Apple increases its out-of-warranty repair costs for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (2021)

The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro comes with a mini-LED Liquid Retina XDR display and the option to add 5G connectivity for the first time in addition to a series-first M1 processor. However, all this comes at a premium, as cellular versions of this flagship slate now start at US$1,299 on the Apple Store.

Furthermore, Apple has updated its iPad Service and Repair page with new out-of-warrany repair costs for the new tablet. The OEM now asks no less than $699 for this first-party service in the US, as opposed to $649 for its predecessor. Its 11-inch sibling's costs have remained the same ($499), at least.

These maximum charges are levied on customers with 2021 iPad Pros that are out of warranty. However, even if they are, the OEM might still decide to charge the full whack as above on units with broken or cracked screens, or that have experienced "other accidental damage or issues caused by unauthorized modifications".

A customer might avoid these charges should they sign up for Apple Care+ with their purchase, at $149 in full (or $7.99 a month). This program might allow for iPad Pro repairs in exchange for a $49 fee.

Either contingency is worth thinking about prior to buying one of Apple's latest top-end tablets: for a start, it has not been made much thicker compared to its previous generation, and may thus come across as yet another Bendgate waiting to happen.

A new Spigen Tough Armor Pro case for the iPad Pro 12.9 (2021) might help with that.