Alongside the launch of the iPhone 4S, Apple also debuted a new $99 AppleCare+ program offering an extended warranty with accidental damage coverage. The AppleCare+ package replaced the previous $69 AppleCare for iPhone offering that did not offer accidental coverage.
Some confusion about the AppleCare+ program arose in its early days, stemming in large part from Apple's requirement that the coverage be purchased at the same time as the iPhone, a requirement that seemed to conflict with the legal text of the agreement which stated that AppleCare+ must be purchased within the device's one-year standard warranty period. Regardless, a number of customers were not offered the AppleCare+ option at the time of pre-ordering, and Apple addressed the issue by offering a temporary exception to allow any early iPhone purchaser to obtain AppleCare+ through November 14th.
With that deadline for delays AppleCare+ purchases having now passed, Apple appeared set to revert to the original policy of requiring that the plan be purchased at the same time as the iPhone. But Apple has now updated its AppleCare+ page to indicate that users can purchase it in-person at an Apple retail store or over the phone any time within 30 days after the iPhone purchase.
How to get AppleCare+
* Add it to your shopping cart during the checkout process when you purchase your new iPhone.
* Buy it within 30 days of your iPhone purchase: - At Apple Retail (requires a Genius Bar appointment, inspection of the iPhone & proof of purchase). - Or call 1-800-275-2273 (requires proof of purchase).
Apple has also revised the AppleCare+ terms and conditions to remove the previous mention of the option to purchase any time within the one-year standard warranty period.
In addition to the new 30-day window, SprintFeed reports that it has received an internal Sprint notice indicating that the original amnesty period for early iPhone 4S purchasers has also been extended through December 15th. The wording does suggest, however, that the 30-day limit still applies to these customers, so customers who purchased the iPhone 4S on launch day would still be out of luck given that the window has now passed for them. But the policy does offer some continuing retroactive coverage for customers who purchased their devices less than 30 days ago.
Saturday October 18, 2025 11:00 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
iOS 26 was released last month, but the software train never stops, and iOS 26.1 beta testing is already underway. So far, iOS 26.1 makes both Apple Intelligence and Live Translation on compatible AirPods available in additional languages, and it includes some other minor changes across the Apple Music, Calendar, Photos, Clock, and Safari apps.
More features and changes will follow in future ...
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With the fourth betas of iOS 26.1, iPadOS 26.1, and macOS 26.1, Apple has introduced a new setting that's designed to allow users to customize the look of Liquid Glass.
The toggle lets users select from a clear look for Liquid Glass, or a tinted look. Clear is the current Liquid Glass design, which is more transparent and shows the background underneath buttons, bars, and menus, while tinted ...
Apple plans to cut production of the iPhone Air amid underwhelming sales performance, Japan's Mizuho Securities believes (via The Elec).
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Apple's software engineers continue to internally test iOS 26.0.2, according to MacRumors logs, which have been a reliable indicator of upcoming iOS versions.
iOS 26.0.2 will be a minor update that addresses bugs and/or security vulnerabilities, but we do not know any specific details yet.
The update will likely be released by the end of next week.
Last month, Apple released iOS 26.0.1,...
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While the new iPad Pro's headline feature is the M5 chip, the device has some other changes, including N1 and C1X chips, faster storage speeds, and more.
With the M5 chip, the new iPad Pro has up to a 20% faster CPU and up to a 40% faster GPU compared to the previous model with the M4 chip, according to Geekbench 6 results. Keep in mind that 256GB and 512GB configurations have a 9-core CPU,...
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iOS 26.4 is expected to introduce a revamped version of Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, but not everyone is satisfied with how well it works.
In his Power On newsletter today, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said some of Apple's software engineers have "concerns" about the overhauled Siri's performance. However, he did not provide any specific details about the shortcomings.
iOS 26.4 will...
Thursday October 16, 2025 9:13 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
Apple on Wednesday updated the 14-inch MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Vision Pro with its next-generation M5 chip, but previous rumors have indicated that the company still plans to announce at least a few additional products before the end of the year.
The following Apple products have at one point been rumored to be updated in 2025, although it is unclear if the timeframe for any of them has...
Monday October 20, 2025 1:55 pm PDT by Juli Clover
With the fourth beta of iOS 26.1, Apple added a toggle that makes Liquid Glass more opaque and reduces transparency. We tested the beta to see where the toggle works and what it looks like.
Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.
If you have the latest iOS 26.1 beta, you can go to Settings > Display and Brightness to get to the new option. Tap on Liquid Glass, then...
Thursday October 16, 2025 3:57 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple plans to launch MacBook Air models equipped with the new M5 chip in spring 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple is also working on M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro models that will come early in the year.
Neither the MacBook Pro models nor the MacBook Air models are expected to get design changes, with Apple focusing on simple chip upgrades. In the case of the MacBook Pro, a m...
I will buy it for my daughters phone but not for my wife's or mine.
I'm now self insured because my wife and I have had every iPhone that has been released and we never purchased Apple Care, mostly because we knew we would upgrade in 1 year, and that's $552 in savings.
Now that Apple Care+ covers accidental damage ($49 deductible) and Apple is not necessarily going to release a new phone ever 12 months, it makes more sense to buy the coverage.
Nonetheless, my daughter will keep her phone for at least two years so Apple Care + will be a wise move!
So you spend $99 on applecare and another 49 if you actually use it which comes to about 150 bucks. An out of warranty replacement from Apple is $199.
You're out $100 bucks whether or not you ever use it, and you're out $150 if you do. Doesn't seem like a bargain to me. Just pay the 200 if you ever need the out of warranty replacement and if you never need it then you save $100.
This whole thing is ridiculous. I should be able to purchase Applecare at anytime during the initial 1 year warranty period. I just spent $300 for the phone. Can a customer have a few months relief before having to shell out again for Applecare?
Still silly terms. You should be able to get it any time within the first year with maybe a 30 day grace period before you can use it. That would keep most people from purchasing it right after they broke it and wanting to get it fixed right away if that is their concern. Having to bring it in to be inspected? seriously?
Also have they cleared up wither water damage is covered? I would assume it was but then also see people posting on Apple's boards that they were told it was not. It is conspicuously absent from there terms. "Accidental Damage from Handling" is pretty vague.
I just called apple yesterday about this. I preorded my iPhone and I didn't know about the new policy. Apple said I was outside of the window but they let me get it anyway. :D
If I didn't buy Apple Care+ now within the required time, I will not be able to purchase it forever? So since I am with ATT will my only option to get insurance for my iPhone 4S is with their program or others (square trade)?
So if you phone falls and breaks within 30 days, you can: A)have it inspected by a retail store and be denied. or. B) call apple and successfully buy Apple Care.
Doesn't seem logical that the two options are so different.
