program criticized the issue associated with Apple warranty issues in China. The report said, an iPhone always gets an old back cover when being repaired in China. It also states that the warranty period for changed product is only 90 days and the warranty period for Macintosh and iPad are not according to Chinese laws to get warranty in China.{{cite web |title=Apple China warranty policy is different from foreign countries |url=http://jingji.cntv.cn/2013/03/15/ARTI1363350607589867.shtml |access-date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=China Network Television}} On April 1, 2013, Apple CEO Tim Cook apologized to Chinese consumers for the China warranty policy and changed the policy.{{cite web |title=Tim Cook apologies Chinese consumers for warranty policy |url=http://jingji.cntv.cn/2013/04/02/VIDE1364861283571975.shtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405083858/http://jingji.cntv.cn/2013/04/02/VIDE1364861283571975.shtml |archive-date=April 5, 2013 |access-date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=China Network Television |df=mdy-all}}
= European Union =
In some parts of European countries a part of the European Union (EU), local regulations gives consumers a minimum of two years warranty on hardware defects that existed at time of purchase, which overlaps the benefits of AppleCare. This effectively means that, in certain countries in the EU, AppleCare+ still offers phone and online support for ninety days on all devices.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/27/2663489/apple-fined-1-2m-in-italy-for-misleading-warranty-claims|title=Apple fined $1.2m in Italy for misleading warranty claims|last=Patel|first=Nilay|date=2011-12-27|website=The Verge|access-date=2016-09-28}} In most countries, the onus under the EU law is on the merchant to establish that a hardware defect did not exist at time of purchase for the first six months after purchase. After the six-month period, this is reversed, meaning that the customer may need to establish that a hardware defect did exist when they received the product.{{Cite web|url=http://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/consumers/shopping/guarantees-returns/index_en.htm|title=Guarantees, cancelling and returning your purchases|website=Your Europe - Citizens|access-date=2016-11-04}} Unlike the statutory guarantee, AppleCare+ also covers defects that appeared after purchase, if the device was handled correctly.{{Cite web|url=https://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/|title=Apple - Legal - Hardware Warranties|website=www.apple.com|access-date=2016-11-04}}
== Italy ==
On December 27, 2011, Apple was fined a total of €900,000 by the Italian Antitrust Authority for failing to properly inform customers of their legal right to two years of warranty service under Italy's Consumer Code. According to the Italian agency Apple only disclosed its own standard one-year warranty and offered to sell customers AppleCare+ for one additional year instead of abiding by the law. The agency fined Apple €400,000 for failing to disclose the legally mandated two-year warranty and €500,000 for selling overlapping AppleCare+ coverage.{{cite news |last=Singletary |first=Michelle |date=December 21, 2011 |title=Italy fines Apple $1.2M |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/italy-fines-apple-12m/2011/12/27/gIQAvrXgKP_story.html |access-date=December 28, 2011}}
- {{cite web |last=Reisinger |first=Don |date=October 13, 2011 |title=Italy fines Apple $1.2 million over AppleCare practices | The Digital Home |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-13506_3-57348676-17/italy-fines-apple-$1.2-million-over-applecare-practices/ |access-date=December 28, 2011 |work=CNET News}}
- {{cite news |last=Horn |first=Leslie |date=January 1, 1970 |title=Apple Fined $1.2 Million in Italy for Misleading Consumers | News & Opinion |work=PCMag |url=https://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2398075,00.asp |access-date=December 28, 2011}}
- {{cite web |title=Apple Fined €900,000 in Italy | PCWorld Business Center |url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/247049/apple_fined_and8364900000_in_italy.html |access-date=December 28, 2011 |work=PC World}}
- {{cite news |date=December 27, 2011 |title=BBC News – Apple fined by Italy over misleading product guarantees |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16339651 |access-date=December 28, 2011}}
- {{cite web |last=Patel |first=Nilay |date=December 21, 2011 |title=Apple fined $1.2m in Italy for misleading warranty claims |url=https://www.theverge.com/2011/12/27/2663489/apple-fined-1-2m-in-italy-for-misleading-warranty-claims |access-date=December 28, 2011 |work=The Verge}}
References
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External links
- [https://www.apple.com/support/products Apple - AppleCare+ products and services]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20140820103457/https://www.apple.com/legal/warranty/Additional_Legal_Rights_for_Consumers.htm Apple Products and Statutory Warranty]
{{Apple}}