need help for the applecare replacement

[JIA]

Hi everyone
thanks for read the post.
I have a Macbook 12 purchase at 2018. and I upgrade the processer from m3 to i5, spend $2200+. and I send it to Apple Store because no reason shut down and it continues happening after change the logic board. they decided to replace me a 2020 Macbook air with i5 processor, the same storage that cost 1700
I think it's unfair to replace a cheaper modeal even the Air is new. the store think the Macbook air have similar performance and functional from the technology hardware,and Apple upgrade the new air, so the $1700 Macbook air equal to the $2200 Macbook. but the extra money I paying is the Macbook is lighter weight, smaller size. they didn't consider the price difference and the Product positioning（Macbook 12 is higher than air.)people have the air original,replace to air. and Macbook12 also replace for air.

is there any case similar with mine ?
please give me some advice. thanks so much

 

[JIA]

and my Macbook is still under applecare, have one year left

 

[Cory Cooper]

Hello and welcome.

I haven't ever heard of Apple replacing a Mac with a different model altogether, but maybe because the MacBook (Retina, 12-inch, 2017) was discontinued, that would be the closest model. Even though it is less expensive, its specs are actually much better than your older MacBook, and it is a much more capable machine:

Processor: i5 "Icy Lake" vs "Kaby Lake"
Number of Cores: 4 vs 2
Security Chip: Apple T2 (APL1027) vs none
Cache: 6 MB (Core i5) vs 4 MB shared L3
Trackpad: Multi-Touch trackpad vs Force Touch trackpad
Touch ID: Integrated Touch ID sensor vs none
Memory: PC4-29800 (3733 MHz) LPDDR4X vs PC3-14900 (1866 MHz) LPDDR3
Display: 13" 227 dpi vs 12" 226 dpi
Resolution: 2560 by 1600 (native) vs 2304-by-1440 (native)
Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics vs Intel HD Graphics 615
Display Connection: Thunderbolt 3 digital video output vs USB 3.1 Gen 1 digital video output
External Resolution: Up to 6016 by 3384 pixels at 60Hz vs Up to 4096 by 2304 resolution at 60Hz
Camera: 720p FaceTime HD camera vs 480p FaceTime
Bluetooth: 5.0 vs 4.2
USB: Thunderbolt ports support USB 3.1 Gen 2 (up to 10 Gbps) vs 1 - USB 3.1 Gen 1 (up to 5 Gbps)
Thunderbolt: 2 - Thunderbolt 3 (up to 40 Gbps) vs none
Audio In: 3 - Built-in microphones vs 2 - Built-in microphones
Hard Drive Interface: 8.0 GT/s NVMe PCIe x4 vs 8.0 GT/s NVMe PCIe x2
Battery: Built-in 49.9-watt-hour vs Built-in 41.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer
Battery Life: Up to 11 hours wireless web, Up to 12 hours Apple TV app movie playback vs Up to 10 hours wireless web, Up to 10 hours iTunes movie playback

The only things that are really different are:
Screen Size: 13" vs 12"
Weight and Dimensions: 2.8 lbs., 0.16–0.63" H x 11.97" W x 8.36" D vs 2.03 lbs., 0.14-0.52" H x 11.04" W x 7.74" D

I can understand your point, but since the MacBook model was discontinued, you actually got a much higher spec Mac, that would have cost a lot more for an equivalent model back when you purchased yours. I think that they actually did a generous swap, and is in line with price vs performance and product positioning.

Hope that helps.

C