❌

Normal view

Apple brings AppleCare One to the UK, streamlining coverage

27 July 2026 at 19:00
Apple brings AppleCare One to the UK, giving customers a new way to cover multiple Apple products with one simple plan.
Apple brings AppleCare One to the UK, giving customers a new way to cover multiple Apple products with one simple plan.

Apple on Monday announced AppleCare One β€” a new way for customers to protect multiple Apple devices under one simple plan β€” is available in the UK. Starting at Β£16.99 per month, AppleCare One covers up to three products, with the flexibility to add more at any time for Β£4.99 per month per device.

With AppleCare One, customers receive comprehensive, one-stop service and support from Apple experts across every product in their plan β€” delivering affordable peace of mind. Beginning August 4th, customers in the UK can sign up for AppleCare One at apple.com or their nearest Apple Store. Those who already have an AppleCare+ plan can also sign up directly on their iPhone, iPad, or Mac.

β€œAt Apple, we’re focused on creating and delivering exceptional experiences,” said Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, in a statement. β€œWith AppleCare One, customers in the UK can now enjoy the trusted protection of AppleCare+ in a way that’s simpler and more flexible than ever before β€” one plan, one price, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing all their eligible products can be covered.”

One Plan, Incredible Value

AppleCare One includes all the benefits of AppleCare+, including fast and unlimited repairs for accidental damage, battery replacement service, and 24/7 priority access to Apple experts. All repairs are performed using genuine Apple parts at Apple Store locations and the vast network of Apple Authorised Service Providers.

Customers can enroll their eligible Apple products in the plan for the same great price, meaning a customer protecting their iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch together can save up to Β£11.48 per month compared to maintaining separate AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss plans for each device.

Protect Already-Owned Eligible Devices

AppleCare One gives customers greater flexibility to protect the devices they already have. Eligible products that are up to four years old can be added to a plan, provided they are in good condition, opening up coverage well beyond the current 60-day window to purchase AppleCare+.

Coverage That Evolves with Users

AppleCare One is built to keep pace with customers’ changing needs. When customers upgrade by trading in a covered product and purchasing a new product directly from Apple, the old product is automatically removed from the plan and replaced with the new device β€” so customers never have to think twice about staying protected. And as a monthly subscription, AppleCare One makes it simple to maintain coverage across as many products as customers want, for as long as they want, with the ability to add or remove devices from their plan at any time.

AppleCare+ Plans Add Theft and Loss Coverage for iPad and Apple Watch

Alongside the launch of AppleCare One, Apple is also bringing AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss to iPad and Apple Watch in the UK. The single-device plan option is now available for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, protecting customers against up to two incidents of theft or loss per year on top of battery replacement service, priority support from Apple experts, and unlimited repairs for accidental damage.
β€Ž
MacDailyNews Take: Learn more about AppleCare One and sign up by visiting apple.com/uk/applecare.


β€Ž
Please help support MacDailyNews β€” and enjoy subscriber-only articles, comments, chat, and more β€” by subscribing to our Substack: macdailynews.substack.com. Thank you!

Support MacDailyNews at no extra cost to you by using this link to shop at Amazon.

The post Apple brings AppleCare One to the UK, streamlining coverage appeared first on MacDailyNews.

MacBook Air Flexgate Can Become a Costly Screen Failure

By: Jack
23 July 2026 at 20:21

MacBook Air Flexgate is an unofficial name increasingly used for screen problems that appear when the laptop lid reaches a particular angle. The display may flicker, lose its backlight, show colored lines or turn completely black even though the computer continues running.

The term can be misleading. The original Flexgate controversy involved certain 13-inch MacBook Pro models from 2016, not MacBook Air. Apple later created a display backlight service program for eligible MacBook Pro units after determining that a small percentage could develop uneven lighting or lose the backlight entirely.

No equivalent MacBook Air repair program currently appears among Apple active service programs. Individual Air models can still experience failures involving display cables, connectors, backlight components or the LCD panel, but that does not establish one confirmed defect affecting every generation.

Owners therefore need to identify the symptom before assuming the screen has the same problem associated with the earlier MacBook Pro.

MacBook Air Flexgate Is Not the Original Flexgate

MacBook Air Flexgate usually refers to damage or wear affecting the thin cables carrying display information and power between the computer body and the screen.

These cables must flex every time the lid opens or closes. When a cable, connector or bonded section begins failing, the problem may initially appear only at certain screen angles. Moving the lid can restore the image temporarily, followed by another blackout when the display opens farther.

The original MacBook Pro issue became associated with a short backlight cable integrated into the display assembly. Repeated movement could place stress on the cable, producing a stage-light effect along the bottom of the screen before the backlight eventually stopped working.

MacBook Air designs also use compact display connections routed through the hinge area, but the internal construction differs across generations. A cable-related Air failure should not automatically be treated as evidence that Apple reused the exact defective MacBook Pro component.

The distinction matters during repair. A technician may use β€œFlexgate” as convenient shorthand, while the written diagnosis may identify a damaged display cable, backlight circuit, panel connection or complete display assembly.

Customers should ask which component has failed and how the conclusion was reached rather than accepting the nickname as the diagnosis.

Two black ribbon cables with gold connectors on each end, positioned vertically side by side against a white background. Often associated with MacBook Air screen repairs and Flexgate issues, each cable has small white text and symbols near the bottom connectors.
Image Source: Google

Which MacBook Air Models Are Mentioned Most

Reports of angle-dependent MacBook Air display failures most commonly involve Retina models introduced from 2018 onward.

The 2018 and 2019 Intel MacBook Air share a thin Retina design with display connections running through the hinge area. The early 2020 Intel version and late 2020 M1 MacBook Air use closely related chassis designs, making symptoms across these machines look similar even when the failed component is not identical.

Owners describe displays that work when opened slightly but flicker, develop lines or turn black when moved toward a normal viewing position. Some units recover after the lid is partly closed, strongly suggesting a physical connection affected by movement.

The M1 MacBook Air receives particular attention because it sold in large numbers and remained available for several years. A greater number of public complaints does not necessarily mean it has a higher failure rate, but many of these computers are now old enough for wear, accidental pressure and repeated hinge movement to become relevant.

The redesigned M2 MacBook Air introduced in 2022 uses a different enclosure and display assembly. M3 and later versions continue that flatter design. Individual screen and cable failures can occur, but there is no established evidence of a single Flexgate defect covering those generations.

Older wedge-shaped MacBook Air models released before the 2018 Retina redesign can also develop display cable problems. They are not normally included in the Flexgate discussion because their screen architecture predates the MacBook Pro controversy and their failures follow different repair patterns.

The exact model can be checked through:

Apple menu > About This Mac

The model year and screen size are more useful than the date the Mac was purchased. Retailers may sell an earlier generation long after its original release.

How to Recognize a Display Cable Failure

A strong Flexgate-style symptom is a display that changes immediately when the lid moves.

The screen may operate normally below a particular angle, then flicker or disappear as it opens farther. Returning the lid to the previous position restores the picture without restarting the Mac.

Uneven illumination along the bottom edge can point toward a backlight connection. Several bright or dark patches resembling stage lights are especially associated with cable or backlight distribution problems.

A completely dark screen may still contain a faint image. Shining a flashlight toward the display in a dark room can sometimes reveal the desktop beneath the failed backlight. This test should be performed gently without pressing against the panel.

Colored vertical lines, black bands or duplicated images can involve the display data connection, but they may also indicate panel damage. Lines that remain unchanged at every lid angle are less characteristic of a flex-related failure.

Cracks do not always appear on the outer glass. Pressure from a webcam cover, keyboard protector, plug, pen or other object left between the keyboard and display can damage the internal LCD while leaving the surface relatively smooth.

Liquid exposure may create lines, discoloration or intermittent operation around the hinge and display connectors. In those cases, repeatedly opening the lid can spread contamination or worsen damaged connections.

An external monitor provides one of the most useful tests. When the external image remains normal while the built-in screen fails, the graphics processor is probably still generating the picture correctly. Attention then moves toward the internal display assembly, cable or connector.

A screenshot can provide another distinction. Capture the screen while the fault is visible, then inspect the file on another device or external monitor. When the screenshot looks normal, the problem is likely occurring after macOS generates the image.

MacBook Air M1

What Owners Should Do Before Paying for Repair

Back up the Mac as soon as an intermittent display problem begins. A screen that works at one angle today may become completely unusable after another cable movement.

Avoid repeatedly opening and closing the lid to demonstrate the fault. Each movement can place further stress on an already damaged connection.

Record a short video showing the display at different angles. Intermittent failures can disappear when a Mac reaches a repair counter, and clear documentation helps the technician reproduce the condition.

Apple Diagnostics may identify some hardware problems, although a clean result does not rule out a damaged display cable. Testing in macOS Recovery or during startup can help exclude an ordinary application problem.

Apple and authorized providers commonly replace the complete display assembly when the cable is integrated with the screen. That approach can make an out-of-warranty repair expensive even when the visible fault involves a small cable.

Independent repair specialists may offer component-level cable work for certain models. The quality and durability of those repairs vary considerably, and newer Air displays can require specialized equipment, adhesives and calibration.

Before authorizing work, request a written estimate identifying the model, suspected component, warranty on the repair and whether the replacement display is new, used, refurbished or genuine.

AppleCare+ may reduce the cost when coverage remains active, particularly if the screen shows accidental damage. Standard warranty coverage depends on the diagnosis and whether Apple determines that impact, liquid or external pressure caused the failure.

The current Apple service-program list should also be checked before paying. A MacBook Air display program could be introduced or changed later, while consumer-protection laws may provide additional rights in some countries even after the limited warranty ends.

Owners using the Mac with an external monitor can often continue working while evaluating repair options. FileVault credentials, backups and any essential recovery codes should be confirmed before service because a technician may need to erase, reset or retain the computer during inspection.

The post MacBook Air Flexgate Can Become a Costly Screen Failure appeared first on AppleMagazine.

❌