Apple is giving iPhone Upgrade Program subscribers a “head start” on their iPhone X pre-order. Starting today, eligible customers can begin the upgrade process so that there is no delay in placing their order come Friday morning.
The iPhone Upgrade Program is the most affordable way to buy an iPhone X. It lets you spread out the cost of your iPhone X — and AppleCare+ coverage — over 24 months, so there is no hefty upfront fee of $1,000.
But because you need to pass a credit check, the iPhone Upgrade Program is not the quickest pre-order method. Apple is helping customers avoid a delay by allowing them to get a head start on their upgrade today.
How to speed up the pre-order process
All you need to do is download the Apple Store app for iOS if you don’t already have it, then choose the iPhone X model you want. You can then get pre-approved for your loan ahead of time, allowing you to “speed through checkout” on October 27.
Apple offered the same head start for iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus back in September. It doesn’t actually give you an advantage over other customers who aren’t in the program, but it at least puts you on a level playing field by skipping the approval process on pre-order day.
Things to remember
Once you have completed pre-approval using the Apple Store app, you’ll need to use the app again to pre-order your iPhone X on October 27. This only applies to existing program subscribers; you cannot get pre-approval if you’re a new customer.
Finally, you will need to be eligible for an upgrade to complete the pre-approval process now. If you haven’t yet made 12 monthly payments, you’ll have to wait, or pay the difference upfront.
