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iPhone 16 Pro Upgrade program and financing no longer available for unlocked iPhones?

K

kougra6541

macrumors regular
Original poster
Sep 8, 2016
245
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I’ve always gotten an unlocked iPhone on the upgrade program….

Trying to get my preorder set up and it’s saying you have to select one of their 4 carriers for the upgrade program or Apple financing deals!?

I have Spectrum mobile…. Do I really have no options for a launch day financed phone now!?
 

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  • IMG_2909.png
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When doing the process in the Japan Apple Store, can choose a carrier now or Connect to a telecommunications carrier later. After trading in choose a payment option.
 
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AndrewR23 said:
what phone do you have? Do what I do. Buy full price and sell your old phone on swappa
Click to expand...
I’m on a 14 pro right now, chose to skip the last years upgrade.

I own my phone now, but can’t afford to buy it in full
 
You should be able to just choose a Verizon phone since all their phones come factory unlocked.
 
You can't select the second option in the screenshot, "Apple iPhone Payments"? That sure sounds like the Upgrade Program with a new name (0% APR loan through Citizen's One).
 
Choose a carrier, sign up for a new line, then when it arrives, have Spectrum port your old number into the new iPhone.
 
4sallypat said:
Choose a carrier, sign up for a new line, then when it arrives, have Spectrum port your old number into the new iPhone.
Click to expand...

they key is choosing a carrier that has their phones factory unlocked. pretty sure Verizon is the only one out of the bunch that does. I have FirstNet (AT&T) but I selected the Verizon model when I bought my phone outright last year I think through the Apple Store app. the models are all the same now in terms of bands and cellular tech, so picking carrier really doesn't matter anymore except for the lock status. but depending on what SIM you insert or eSIM you program, it may lock the phone to that SIM if the carrier requires it. not sure though.
 
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kougra6541 said:
I’ve always gotten an unlocked iPhone on the upgrade program….

Trying to get my preorder set up and it’s saying you have to select one of their 4 carriers for the upgrade program or Apple financing deals!?

I have Spectrum mobile…. Do I really have no options for a launch day financed phone now!?
Click to expand...
IMG_2201.jpeg
 
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Just sign up for T-Mobile’s Essential Saver for a month, do the IUP program and choose T-Mobile, chalk it up to $55 for the service vs. what you save not using a major carrier, and use your unlocked phone on your MVNO. Apple’s iPhones come unlocked with the exceptions noted above.
 
chrisdazzo said:
Just sign up for T-Mobile’s Essential Saver for a month, do the IUP program and choose T-Mobile, chalk it up to $55 for the service vs. what you save not using a major carrier, and use your unlocked phone on your MVNO. Apple’s iPhones come unlocked with the exceptions noted above.
Click to expand...
I have had TMO for years and now switching to Visible (VZW).

So I will pre-order my phone using my TMO ($45/month) account and then when it arrives, switch it over to Visible for $15/month using their promotion.

Will save $360/year for 5 years guaranteed!

Screenshot 2024-09-11 at 8.45.49 PM.png
 
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I’m a dual eSIM user (Verizon & AT&T) who used apple trade in for my 14pro ($400) plus 0% Apple Card financing (because why not).

As I was reviewing the financing offers and setting up my purchase during the pre-pre order phase, I chose the less attractive Apple Card method because I noticed a difference in verbiage between AT&T’s $1000 dollar deal vs Apple Card’s that basically stated (I’m paraphrasing) I would receive an UNLOCKED phone with Apple and not with AT&T despite choosing AT&T for initial set up (I could have chosen Verizon’s subsidy deal but I’m not as committed to that account)

As an AT&T customer, issues of locked phones and carrier switching are overated IMO unless you have a need for dual sims or plan to sell it and need the widest possible market. I’ve had my AT&T account through two name changes (Bell South and then Cingular), so I wouldn’t be leaving to save $10 a month at a budget carrier who’s renting AT&T’s lines anyway.

If I didn’t need dual sims, I would have easily taken the AT&T deal because it makes sense.
 
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AndrewR23 said:
correct
Click to expand...
Not correct, I have metro by t-mobile and I ordered a 15 pro max last year (t-mobile) with apple card financing and when it arrived I skipped the tmobile carrier set up and activated it with metro, these phones are unlocked, so I'm assuming its the same this year.
 
D_Apple said:
I’m a dual eSIM user (Verizon & AT&T) who used apple trade in for my 14pro ($400) plus 0% Apple Card financing (because why not).

As I was reviewing the financing offers and setting up my purchase during the pre-pre order phase, I chose the less attractive Apple Card method because I noticed a difference in verbiage between AT&T’s $1000 dollar deal vs Apple Card’s that basically stated (I’m paraphrasing) I would receive an UNLOCKED phone with Apple and not with AT&T despite choosing AT&T for initial set up (I could have chosen Verizon’s subsidy deal but I’m not as committed to that account)

As an AT&T customer, issues of locked phones and carrier switching are overated IMO unless you have a need for dual sims or plan to sell it and need the widest possible market. I’ve had my AT&T account through two name changes (Bell South and then Cingular), so I wouldn’t be leaving to save $10 a month at a budget carrier who’s renting AT&T’s lines anyway.

If I didn’t need dual sims, I would have easily taken the AT&T deal because it makes sense.
Click to expand...
If you chose AT&T, would they allow you to upgrade each year with the $1K promo ?

I ask because Boost Mobile allows upgrade every year and they don't need a trade in.
 
4sallypat said:
If you chose AT&T, would they allow you to upgrade each year with the $1K promo ?

I ask because Boost Mobile allows upgrade every year and they don't need a trade in.
Click to expand...
Not if you want the full $1000 because the promo is spread out and issued as a bill credit. That’s the return on their investment, they charge you for the service over time and lock the phone to disincentivize bailing.

However, you do have the option of paying it off early come iPhone 17 by just paying the difference in what you’ve paid and what you owe and they’ll happily do it again because they haven’t lost anything.

I don’t use “Boost” but it’s hard to imagine they’re giving away iPhones without recouping their costs. I would read the fine print.
 
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