Apple is planning to make it easier than ever to stay addicted to the iPhone with the introduction of its new iPhone Upgrade Program that will allow fans to upgrade to a new device every single year.
Phil Schiller announced the new program on stage at Apple’s keynote today, revealing that pricing for the iPhone Upgrade Program starts at $32 per month, which is slightly more expensive than what you can get at a carrier, but it comes with some extra benefits too.
Now that carriers are doing away with subsidized iPhones with the the signing of a two-year contract, Apple is giving customers the opportunity to make payments on the iPhone 6s, the same way you would with an AT&T Next or T-Mobile Jump. The extra benefit is that Apple also includes AppleCare+ with the device as well, and your carrier doesn’t.
We still need to get more details from other carriers to see how much they’ll charge for monthly installment plans of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, but Apple’s website shows AT&T will offer the 16GB iPhone 6s Plus for just $24.97/month. The iPhone Upgrade Program for the 16GB iPhone 6s Plus costs $37 per month, which will cost you $888 over 24 months, or you can turn it in after one year and get the iPhone 7.
The iPhone 6s will be available to the public on September 25th. Pre-orders don’t start until September 12th, but you can already visit Apple’s website to save the iPhone of your choice on the carrier you want to expedite the pre-ordering process next week.
Buster Hein is a freelance writer who lives in Phoenix, Arizona. Twitter: @bst3r.
12 responses to “Apple’s new upgrade program will keep you addicted to iPhone”
Does anyone know if you upgrade after 12 months if you have to pay the remaining balance since it’s 24 month financing?
It seems like you pay the full 24 months, but get a new phone after 12 months. Question is though, what happens after you pay it off after 24 months? Do you get to keep the new phone (iPhone 7) or are you just leasing it?
I don’t think you get to keep anything if you plan on trading it in every year; and you wouldn’t have to pay the remaining balance off. You’re essentially renting the phone from Apple for a year, and renting a different device next year, and so on.
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Not sure, would hope it starts a new ‘contract’ and the 12/24 month period renews.
Its pay 12 renew 24 pay 12 renew 24 pay 12 renew 24 pay 12 renew 24
So at the end of that hell its pay 24 then you die.
You’re better off selling it and pay it off and make a little profit. It is unlocked, so it would be an easy sell.
I still have a year left on my two-year contract with AT&T. I also am on a grandfathered unlimited data plan. I’m wondering if I switch to Apple’s new upgrade program, do I still get to keep my same data plan?
The data plan shouldn’t be effected unless you change service plans.
will the monthly payment be billed to our iTunes account? if so, it would theoretically be possible to load up on 20-25% off iTunes cards and save a bunch that way.
“….but you can already visit Apple’s website to save the iPhone of your choice on the carrier you want to expedite the pre-ordering process next week.”
I’ve checked Apple’s website and can find no link that allows you to do what you say.
Can you provide a link please?
Found this from the iPhone page on the website:
How to buy iPhone 6s with the iPhone Upgrade Program.
You can make a reservation online, starting at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 12, to buy in store. We’ll help you get set up with the iPhone Upgrade Program.
Guess I’ll have to wait ’til Satuday morning.