AppleCare+: Goodbye Flexibility, Hello Limited Options

Key Points:

• Apple will no longer offer 2-3 year plans for AppleCare+ in physical stores and on device starting next week.
• Users will only be able to purchase AppleCare plans on a monthly or annual subscription basis.
• The 14-inch MacBook Pro is the only device that will still offer the option to purchase an up-front AppleCare plan.

AppleCare Plan Change: What You Need to Know

Apple is making a significant change to its AppleCare+ plans, and it’s likely to affect many iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users. According to a tweet from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will stop offering the option to purchase a 2-3 year plan of AppleCare+ in physical Apple Stores and on device. This change will take effect next week.

For users who want to purchase a device in an Apple retail store, they will no longer be able to opt for an AppleCare plan up front. Instead, they will have to stick to a monthly or annual subscription. This change will also apply to users who don’t buy their AppleCare plan at the point of purchase.

However, it seems that users who purchase their AppleCare plan online from the Apple Store will still have the option to buy a 2-3 year plan. This is not explicitly confirmed, but the wording in Gurman’s tweet suggests that this will be the case.

Impact on Users

This change will likely have a significant impact on users who value the flexibility of having an AppleCare plan for a set period of time. The up-front plans provided peace of mind, knowing that their device was covered for a specific number of years. With this change, users will have to commit to a monthly or annual subscription, which may not be as appealing to some.

One Exception: The 14-inch MacBook Pro

There is one exception to this rule. The 14-inch MacBook Pro will still offer the option to purchase 3 years of AppleCare up-front for $279. This is a significant saving compared to the $99.99/year rate with the subscription, which works out to a $20 savings.

What’s Next?

It’s likely that Apple has a larger plan to switch all AppleCare purchases to subscription-only. However, for now, users can still purchase an up-front AppleCare plan on the 14-inch MacBook Pro. It will be interesting to see how this change affects the Apple ecosystem and whether other devices will follow suit.

What Do You Think?

We’d love to hear your thoughts on this AppleCare plan change. Do you prefer the flexibility of an up-front plan, or do you think the subscription model is the way to go? Let us know in the comments!

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