Apple reportedly hikes AppleCare Plus prices for new Mac and iPad subscribers

Apple is reportedly increasing subscription prices for AppleCare Plus on Macs and iPads, adding 50 cents to monthly payments and $5 to annual plans for new subscribers. Existing subscribers will see no change to their current rates. The adjustment follows a broader price hike across Apple’s product lines, including iPads, Macs, and Vision Pro, which CEO Tim Cook attributed to an unsustainable RAM shortage.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported the specific price adjustments, noting that for a new 13-inch MacBook Air, the monthly plan has increased to $7.99 from $7.49, and the annual plan to $79.99 from $74.99. This move mirrors a similar price increase for AppleCare Plus implemented last year for iPhones. The service plan hikes may help mitigate the impact of higher component costs on the company’s bottom line.

The price increases come just weeks after Apple announced it was raising prices on nearly all of its product lines. The hardware adjustments range from $30 on the HomePod mini to $4,200 on the M3 Ultra Mac Studio. Cook stated that Apple had been trying to “shield” customers from cost pressures but the situation had become unsustainable, prompting the widespread revision of retail prices.

While iPhone prices have not yet risen, the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro lineup may see price impacts later this year. The extension of service plan costs to Macs and iPads suggests a continued strategy to offset rising manufacturing expenses across the ecosystem, particularly as supply chain constraints persist.

Apple has not yet updated its US website or terms of service to reflect these new prices. The company has not responded to requests for comment regarding the service plan price increase. The changes are currently reported by Gurman and remain unconfirmed by official Apple channels.