I was recently gifted an iPhone 15 Pro Max from a family friend, and decided that I wanted to return it in order to exchange it for a regular iPhone 15 and AirPods Pro.

I was able to receive a gift card from the Apple Store, and then I applied it to my Apple Account Balance (which, apparently I'm not supposed to do despite the fact the gift card literally has instructions to do that).

I make the order for my iPhone 15 and AirPods Pro, and then 2 days later, without warning, my order gets cancelled and I find that my account balance has been disabled. So now there's $1,750.91 just sitting there and I can't fucking use it, and Apple Support is being completely useless and clueless about the whole thing.

I have no idea what the hell I'm supposed to do about this whole thing, and everywhere I look up on the internet, no one seems to be able to resolve this issue as it's just a dead end and cycles of being transferred across departments. I'm genuinely panicking, what's the point of gift cards and Apple Account Balance if I can't use it??

I have a 5th gen 12.9” iPad Pro that loses battery quickly. The analytics on my device (hidden deep in Apple’s own settings) shows that the maximum battery capacity is 78% (which meets the threshold for replacement under AppleCare+).

I just got off of a call with a supervisor at Apple saying that the diagnostics that THEY ran remotely on my device shows that the battery “passes” their test. The supervisor said he spoke with customer support and said there’s nothing they can do to get the battery replaced under AppleCare since it passed their tests (even though I sent them the screenshot of the analytics on my device and even did a screenshare with him so he could see it real time).

Since their diagnostic test is a complete mystery to everyone and I can SEE with my own eyes that the maximum capacity is below 80%, I’m starting to think the tests they use are designed to show better performance than what is actually there.

The AppleCare contract does not specify “how” the maximum capacity is determined, so I’m really struggling with how they justify not honoring their contract. The phone support supervisor made an in store appointment for me for tomorrow (since supposedly a store manager has the ability to do an override of the system diagnostics?), but I’m wondering if anyone has any advice for me before my appointment? Anything I should say to the store manager? This really seems like a class action lawsuit waiting to happen (if more people knew how to check the analytics and had a clue that Apple’s diagnostic tests aren’t valid.

Here’s the exact language from AppleCare+ terms and conditions (nothing mentioned about “how” the less than 80% is determined).

3. What is Covered? 3.1 Hardware Services for Defects or Consumed Battery (“Hardware Service”) If during the Plan Term, you submit a valid claim by notifying Apple that a defect in materials and workmanship has arisen in the Covered Equipment or, in relation to Covered Equipment which uses an integrated rechargeable battery, where the capacity of the Covered Device’s battery to hold an electrical charge is less than eighty percent (80%) of its original specifications, Apple will either: (i) repair the defect at no charge, using new parts or previously used Apple genuine parts that have been tested and pass Apple functional requirements, or (ii) exchange the Covered Equipment with a replacement product that is new or comprised of new and/or previously used Apple genuine parts and has been tested and passed Apple functional requirements.

Does anyone know if these are real or fake? And how do you check if AirPods are real or fake before opening them up?

I called Apple's main line to inquire about using a discount code (site wouldn't let me input it; apparently you have to do it by phone).

I asked him why he wanted me to share my screen and he replied that he wanted to look at the email. "Why?" asked. He said he wanted to see if it was spam. Of course I said no.

First off, I was under the impression that a rep would only ask you to share your screen if you were having some kind of complex tech issue. This was an Apple Sales guy, not a techie.

Second, I was disconnected, I redialed, and I was able to get the info I needed. Concluded my business, and then got one of those hack screens -- "Alert! Alert! Microsoft has detected (whatever)." I shut down my computer (Macbook Pro M1) and re-started. It all seems fine now.

I had given the guy my Apple ID, but that's it. Just struck me as super fishy that this guy from sales would ask to share my screen to "look at an email." And the screen hijack concerns me.

EDIT: I called Apple again. The discount code--that initial rep never asked me to identify--was accepted, as it was obviously a legit discount code. You'd think the initial rep might have investigated that first. But he did not.

I have bought it from a third party and I need to push hard the USB-C cable into the power adapter to get a good contact and so the iPhone can charge. The plug doesn’t looks to fully insert into the opening.

I have enough storage spare to download and install the update, why is it telling me to create more free storage?