MacBook Neo may be cheap, but that doesn't protect it from damage — so should you pay for AppleCare Plus as well?

Apple's new MacBook Neo is almost unbelievably good value, and is likely to be putting the rest of the laptop industry on notice for the immediate future. The last thing you will want to do with your low-cost MacBook is have to pay out for expensive repairs, should something go wrong.

Out-of-warranty Apple repairs can be prohibitively expensive if you're not careful, but the AppleCare Plus repair plan conveniently makes it a lot more affordable. Those repairs are not free, but in many cases, it's still the most affordable way to fix your device.

But considering MacBook Neo buyers pay an extra $5 a month, $50 a year or $139 for three years of coverage, is it even worth the price? The short answer is probably yes. But let me elaborate on that.

What's the damage?

Apple's repair website breaks down the cost of repairs if you have AppleCare Plus, versus if you choose to save yourself that ongoing payment. If you look, you'll notice that there's quite a discrepancy between the two, since Apple doesn't actually offer many repair estimates for off-plan MacBooks.

In fact, it'll only confirm that a MacBook Neo battery service will cost a flat $149, while other damage will require Apple to "inspect your product to provide a personalized estimate." Which doesn't bode well from a cost/analysis perspective.

Meanwhile, when you do have AppleCare, various other options are available to you. Repairing damage to the screen of the external enclosure will set you back $49 each, while other accidental damage comes with a flat $149 fee. And that $149 battery service for non-AppleCare machines? That's now free.

So if you ever have to have any MacBook Neo battery work done in the first three years of its life, you've actually saved money by paying for AppleCare Plus. We wouldn't expect you to experience major battery issues in a short period of time, but you also have to remember that the AppleCare subscription unlocks a bunch of extra repair options with pre-set pricing.

Plus, fitting for a MacBook that's designed to be more affordable, the prices are lower than you'd find with other Macs.

It pays for peace of mind

Battery servicing is still free, but the rest of the prices for MacBook Air M5 and MacBook Pro M5 (including Pro and Max) are doubled compared to the MacBook Neo. That means screen and external damage repairs cost $99, while other accidental damage is going to set you back $299 per repair

The small print confirms repair prices are the same at every Apple store and Authorized Service Provider across the U.S. So you won't go in with a dented MacBook Neo and find that the cost of repair is almost as much as a replacement.

Even if you don't end up needing any repairs throughout the Neo's lifetime, you're still paying for peace of mind that potential problems can be fixed easily and relatively cheaply. It's the same reason I pay for home insurance, after all.

If you're still on the fence about purchasing a MacBook Neo, be sure to check out our full MacBook Neo review for a rundown of everything it can do. And if you're worried about it not lasting, check out MacBook Neo battery life results — because we're pretty astounded by what's on offer.

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