Apple’s fourth-generation iPad Pro is the largest and most expensive tablet that the company has made to date, with the 12.9-inch edition regularly retailing for $999. It’s also the best Apple-made tablet for professionals, offering up to a terabyte of internal storage, a bright display with 120Hz ProMotion technology, and a powerful A12Z processor. As all of this makes the iPad Pro the most productivity-focused iPad Apple has released, any issues that arise with it can be more urgent to resolve than with other models.
The good news is, Apple has contingencies in place to be able to fix problems that could occur. First, all iPads have one year’s worth of hardware repair coverage thanks to a limited warranty. If users want to protect their iPad Pro further, they’ll need to opt for purchasing an AppleCare+ plan. This route will tack on an extended warranty to the iPad Pro, covering the product’s battery, accessories like the Apple Pencil or Apple-branded iPad keyboard, USB cable and power adapter, and software including iPadOS and iCloud. The service also protects against a maximum of two cases of accidental damage every 12 months.
Even with a warranty or AppleCare+, there’s still a $49 service fee to get an iPad Pro repaired. The out-of-warranty cost is far higher, varying depending on the version of iPad Pro being repaired. The original iPad Pro 9.7-inch model comes with a $379 out-of-warranty service fee, the iPad Pro 10.5-inch model costs $449 for services, the iPad Pro 11-inch and iPad Pro 11-inch 2nd generations each cost $499, the iPad Pro 12.9 inch and 12.9-inch 2nd generation cost $599, and both the iPad Pro 12.9 inch 3rd and 4th generation models cost $649 for out-of-warranty service. What’s more, those services don’t cover taxes or the $6.95 shipping fee that Apple will tack on for iPads that need to be shipped.
iPad Pro Battery, Screen & Accessory Service Fees
There are a few caveats to the service fees listed above. Battery service, while covered in warranty or AppleCare+ at no additional cost, will add a $99 fee for iPad Pros that are not under warranty. The same applies to all eligible Apple Pencil models — no extra cost under warranty to fix a problem with its battery but $29 in additional fees once a product reaches the end of its protection.
Apple doesn’t explicitly list how much it will cost to fix a broken iPad Pro screen, though the company does specify that accidental damage isn’t covered by the standard warranty. To be protected from screen issues, users have to acquire AppleCare+ coverage, which comes with a service fee to repair screens.
As one may be able to imagine, repairs for Apple accessories like the Apple Pencil ($29 AppleCare+ service fee, $79 out-of-warranty fee) and the Apple Pencil second generation ($29/$109) follow a similar price discrepancy as the iPad Pro. Overall, it does seem worth it to invest in AppleCare+ to protect a high-end product like the iPad Pro because being able to repair any issues that may present themselves for a comparatively minimal cost far outweighs the alternative: hoping a $1,000 tablet won’t run into any mishaps or technical issues and having to deal with the costly out-of-warranty fees that come with them.
