People only buy a new iPhone a few times a year because it’s so expensive. The iPhone 14 is reported to cost £779 or $799, which is £100 more than the iPhone 13. If you want to try out the newest phone the same year it comes out, it can be costly. This may be why Apple established the iPhone Upgrade Program, which makes it easier for customers to purchase the latest models without breaking the bank. In this article, we will discuss the Apple upgrade program for the iPhone, explain how it will work, and explain its worth.
Apple Upgrade Program
Apple’s iPhone 13 launch day means millions of consumers are upgrading. If that applies to you, you have a few options, like the iPhone upgrade program, that start at less than $40 per month.
The upgrade program, which was first announced in 2015, enables users to buy iPhones over the course of 24 monthly payments. For this year’s iPhone lineup, this means that Apple Care coverage for the $699 iPhone 13 Mini starts at $35.33 per month, while coverage for the bigger $799 iPhone 13 starts at $39.50 per month. The price of the premium iPhone 13 Pro starts at $49.91 a month, while the price of the larger iPhone 13 Pro Max is $54.08.
Customers can keep paying until they purchase the phone or trade in their “old” phone for the current model after 12 payments. Once they do that, they have to pay for another 24 months.
Apple started the program in part because it had a lot of customers who were happy to keep their iPhones for several years. This meant that not as many people would buy a new phone each year. Apple hoped that the upgrade plan, which lowers the cost of getting the latest phone by a lot, would make it easier for people to buy it.
Read Also: HOW TO BACKUP APPLE WATCH: Simple and Effective Steps
iPhone Apple Upgrade Program
Customers can buy a new iPhone straight from Apple and pay it off over the course of a year using Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Programme; the monthly cost will vary depending on the device you choose.
This “buy now, pay later” model is becoming more popular, and it makes it easier for people to buy new products because they don’t have to pay over £1000 all at once.
Another benefit of the plan is that you can choose your own carrier and any tariff you want. This gives customers more freedom. Plus, since you can change your iPhone after 11 payments, you can choose a new carrier and plan before upgrading to the newest model.
This plan also comes with AppleCare+ for two years, which covers hardware repairs, software support, and accidental damage up to two times per year. It’s important to know that this deal doesn’t cover your iPhone if it gets stolen or lost. However, buyers can pay extra to get this level of protection.
What Are the Pros of Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program?
Apple’s installment plan offers an affordable iPhone every year. Though you’re still paying out the phone’s entire cost over the contract, there’s no triple-digit charge.
The program also gives you a lot of convenience. Apple makes it easy to send back your old iPhone by giving you a box and a shipping label. At an Apple Store, the store can also take it from you.
Apple will accept an iPhone with normal wear and tear as long as it is still in working order. Given that a phone’s condition has a significant impact on its resale value, Apple’s proposal may appeal to consumers who are prone to dropping their devices or who do not want to keep their phones in cases.
And since Apple Care+ insurance covers hardware and accidents and is included in the price as a smaller monthly payment instead of a one-time payment that could be as much as $199, you can pay much less money at once and still be covered.
Read Also: HOW TO Optimize YOUR MAC: EASY Methods
How Does Apple Upgrade Program Work
The Apple upgrade program works on Apple phones that are currently on sale and enrollment must be done either at an Apple Store or online. Because you are legally financing the phone, Citizens Bank, which is the company lending you the money and not Apple, will do a small credit check.
If your credit check goes well, all you have to do is make your first payment in-store, and you’re good to go.
When Am I Eligible for an iPhone Upgrade?
You can get a new phone once a year or when you’ve paid off half of the one you have. Apple has released a new iPhone every 12 months, which has been great because the timing has always been right. But if Apple released a new iPhone a month or two early, you could make an extra payment to increase your amount to 50% and qualify.
The other thing you need for an upgrade is for your iPhone to look like it just came out of the box. This means that if your phone is broken or cracked, you have to use your AppleCare+ service to fix it before you can upgrade.
Where Can I Upgrade My iPhone?
In addition to signing up for the upgrade plan, you can upgrade your iPhone online or at an Apple Store. If you choose to upgrade your iPhone online, Apple will send you a box, a label, and instructions on how to return your old iPhone.
Does the Apple Upgrade Program Have Payment Plans?
As we already said, the monthly payments for the upgrade plan are just the cost of the phone plus AppleCare+, spread out over 24 months. That said, the price you pay each month will depend on which model you buy and how much space you get. This is how Apple’s upgrade program works.
The following are the monthly payments for the iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone 11 Pro Max:
- $35.33 per month for an iPhone 11 64GB
- $37.41 per month for an iPhone 11 (128GB)
- $41.58 per month for an iPhone 11 256GB
- $49.91 per month for an iPhone 11 Pro 64GB
- $56.16 per month for an iPhone 11 Pro 256GB
- $64.50 per month for an iPhone 11 Pro 512GB
- $54.08 per month for an iPhone 11 Pro Max 64GB
- $60.33 per month for an iPhone 11 Pro Max 256GB
- $68.66 per month for an iPhone 11 Pro Max 512GB
You can upgrade your iPhone early or pay it off early if you want to. To make more payments, you need to log in to your Citizens Bank account.
Apple Upgrade Program Worth It
Your needs and desires will determine whether the iPhone Upgrade Program is worth it for you.
The iPhone Upgrade Program is hard to sell if you never break your phone and don’t want AppleCare+. You have to pay at least $149 more for the ease of monthly payments, which is wasted money if you don’t use the service. You should save that extra money for your next phone instead. Remember that replacing a broken screen normally costs far more than the cost of AppleCare+.
If you desire to save as much money as possible on your iPhone or do not wish to upgrade every year, you will likely be better off avoiding the Upgrade Programme. Let’s look at this by figuring out the difference between the two extremes.
iPhone Apple Upgrade Program Worth vs. Buying Every Two Years
Let’s first assume that you enroll in the iPhone Upgrade Program today and pay $39.50 a month for a 128GB iPhone 13. After a year, you’ll have spent $474 on that phone, and you’ll likely pay the same amount to trade it in for the (presumed) iPhone 14. After two years, you will have paid $948.
But at this point, your phone is half-paid for. So you’ll have to either trade it in and start over, or pay another $474 to own the phone for another 12 months (a total of $1,422 at the end of three years, whichever way).
Instead, let’s say you buy a 128GB iPhone 13 without AppleCare+ and keep it for two years. The price for those two years is $799. After that time has passed, you can turn in your iPhone 13 to receive credit towards (perhaps) an iPhone 15.
The current Apple trade-in value for the iPhone 11 is $340. You can trade in your iPhone 13 in two years and get the same $340 towards a new phone. If you subtract the trade-in value from the estimated $799 price of the iPhone 15, you’ll have spent $1,258 after three years.
The value of replacing your phone every two years rises if you can sell your previous iPhones for more money than Apple will pay for them (perhaps to a friend or on Facebook Marketplace). You don’t even have to do everything listed above. You might keep your phone for three years or use Apple’s iPhone Payments to pay for it over 24 months without AppleCare+.
iPhone Upgrade Program: Convenient, but Not Perfect
In general, those who want a new iPhone every year, don’t mind paying a fixed monthly fee forever, and have already purchased AppleCare+ should choose Apple’s iPhone Upgrade program. If you don’t meet all three of these requirements, you’re probably not a good fit for the Upgrade Program.
To save money, keep each phone for at least two years before trading it in or selling it. Also, don’t forget that you don’t have to buy a brand-new iPhone. There are many places to buy a used or repaired iPhone that works just fine.
Is Apple Upgrade Program Worth It?
It’s worth using the iPhone Upgrade Program. First, it frees the customer from buying an expensive phone all at once. Instead, the cost can be spread out over a year, which makes it much easier for many people to pay. The second thing is that the program makes it easy to update.
How Much Does the iPhone Upgrade Program Cost?
The upgrade program was first offered in 2015, and it lets people pay for their iPhones in 24 monthly installments. For this year’s iPhones, this means that Apple Care coverage starts at $35.33 per month for the $699 iPhone 13 Mini and at $39.50 for the $799 iPhone 13.
Can I Get iPhone for Free?
Two real ways to get an iPhone for free come from telecom providers. You get a free iPhone if you sign up for a new plan, or you can trade in your old phone for something. No matter what, you will have to use a backpack. Whether you can get a free iPhone depends on how much your old phone is worth and which model you choose.
What Happens if You Don’t Upgrade Your iPhone?
Your iPhone and main applications should work fine without the upgrade. When apps slow down, try upgrading iOS to the newest version. On the other hand, if you update your iPhone to the latest iOS, your apps might stop working.
Should I Pay Off My Phone or Upgrade?
You can save a lot of money by not upgrading your phone, and once it’s paid off, you can take advantage of competitive cell phone plan prices. Learn the advantages and cons of keeping your smartphone, whether to buy a phone, and how early upgrades work.
How Do You Know if Your Phone Is Ready for an Upgrade?
Even though your phone works perfectly, you may wish to upgrade if you switched in 2 or 3 years. Phones have evolved enough in that time that you’ll notice substantial differences in screen size, display resolution, and camera quality.
References
