iPhone 16 Pro Max Any AT&T Customer Considering Upgrading purely to get on the new NextUp Anytime Plan

[Cyberguycpt]

So I have an IPhone 15 Pro Max and was really not thinking of upgrading at all. I bought my phone last year and I’m on the old NextUp plan where you have to pay 50% off to upgrade, which I’m really not looking forward to doing for the 16 Pro Max. I just realized yesterday, ( yeah I know I’m late) that there is a New NextUp plan which would let me upgrade up to 3 times a year. And since I’m an IPhone devotee that is clearly enough. Just for context I was previously on the IUP for a few years prior to joining AT&T. I would have to pay about $280 to pay off half the phone but that would be my last time having to do that to get to move to my next phone next year which I know I would want to do.

I know I could just wait until next year but I would feel like I got played, only owing a third of my phone and trading it in and starting all over.

Question anyone on the program now knows if the price of the installment payments goes up on the new NextUp plans.

 

[sydia21]

I am currently on Next Up and since AT&T changed plans from 24 to 36 months I have had to pay the balance of the phone to 50% around this time every year to upgrade.

With the Next Up Anytime, the price of the installments payments are still set according to the price of the phone you choose. NUA is $10 vs $6 for the old Next Up.

Also one thing to remember is that when you upgrade early on Next Up, you can get up to $500 in bill credits as well depending on the phone to upgrade to. Good luck on your decision.

 

[fatTribble]

I’m on AT&T but have always just used the iPhone Upgrade Program. Is there a benefit using the AT&T Next Up?

 

[Cyberguycpt]

I am currently on Next Up and since AT&T changed plans from 24 to 36 months I have had to pay the balance of the phone to 50% around this time every year to upgrade.

With the Next Up Anytime, the price of the installments payments are still set according to the price of the phone you choose. NUA is $10 vs $6 for the old Next Up.

Also one thing to remember is that when you upgrade early on Next Up, you can get up to $500 in bill credits as well depending on the phone to upgrade to. Good luck on your decision.

Whoa, didn’t know this. Now I have more to think about. lol. So, right now I owe $266 to get me to half of the phone paid off. So I could do that and then gain access to upgrade 3 times a year. Or use your suggestion pay off the $266 still and then upgrade and get $500 in bill credits. So my phone cost per month would be $33 - $13 in bill credit spread over 36 months so I would pay $20 a month. But then again if I do that every year I would only really benefit from about $160 in savings. Ummmmm gotta think. lol. Your way still might be worth it I would only be responsible for a difference of $100 a year.

 

[wickedrm]

I don’t know how it will work since you’re currently on the old next up plan, but once you move to next up anytime, you will receive $1000 in credits after 12 months. Therefore you could get a new Pro for $120 a year or a new PM for $186 per year (base storage, not including device tax).

 

[sydia21]

I'm not sure if you can switch to the NUA mid cycle but you can call and ask. I do know that since you are already on Next Up, you can get the NUA once you pay to 50% and upgrade on this line. The $500 per line in bill credits are for Pro Max and of you upgrade to a Pro it is $350 in credits. Plus, the additional $10 for NUA.

For me, the only upside to NUA is not having to come out of pocket with a lump sum to get 50% of the paid off before upgrading. Although it is $48 more in NUA fees vs the Next Up over that time period. To each his own. I upgrade very year so it works for me.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

I’m on AT&T but have always just used the iPhone Upgrade Program. Is there a benefit using the AT&T Next Up?

Not much for most of us but it could potentially save you a lot of money on AT&T Next Up. I was paying about $61 on the IUP, and that of course included Apple Care with theft and loss. Now if you didn’t care about that you would only be paying $33 a month almost 1/2 the price. But with the AT&T NextUp and Apple Care + you’re saving about $6 a month or $72 a year.

 

[sydia21]

I’m on AT&T but have always just used the iPhone Upgrade Program. Is there a benefit using the AT&T Next Up?

Nope. I just never have had the inclination to pay off a phone fully with AT&T to get from under their thumb and move to iPhone upgrade.

 

[wickedrm]

I’m on AT&T but have always just used the iPhone Upgrade Program. Is there a benefit using the AT&T Next Up?

Yes. On Apple you are charged money. On next up anytime, the phone is free. ($1000 Pro).

 

[sydia21]

I don’t know how it will work since you’re currently on the old next up plan, but once you move to next up anytime, you will receive $1000 in credits after 12 months. Therefore you could get a new Pro for $120 a year or a new PM for $186 per year (base storage, not including device tax).

I have seen folks say this on other forums and some say it's not true. So you are saying that once your phone is paid of 50% and you upgrade on NUA you get 1K in bill credits?

 

[Cyberguycpt]

I’m on AT&T but have always just used the iPhone Upgrade Program. Is there a benefit using the AT&T Next Up?

Actually I changed my view from my previous reply. I honestly think the AT&T Next Up Anytime is better. With IUP you are pretty much forced to pay off 1/2 of the phone to upgrade. In all honesty every year I would sell my iPhone on EBay or to a friend and pocket a little profit and pay off my existing IUP. With the AT&T plan I would feel more comfortable trading in my phone knowing I didn’t leave tons of money on the table for a billion dollar company.

 

[wickedrm]

I have seen folks say this on other forums and some say it's not true. So you are saying that once your phone is paid of 50% and you upgrade on NUA you get 1K in bill credits?

Once your phone is paid off 33%, you can turn your phone in for a new phone, and receive 1K in bill credits. So long as you continue paying the $10 for NUA.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Once your phone is paid off 33%, you can turn your phone in for a new phone, and receive 1K in bill credits. So long as you continue paying the $10 for NUA.

Now my question is if I pay off half of my phone and go from AT&T next to AT&T next any time will I still get that trade-in credit? if that could work, that would be my course of action lol.

 

[wickedrm]

Now my question is if I pay off half of my phone and go from AT&T next to AT&T next any time will I still get that trade-in credit? if that could work, that would be my course of action lol.

That I’m not sure on. I saw some language that explains what happens to existing NU users but I can’t find it now.

 

[sydia21]

Once your phone is paid off 33%, you can turn your phone in for a new phone, and receive 1K in bill credits. So long as you continue paying the $10 for NUA.

Wow! This is great. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[sydia21]

That I’m not sure on. I saw some language that explains what happens to existing NU users but I can’t find it now.

Now my question is if I pay off half of my phone and go from AT&T next to AT&T next any time will I still get that trade-in credit? if that could work, that would be my course of action lol.

They only offer NUA now so you would either have to choose that or nothing. The 1K credit would be on your next upgrade, not this one since you are coming from the Next Up to the Next Up Anytime.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

They only offer NUA now so you would either have to choose that or nothing. The 1K credit would be on your next upgrade, not this one since you are coming from the Next Up to the Next Up Anytime.

Just left the AT&T store they said I would get $500 in trade in credits.

 

[wickedrm]

It should be next year that you get $1k if you do NUA, then.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

It should be next year that you get $1k if you do NUA, then.

Yup.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

Ok so just left the AT&T store. Purchased the IPhone 16 Pro Max 512 GB. Had to pay $233 to pay off half of my 15 Pro Max. I can confirm that I did receive the $500 in bill credits spread out over $36 months so $13.89 a month off the bill, so from $38.89-13.89 I’ll be paying $25 a month $8 less than I was before. If I would have went with the 256GB it would have been right under $20 a month. The Rep also explained that next year after I’ve made 12 or 13 payments he wasn’t for sure I would qualify for what ever promotion they have then, so if it’s the $1000 off I would get that with the NextUp Anytime. Thanks for all the info y’all learning about the $500 off made the purchase more palatable for me.


So in Total I’ve paid 752 in payments and tax on my 15 Pro Max, and I’m getting back $500 so a loss of $252 which isn’t bad on a year old iPhone. Next year if they still have the $1000 promotion it will be a killer deal.

My only other option would have been to sell my phone on eBay for about 725 and after shipping and fees I probably would have been left with 630 at best and still owe $860 to AT&T so -$230.

Side Note, Desert Titanium was still available to ship for launch. All others had a modest wait time.

 

[ToddH]

I am on the next up plan. I just utilized that option and paid $311 to upgrade early. Definitely a lot cheaper than paying full price for a phone. I guess the only drawback is you have to send your phone in as a trade-in without being able to sell it for money.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

I am on the next up plan. I just utilized that option and paid $311 to upgrade early. Definitely a lot cheaper than paying full price for a phone. I guess the only drawback is you have to send your phone in as a trade-in without being able to sell it for money.

Definitely understand your point, but it’s really not that bad. Before I was on the IUP and had to pay off 1/2 the phone to upgrade which is why I would usually sell it on eBay. Last year I sold my 14 Pro Max for $785 eBay take $120 with $10 express Pay and another $30 for shipping. That’s a Grand total of $635, and I still owed $700 the citizens. lol. The only benefit was I sold the phone and kept paying the monthly so I had extra money at the time. Next year you will get to trade in your phone, only paying $228 for the 256, 300 for the 512 etc and possibly get a $1000 bill credit for your next 12 months. Having to pay half the phone off then trade it in is a tough proposition. But we never really win do we.

 

[cvconde]

Ok so just left the AT&T store. Purchased the IPhone 16 Pro Max 512 GB. Had to pay $233 to pay off half of my 15 Pro Max. I can confirm that I did receive the $500 in bill credits spread out over $36 months so $13.89 a month off the bill, so from $38.89-13.89 I’ll be paying $25 a month $8 less than I was before. If I would have went with the 256GB it would have been right under $20 a month. The Rep also explained that next year after I’ve made 12 or 13 payments he wasn’t for sure I would qualify for what ever promotion they have then, so if it’s the $1000 off I would get that with the NextUp Anytime. Thanks for all the info y’all learning about the $500 off made the purchase more palatable for me.


So in Total I’ve paid 752 in payments and tax on my 15 Pro Max, and I’m getting back $500 so a loss of $252 which isn’t bad on a year old iPhone. Next year if they still have the $1000 promotion it will be a killer deal.

My only other option would have been to sell my phone on eBay for about 725 and after shipping and fees I probably would have been left with 630 at best and still owe $860 to AT&T so -$230.

Side Note, Desert Titanium was still available to ship for launch. All others had a modest wait time.

I have been doing a lot of research and number crunching as well, since I am currently on Apple Upgrade program, and being I use AT&T am thinking about going to AT&T Up Next Anytime.

I currently have an iPhone 15 Pro on Apple Upgrade, so I still owe 50% of the value (~$784). To get the $1000 AT&T credit and get the iPhone 16 Pro, I would have to pay the $784 off. Then the AT&T monthly payments would be much lower than the Apple Upgrade payments. However, once you amortize the $784 over the next 12 or 24 months, the math changes.

Also, under the AT&T Up Next Anytime plan, you can upgrade yearly and get the latest promotions, but that does not mean you will get $1000 in additional credits, since technically you are not trading-in any phone, but just getting the new one and continuing the AT&T Up Next Anytime plan.

 

[Wags]

I have been doing a lot of research and number crunching as well, since I am currently on Apple Upgrade program, and being I use AT&T am thinking about going to AT&T Up Next Anytime.

I currently have an iPhone 15 Pro on Apple Upgrade, so I still owe 50% of the value (~$784). To get the $1000 AT&T credit and get the iPhone 16 Pro, I would have to pay the $784 off. Then the AT&T monthly payments would be much lower than the Apple Upgrade payments. However, once you amortize the $784 over the next 12 or 24 months, the math changes.

Also, under the AT&T Up Next Anytime plan, you can upgrade yearly and get the latest promotions, but that does not mean you will get $1000 in additional credits, since technically you are not trading-in any phone, but just getting the new one and continuing the AT&T Up Next Anytime plan.

Don’t see where it says, not considered a trade in or not eligible for trade in credits if available. At minimum, keep existing $1000 promotion continues for length remainin.

 

[Cyberguycpt]

I have been doing a lot of research and number crunching as well, since I am currently on Apple Upgrade program, and being I use AT&T am thinking about going to AT&T Up Next Anytime.

I currently have an iPhone 15 Pro on Apple Upgrade, so I still owe 50% of the value (~$784). To get the $1000 AT&T credit and get the iPhone 16 Pro, I would have to pay the $784 off. Then the AT&T monthly payments would be much lower than the Apple Upgrade payments. However, once you amortize the $784 over the next 12 or 24 months, the math changes.

Also, under the AT&T Up Next Anytime plan, you can upgrade yearly and get the latest promotions, but that does not mean you will get $1000 in additional credits, since technically you are not trading-in any phone, but just getting the new one and continuing the AT&T Up Next Anytime plan.

Ok So how I see your situation is you pay Apple/ Citizens the 784, then come to At&t Next and if your getting the IPhone 16 Pro Max you would pay about $6 a month for your phone after the $27 monthly credit. So in one year instead of pay almost $700 with IUP you would only pay $72. So by the time you get ready to upgrade you would have almost made your money back. And even better if they still offer the $1000 off next year you would really be winning. The rep did say whatever offer they have next year I would get again.