Other Is iPhone Upgrade Programme worth it?

[AVBeatMan]

Those who are on (or are considering it) the iPhone Upgrade programme, how does the process work?. And, do you think it's worth it?

I always upgrade every year to even iPhone. I usually buy outright, sell before new ones come out (just sold my 15 Pro Max for £800 here in the UK) but this year want to join the IPP.

A; What is the process? Do you order as usual on the Friday, then have to go into store the following Friday to do the deal?

B; For those financially savvy, is it a good deal?

Any advice?

 

[fatTribble]

I’ve been on it since it started. I don’t remember the specifics but from what I do remember it’s basically just another way to pay. So you configure your iPhone then at checkout you can pay in full, with a carrier deal, over 2 years with Apple Card or the iPhone Upgrade Program. Anyone who has done it more recently please feel free to correct. You can have the iPhone delivered or pick it up in an Apple store.

As for the financials, it depends of course. I basically looked at it like this. I can make a certain payment every month. I can choose to either own the iPhone every two years or just get a new one every year. So if you buy it after two years you have it to sell every two years. So how much is that worth to you?

There are other considerations like AppleCare being included and the tax.

For me, if I’m that worried about the extra expense of the program I’d rather make cuts in streaming services or Starbucks frequency. That’s just me though. I totally understand the folks who prefer the cheaper options.

It‘s all worth it to me. Many will have their own opinions about their situation. If I start talking about why I like the program the thread could easily turn into a discussion about the yearly features being released which has all been discussed before.

There’s not a right or wrong answer. It’s just what your priorities are.

 

[Apple_Robert]

In my opinion, leasing a phone is not a good financial move in many ways, and neither is buying outright every year and taking a financial loss on selling last year’s model. You would be better served to save up for your yearly upgrade.

 

[mathiasinthe314]

I’ve been doing IUP since the 13, so this will be my fourth year. I personally like being able to get the newest iPhone every year without the hassle of shelling out $1200 (plus AppleCare) up front and then having to worry about how much I can sell it for next year and how fast or easily. It’s a quick credit check and choose your configuration and shipping/pickup choice and give them a payment method that gets charged when it ships.

Easy peasy.

 

[mikkker007]

Those who are on (or are considering it) the iPhone Upgrade programme, how does the process work?. And, do you think it's worth it?

I always upgrade every year to even iPhone. I usually buy outright, sell before new ones come out (just sold my 15 Pro Max for £800 here in the UK) but this year want to join the IPP.

A; What is the process? Do you order as usual on the Friday, then have to go into store the following Friday to do the deal?

B; For those financially savvy, is it a good deal?

Any advice?

Australia here, I'm definitely one of those yearly upgraders regardless of $. Not because i can afford it but because I'm an idiot with FOMO😁. When i bought my 15 last year the mob i usually go through were doing an upgrade option for an extra $250 at time of purchase. We haggled a bit and got it to $150. So, this year im just going to take my 15 and literraly swap it over to the new 16.

 

[huanbrother]

It depends on how experienced you are at selling your devices.

If you have a strong track record of face-to-face trading for your used devices, I’d say the upgrade program doesn't offer good value and can feel like a rip-off.

However, if you prioritize convenience and safety when trading in person, Apple's program has some merit. But unless you're buying AppleCare+, it’s better to use your device normally and trade it in as usual. The extra trade-in value Apple offers is rarely worth the additional cost of AppleCare+.

And never trade your devices online (though Apple's own trade-in service is an exception).

 

[Ameer_1]

Those who are on (or are considering it) the iPhone Upgrade programme, how does the process work?. And, do you think it's worth it?

I always upgrade every year to even iPhone. I usually buy outright, sell before new ones come out (just sold my 15 Pro Max for £800 here in the UK) but this year want to join the IPP.

A; What is the process? Do you order as usual on the Friday, then have to go into store the following Friday to do the deal?

B; For those financially savvy, is it a good deal?

Any advice?

I was thinking of doing that last year but it's a waste of money.
For those who take care of their phone and are not clumsy doesn't make sense to join iUP
Just buy it outright each year and sell it or even trade it in at Apple.
Trading it in each year at Apple will be way cheaper than joining the iUP
In America, the iPhone is $999 and each year you could trade it in for $570 and only pay $429 with Florida tax, it equals out to $460 if you do this yearly but if you do the iUP it is $50 a month which is $600 a year and since they charge you the tax for a $999 phone it'll be around $670 a year

 

[MisterSavage]

I'm in the USA so there could definitely be differences.

The first two years of the program they made you go to an Apple Store to get your phone, which was a giant PITA and 2+ hours in line when I went after work.

Ever since then I've been able to get my phone shipped to me. You've sometimes got to be fast with placing your preorder or you won't get launch day shipping.

I don't agree that's a bad financial move. You end up paying pretty much the same if you had bought the phone outright (plus AppleCare) if you keep the phone for two years. It's not a hard credit pull every year either (might not be relevant to UK people).

 

[it wasnt me]

Those who are on (or are considering it) the iPhone Upgrade programme, how does the process work?. And, do you think it's worth it?

I am German and have ‘only’ upgraded twice so far (XR -> 13 -> 16). This said:

You can earn less money with an ‘upgrade’. Apple pays less for the old iPhone than the free market, at least in this country. One advantage is the seamless transition: walk into the shop with the old iPhone, walk out with the new, fully set up new iPhone, without having to wait for days without an iPhone or for days with an iPhone that you don't know if and how you can sell.

I would do it again (and I probably will... with the iPhone 19, I presume.)

 

[Demonface]

I've been using this service/program for years. For me it makes sense since I like upgrading my device often and I usually get a new device yearly. This program saves me the hassle of listing the old one online and possibly getting robbed/ripped off.

 

[pugxiwawa]

Absolutely not, you better off just buy it and trade it in every year. Apple gives you more than 50% of value for last year's model, plus you get the tax back for the trade-in amount. IUP doesn't make much sense.