iPhone X: iPhone Upgrade Plan or One-Time Payment

[Syke23z]

iPhone X: iPhone Upgrade Plan or One-Time Payment
Currently, I am planning on upgrading my iPhone 7 (128;Black;AT&T) to the iPhone X (256;Space Grey;AT&T). Last year, I did not join the iPhone Upgrade Program, however, I have increased interest due to Apple's new product pipeline. In the past, I have only upgraded on whole numbers (not iPhone #S). From your experience with or without the iPhone Upgrade Plan, do you think it is worth it? I am looking for your experience and listing your Pros and Cons for the iPhone Upgrade Plan versus the One-Time Payment. Also, how does the 12 month Upgrade worth with 24 installments?

Thank You!

P.S. I am grandfathered on the AT&T Unlimited Data Plan (If that affects anything).

 

[KittyKatta]

I wouldn't pay it in full because this is a first gen of a new design. So, as with every first gen design, next years model will be a gigantic improvement and that will be the one to get.

 

[iapplelove]

One time payment always/

 

[unclefarkus]

I did the IUP last year and regret it. I'm eligible now, but want the X, so looking at 2 extra payments minimum. I could sell my phone now for $600-ish. My payoff is $500. By the time the X releases, payoff will be near $400 and the value won't have depreciated accordingly I suspect. But let's assume I can't get the X for 2-3 months (which seems very likely), I'll make even more payments. My phone will be worth maybe $500? And the payoff will be near +/-$300. Very hard to justify remaining in the program and not just selling it. Which defeats the entire purpose for why I signed up.

What makes it even trickier is the possibility that next year's phone releases EARLIER. So I might be on around payment 7 or 8 by the time I'm ready to upgrade. So I'm out. This isn't for me. I plan to sell my 7 Plus, pay it off, get an SE, and decide what to do about the X later. Maybe I'll use my Barclays card with 0% financing and just pay off as I please.

 

[Syke23z]

I did the IUP last year and regret it. I'm eligible now, but want the X, so looking at 2 extra payments minimum. I could sell my phone now for $600-ish. My payoff is $500. By the time the X releases, payoff will be near $400 and the value won't have depreciated according I suspect. But let's assume I can't get the X for 2-3 months (which seems very likely), I'll make even more payments. My phone will be worth maybe $500? And the payoff will be near +/-$300. Very hard to justify remaining in the program and not just selling it. Which defeats the entire purpose for why I signed up.

What makes it even trickier is the possibility that next year's phone releases EARLIER. So I might be on around payment 7 or 8 by the time I'm ready to upgrade. So I'm out. This isn't for me. I plan to sell my 7 Plus, pay it off, get an SE, and decide what to do about the X later. Maybe I'll use my Barclays card with 0% financing and just pay off as I please.

You bring up a good point about remaining payments and Apple's next release. As an avid Apple fan I want to partake the excitement of something new--iPhone X--but worry that this is a first-generation product and the next iteration will include Touch ID + improvements. It sounds best to buy the iPhone X outright, sell it a little bit before the next release (go back to the 7) and buy the iPhone 2X or whatever Apple decides to name it. Also, no one has ever complained about ever having extra iPhones around: in case I drop or break my X!

 

[Damon2]

If I got one, I'll probably just do the standard non upgrade payment plan.

AUP doesn't particularly interest me.

I did the normal payment plan last year for my 7.

I'll just sell my 7, If I do decide to get for the X.

If you can afford to go straight outright no quams go for it, but Apple do offer 0% finance i.e. the AUP or normal payment plan.