Apple’s new plan lets you trade in old iPhone for an upgrade

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iPhone 6S
Upgrading has never been more tempting.
Photo: Buster Hein/Cult of Mac

Apple is launching a new strategy to get customers to ditch their old iPhones for a new model by combining aspects of its two upgrade programs to create the “Trade Up With Installments” plan.

The new program lets customers trade in an old iPhone or Android (they’ll even take Windows phones if you can find one). Apple will then apply the value of the old device toward a new iPhone and let you pay off the rest of the purchase price over 24 months.

The Trade Up with Installments plan is only available in U.S. Apple Stores starting today. Monthly payments range between $15 and $35, depending on the condition and model of the device you trade in.

Apple told CNET the new program is “really geared toward people who have older-generation iPhones.”

The details of the plans can get a bit complicated and can range widely in price. If you trade in an iPhone 5 for an iPhone 6, your bill will be $14.54. Swapping a 64GB iPhone 4 for an iPhone 6s Plus means you’ll be paying $35.37 per month.

The plans don’t include AppleCare+, so you’ll have to pay extra for that if you want it. Unlike your carrier, though, Apple’s not tacking on a bunch of hidden fees. The total cost of your monthly bill is simply calculated by the total value of the new iPhone minus the trade-in value, divided into 24 months.

All devices sold through the plan come unlocked, so you won’t be tied to a carrier anymore. You’ll just be stuck to Apple.

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