Apple has recently updated its AppleCare+ for Mac offerings, allowing new Mac owners to purchase the extended warranty as an annual subscription rather than being forced to pay for three years upfront. However, users that opt for the yearly subscription will pay a bit of a premium for coverage.
While new Mac owners have been able to opt to annually renew AppleCare+ for their Mac for about a month when buying online, the option is now available at Apple retail locations, online Apple Store, in the app, and by phone, says Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter.
While the change offers users more flexibility than the usual upfront three-year commitment, Mac users will pay more for the privilege.
As noted in the newsletter, an annual AppleCare+ subscription for a new 16-inch MacBook Pro runs $140 a year compared to $380 for Apple’s three-year plan. Customers who keep AppleCare+ in force for three years end up paying a $40 premium. The premium for a 13-inch MacBook Air runs $10 over the same period.
In June, Apple reduced the prices of AppleCare+ plans for MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models equipped with the M1 chip. In the United States, AppleCare+ for the MacBook Air is now $199, down from $249.
AppleCare+ for Mac extends your coverage to three years from your AppleCare+ purchase date and adds up to two incidents of accidental damage protection every 12 months, each subject to a service fee of $99 for screen damage or external enclosure damage, or $299 for other damage, plus applicable tax. In addition, you’ll get 24/7 priority access to Apple experts via chat or phone.