AppleCare for your iMac or other desktop Mac is the extra cover Apple sells on top of the standard manufacturer's warranty. But what exactly does AppleCare cover, for which damage do you still pay, and when is it worth it? This article sets it out, with the focus on desktop Macs such as the iMac, Mac mini and Mac Studio. For MacBooks, read MacBook broken: AppleCare or a repairer?.
Blue Apple repairs Macs in Amsterdam, including iMacs without AppleCare or whose cover has expired.
Standard: what do you get without AppleCare?
- Apple's limited warranty: one year of cover for manufacturing defects.
- Your legal rights: in the Netherlands a product has to do what you may reasonably expect of it. For an expensive computer that can be longer than one year. You have that right with the seller, even without AppleCare.
- Phone support for a limited period after purchase.
What AppleCare for Mac adds
- Longer cover for hardware faults, such as a faulty logic board, screen or power supply.
- Cover for accidental damage, for example if the iMac falls over or something bumps into it. You do pay a service fee each time.
- Technical support from Apple for as long as the cover runs.
You usually have to buy AppleCare within a limited period after purchase. The exact terms, duration and amounts change regularly; check Apple's site for them.
What AppleCare does not cover
- Damage from a repair or modification by someone other than Apple or an authorised party.
- Normal wear and cosmetic damage that does not affect how it works.
- Loss or theft.
- Your data: in a repair Apple may replace parts your files are on. So always make a backup.
Is AppleCare worth it for an iMac?
An iMac sits on a desk and is damaged less often than a laptop. The chance of an accident is smaller, but when it goes wrong (a broken screen or logic board, for example) a repair is expensive, because everything is in one housing. AppleCare is mostly worth it if:
- you use the iMac for work and cannot do without it;
- there are children or pets around;
- you would rather not work out yourself where to go when something fails.
For a Mac mini, which is small and cheaper, the trade-off is often different: a Mac mini repair is less drastic.
Your iMac is broken and the cover has expired
Then you have several options. Apple also repairs outside cover, but often replaces whole parts such as the entire logic board. An independent repairer can sometimes repair more precisely, for example only a faulty component on the logic board or a new power supply. Always ask beforehand what happens to your data.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We first find out what is wrong with your iMac or Mac mini and then tell you what a repair costs, before we start. If your Mac is still covered by AppleCare or the manufacturer's warranty, we say so too: then Apple is often the logical choice. More about Mac and MacBook repair in Amsterdam and Mac mini repair.
Frequently asked questions
Can I still buy AppleCare later?
Only within a certain period after purchase. After that, no. Check Apple's site for the period in the Netherlands.
Does AppleCare apply if I buy my iMac second-hand?
AppleCare is tied to the serial number and usually transfers with the Mac. Check the cover on Apple's site with the serial number.
How do I see whether my Mac is still covered?
Choose System Settings in the Apple menu, General, About, and look at the coverage. Or enter the serial number on Apple's site.
