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Apple products are some of the most popular and coveted in the world, but they’re also known to be more expensive than many other comparable brands.
Apple can always replace your Beats headphones and AirPods for you freely. However, you need to understand that this is only possible if you’re still under Apple’s Limited Warranty for the product. Your chances of getting the audio device replaced also depend on how well you used it, as stated in the manual.
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Does Apple replace damaged headphones?
One of the many questions that should cross your mind with buying headphones and other gadgets from reliable manufacturers is whether you can easily get the device replaced if they become damaged. Most audio device manufacturers will accept to replace your broken headphones according to their terms and conditions. But here’s a burning question, does Apple have any better program to accept and replace damaged headphones?
The answer to the question is yes; Apple offers two different warranty services for its hardware products. With that, it means the giant tech company will surely help you replace your damaged headphones, provided the product is still under its warranty period.
Types of Apple’s warranty for hardware products
As earlier mentioned, Apple offers two different warranties for some of the products that you purchase from the company, including headphones, AirPods, EarPods, batteries, and many more.
Standard Apple One-Year Limited Warranty
The first type of warranty provided by the giant tech company is called the standard Apple One-Year Limited Warranty. According to the company, this type of warranty is a “voluntary manufacturer’s warranty.”
The standard Apple One-Year Limited Warranty is designed only for Apple-branded or Beats-branded hardware products. It provides customers with the opportunity to replace or repair their purchased products freely from the company.
However, according to the giant tech company, you need to understand that this warranty is only for products that have “defects in materials and workmanship for a time interval of one (1) year.” That’s not all; even if you meet up with the above requirements, there are still other things that you need to meet to be eligible to claim this warranty; one of them is that the usage of the product must be in line with Apple’s user manuals, which you can find here.
The standard Apple One-Year Limited Warranty will allow you to replace your damaged headphones and other products, regardless of whether you purchased them from a third-party seller. That said, you can check here to understand your service and support coverage for the headphones.
AppleCare+ warranty
The second type of warranty offered by the giant tech company is “AppleCare+ warranty.” As you now know, the standard Apple One-Year Limited Warranty only covers defects in materials and workmanship for just one year.
Here’s a question; what if the damage to the headphones is not a result of factory errors? What if your headphones are externally damaged, will Apple still replace them for you?
The answer to the question is simple; the company will not replace the headphones for you if what you have is the standard Apple One-Year Limited Warranty. If you end up taking the damaged device to the company for replacement or repair, you’ll have no choice but to pay for it, which doesn’t sound alright to me. Here’s where the need to have an AppleCare+ warranty comes into the scene.
So, what’s an AppleCare+ warranty, and how will it help you get your externally damaged headphones fixed?
The first thing you need to know about the AppleCare+ warranty, according to the giant tech company, is that it’ll cover your device, such as headphones, for only two years. Interestingly, the warranty will only start counting from the day you purchased the AppleCare+ warranty.
That’s not all; this warranty is only capable of covering two incidents of accidental damage in one year. However, keep in mind that the two incidents of accidental damage, if not used, will not in any way roll over to the second year.
You need to understand that “accidental damage” as used by Apple can include a lot of things. Some of what is included are accidentally cutting the wire of your device, water issues, and many more.
Also, you need to understand that the AppleCare+ warranty is transferable. What that means is that the extended warranty can be transferred to a new owner of the device. The AppleCare+ warranty is not free. To get it, you’ll have to pay a service fee of $29 plus applicable tax.
Bottom line: Apple will only help you replace your damaged headphones depending on a couple of factors. One of them is the type of warranty that you carry. Other factors to determine whether you’ll get the replacement for free are; the date of purchase of the product and the type of defects – are they factory related?
Does Apple give free replacement headphones?
Here’s another frequently asked question; does Apple offer free replacement headphones to its customers?
The only time Apple will offer you free replacement headphones is during the first year of purchasing the audio device. At this time, the headphones have a one-year standard limited warranty. Of course, there are several other requirements that the headphones need to meet to be eligible for a free replacement.
First, the damage on the headphone has to be factory-related; that is, the defects have to be a result of material issues or workmanship. Apart from that, the product will also need to meet other requirements stated in the manual.
Anything apart from that, there’s no way Apple will give you free replacement headphones. Although AppleCare+ provides replacement or repair coverage for headphones, you’ll still have to pay for the warranty. So, in that case, it’s not free.
However, take away the $29 AppleCare+ warranty fee, I’ll say that Apple will provide you with free replacement headphones if you keep experiencing the following issues within the first two years of purchasing the warranty:
- If the controls of your headphones are non-responsive or only work intermittently.
- When you keep experiencing an increase or decrease in volume unexpectedly.
- Another way to get the free replacement headphones is when you keep experiencing unexpected playing of voice feedback.
Does Apple replace headphones online?
Here’s another burning question; is it possible for Apple to replace headphones online? The answer to the question is yes, you can always order a replacement for your headphones, depending on your location.
According to Rebecca A, the AirPod Pro user mentioned, while trying to ask a similar question, that she lost her device at an airport and she’s looking to get a replacement. Here’s what the Apple user said below:
“I lost an AirPod pro at an airport and if they can’t find it, am I able to just order the one or would I have to get a whole new set?”
According to the response to the question, as provided by Kim on the Apple website, it says it’s possible to order a replacement for the AirPod Pro. Here’s what the response to the question looks like below:
“You can order a replacement, it is just a bit more pricey. One AirPod Pro without warranty is $89 or with warranty, it is $29.”
Bottom line: you can always order headphones replacement online. In case you don’t have the AppleCare+ warranty, you’ll have to pay more to get a replacement for the audio device.
Conclusion
Does Apple replace damaged headphones for free? The answer is yes, but you need to have a warranty for the audio device. If the only warranty you have is the standard Apple One-Year Limited Warranty, you’ll only be able to use it if the defects on the product are factory-related. If not, you’ll need to get an AppleCare+ warranty, at $29, to be able to get a free replacement for your headphones.