Apple iPhone Upgrade Program
A trade-in is the best way to upgrade to the latest iPhone and there is no better one that Apple’s own iPhone Upgrade Program. The program works with your carrier, be it T-Mobile/Sprint, AT&T, or Verizon, and allows you to trade-in your older model for a new one.
The summary of how it works is that you hand in your older iPhone model for a new one, and pay for it, interest-free, over two years. Note that you are eligible only if you have made up to 12 monthly payments on your older model. So, this means that the iPhone Upgrade Program is perfect for indivisduals who want to get the latest iPhone every year. Requirements include personal details like, your Social Security number, an annual income for a credit check, and a valid U.S. credit or debit card. Prepaid cards are not accepted. Apple’s upgrade program works independent of carriers. It requires no changes to your existing subscription with your carrier. That does not mean that you can’t explore upgrading through your carrier though.
Carrier Financing
Another convenient way to upgrade to the latest iPhone is via your carrier. Depending on the specific ncarrier and available contract, you might be able to take advante of their trade-in program and drop your older iPhone model for a new one. Some of the available carrier programs include: AT&T Next Up, T-Mobile Jump, Sprint iPhone Forever (Sprint is now a part of T-Mobile), and Verizon Annual iPhone Upgrade Program. Ask for details from any of these carriers. Smaller carriers also offer trade-in and financing deals for you to explore. Requirements for carrier programs differ from one carrier to the next, but you will need your Social Security Number and credit checks as well.
Apple Card Monthly Installments
Lastly, you can also easily upgrade to the latest iPhone model via the Apple Card Monthly Installments. This is not a trade-in, so you are paying the full cost of the new model, only in monthly instalments.
Which is the easiest way to upgrade to the latest iPhone model?
So which of these options should you pursue? It is reported that Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program costs significantly more than carrier financing options and paying for the phone in full. For example, it has been reported that “the Apple iPhone Upgrade Program could cost you as much as $110 more than paying in full – and it’s even more expensive than some carrier plans” [1] So, if you are looking to save on cash, Apple’s program might not be the best option for you. If you are not quite keen on roping yourself into make monthly payments, roping yourself to a specific carrier, or being forced into an upgrade schedule, you should consider paying for your new iPhone outrighly and staying a free person. Note that you can also pay the full price via instalment payment too. You would be surprised how much less this costs. If you are already tied to a carrier and it is not an issue, or you are short on cash at the moment, you should find out what financing deal your cell phone carrier has to offer and go with that. Different carriers have different upgrade plans and some are more affordable than others. References
Flipsy (source).
