Is AppleCare Worth It?

Apple offers extended warranty for all of its products, but is there really any need to buy it?

- Alex Blake

Have you ever taken out an AppleCare Protection Plan when buying a new Mac?

We asked that question on our social media pages a couple of months ago, and two-thirds of our readers said no.

There are a number of reasons why you might decide against buying an AppleCare plan, from the cost involved to relying on existing UK consumer rights legislation. So, do you even need to take out AppleCare in the first place? And if not, why not?

The Brexit effect

Brexit means many things, but noteworthy here is that the EU regulations that Britain is currently bound by, including a range of consumer protection laws, may no longer apply once the UK leaves the EU. However, that doesn’t mean you need to rush out and buy an AppleCare plan, as the UK already has its own set of consumer protection regulations.

The most important is the Consumer Rights Act 2015. This guarantees you the right to have the goods repaired or replaced by the retailer (which may not be Apple) within the first six years of purchase (five years in Scotland). Within the first six months, the retailer must prove that the item was not faulty when you bought it; after that, the burden of proof rests on you.