How to Save on iPhone 15 Pro Max Repair Costs with AppleCare+ Coverage

Share Some AppleCare+ Experiences 🥹
1- The Incident
Changing phones every year has almost become second nature to me. However, in 2024, I decided not to upgrade to the 16 Pro Max. On March 31, while riding the escalator at my workplace, an inexplicable force (perhaps fate?) caused my 15 Pro Max to slip from my grasp. It plummeted four floors, landing on the B1 level of the building and shattering into countless pieces (as seen in Figures 1 and 2).

2- How It Was Handled
Thankfully, I’ve made it a habit to purchase AppleCare+ annually. While my heart sank at the sight of the wreckage, I wasn’t completely devastated. Gathering what remained of my phone, I hailed a taxi to the Xidan flagship store. There, I explained the situation to the staff, presenting them with the damaged device, the original purchase receipt, and the AppleCare+ invoice.

The Genius Bar technician took over from there. Apple kindly provided me with a loaner phone—an iPhone XR—to tide me over. Using this temporary device, I disabled “Find My” on my broken phone, all while passing the time by playing on my Switch during the 15–20 minute wait. The technician handed me a voucher and a loaner agreement to sign.

Once everything was finalized, I was free to leave. The estimated repair time was 7–14 days (excluding holidays), and I would receive updates via email regarding progress and pickup details.

3- My Emotional Journey
3-1 Service – The service at the flagship store left me thoroughly impressed. Considering the extent of the damage, I truly don’t know how I would have managed without AppleCare+. Their professionalism and efficiency were top-notch.
3-2 Loaner Phone – Reflecting on Apple’s choice of the backup phone, it makes sense that they opt for the most recent model compatible with the latest iOS version.

While individual app performance was smooth enough, multitasking proved challenging—for both me and the phone. The refresh rate, in particular, felt sluggish compared to my usual experience.
3-3 New Purchase Decision – After spending time with the loaner phone, I realized just how crucial performance is for my work and personal life.

Consequently, I decided to upgrade to the 16 Pro Max.
3-3-1 Color – After much deliberation between the desert tone and white, I ultimately chose the desert option. Interestingly, the actual color leans more toward a soft pinkish hue rather than the traditional gold, and I must say, the real product surpasses even its promotional imagery.

3-3-2 Bezel – This iteration boasts significantly narrower bezels, pushing the boundaries of design innovation. Further reductions might prove technically challenging but remain exciting to envision.
3-3-3 Camera – Though improvements still need testing, I’m already thrilled about the new color adjustment feature.

I eagerly anticipate experiencing these enhancements firsthand. Additionally, the inclusion of physical buttons is a game-changer for left-handed photographers like myself, offering greater precision when controlling exposure and zoom. The practical differences between HEIF and RAW formats will require further exploration through real-world usage.

This is my take on the matter. I neither advocate nor discourage anyone from purchasing AppleCare+. Those who frequently change phones and neglect protective cases are, after all, a small subset of users. If you do invest in AppleCare+, I hope you’ll never find yourself needing to rely on shared experiences like mine.

Finally, I look forward to WWDC and the unveiling of the new phone in October. Here’s wishing everyone’s devices remain safe and sound! 🙏