Early Thoughts on AppleCare One

Apple recently introduced AppleCare One, a new subscription that combines all of Apple’s device coverage options into a single plan. The overall idea is simple: instead of managing separate AppleCare+ subscriptions for each device, you get one bundle that covers everything tied to your Apple Account.

On paper, I like the idea. Managing individual AppleCare plans for every Apple TV, iPad, iPhone, and Mac gets messy. There are monthly paid subscriptions, yearly (for the life of the product), and then there’s the traditional “pay full price and you have AppleCare for 2 or 3 years.” Having one subscription feels cleaner, and I can see how this helps people who just want to “set it and forget it.”

That said, after signing up and living with it for a short while, I have already dealt with drawbacks that make me feel as if this rollout was not fully thought through.

The Good

One plan, one bill. No more tacking when one AppleCare plan charges more than another. No more having to remember which device you’re paying monthly for, versus what device you paid up front for. Everything has the possibility to roll up into the AppleCare One plan.

Coverage is essentially the same as AppleCare+, with the addition of Theft and Loss coverage for iPads. If you’ve used AppleCare+ before, you’ll feel at home here. Apple states “most devices less than four years old and in good working condition can be added to your plan.”

Apple’s support flow doesn’t change, so it’s not like learning a new product. It’s just bundled differently. This helps maintain a consistent overall feel when contacting Apple for support for your products.

The Not-So-Good

A reason I feel this rollout has not been thought all the way through is the fact that I deal with constant login nags. I’ve been getting emails (like the one pictured below) warning me that I’ll lose coverage if I don’t sign back into a device I’m already signed into. With individual monthly AppleCare, I never saw this issue. It feels unnecessary and makes the whole thing less “set it and forget it.” If you’re not watching your email, you could lose coverage. This can become problematic for those who had to cancel a different AppleCare+ product in order to migrate the device to AppleCare One. Next thing you know, none of your devices are on the subscription, and you’re still paying $20/mo for it.

My Apple TV has my Apple Account as the primary user. I do have profiles set up for the other members of my family, although no one switches between profiles as we primarily make use of in-app profiles, such as those you’d find within Disney+ or Netflix.

This same “multiple accounts on a device isn’t supported” behavior occurs on macOS as well as detailed by Mastodon user John Siracusa.

Another big thing for me is the fact that there is no family plan through family sharing. Every device is tied to the Apple ID of whoever owns the AppleCare One subscription. That’s fine if you’re single or only cover your own devices. But in a family setup, it gets messy. My kids each have their own Apple IDs, and my wife has multiple devices. Instead of me managing coverage centrally as the family organizer, now she needs her own AppleCare One subscription, and the kids’ devices don’t really fit at all due to not having three devices each. So, as the primary financial decision maker and tracker, I am still left with my former patchwork of multiple subscriptions all attempting to do the same thing.

Now, when it comes to organizations and enterprises, a far bigger problem appears to exist with no ETA on a resolution: users who have signed into their personal Apple Account on a work device can cancel company-purchased AppleCare+ for a device and migrate the device to AppleCare One, with potentially no option to move it back. You can see a real-life scenario of this on Mastadon by user Christopher Masto.

Cost efficiency is questionable. I’m still not convinced AppleCare One saves money across the board. For someone with a single Mac, iPhone, and Apple Watch, it might be worth it. But if you’ve got a mix of older devices or stuff you don’t feel needs coverage, paying one bundled rate could actually cost more than picking individual AppleCare plans. Typically, for individual AppleCare+ plans, the monthly subscription is the most expensive. You save a few dollars, usually 10% or more, by paying yearly, which is the most cost-effective for people who keep Apple Devices for very long. Paying the full price up front is the cheapest option, but it comes with the downside of having AppleCare+ for only 2 years or 3 years, depending on the device. I’ve uploaded my best attempt at breaking down the cost differences on a per-device basis on my GitHub here.

Final Thoughts, For Now…

AppleCare One is a cleaner, simpler way to manage coverage, but right now it feels designed for individuals, not families. The repeated login requirement is beyond annoying, and the lack of a family plan undermines the whole “one plan to rule them all” idea.

I’ll stick with it for now and see if Apple smooths out the rough edges. But if you already have a system for tracking your existing AppleCare+ subscriptions, I’m not sure AppleCare One adds enough value yet, especially if you’re running a household with multiple accounts and devices.

If you have not yet checked out what AppleCare One is about, you can read more about it on Apple’s website:

https://www.apple.com/applecare/

I would love to know your experience with the plan if you’ve made the switch. And if you have not yet decided, what has gone into your decision making prior to this blog post as to what has made you hesitant?