Apple Adds 36-Month Carrier Financing for Cellular iPads

[MacRumors]

Apple has introduced 36-month financing for cellular iPad purchases through AT&T and Verizon, adding to the 12-month option previously available via Apple Card.

The new financing, first reported by 9to5Mac, replaces Apple Card Monthly Installments as the sole route to spreading out a cellular iPad purchase. That plan paid off the balance interest-free over 12 months; the new carrier options extend across Apple's full cellular iPad lineup, including the iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

Both carriers restrict eligibility to subscribers activating a new line of service, rather than those adding a cellular iPad to an existing plan. The principal distinction between the two options is term length. Extending repayment from 12 months to 36 months substantially reduces the monthly cost, although the total amount financed remains unchanged.

The addition follows Apple's iPad price increases from late June, which affected the entire lineup. The extended financing term offers a way to offset the impact of those higher prices at checkout.

The 11-inch iPad Pro's cellular configuration now starts at $1,399, up from $1,199 prior to the price increase, which amounts to $116.58 per month under the 12-month Apple Card plan. Financed through AT&T or Verizon instead, the same purchase costs approximately $38 per month over 36 months.

Article Link: Apple Adds 36-Month Carrier Financing for Cellular iPads

 

[iMac The Knife]

I knew this was coming. Called it! 🙂 If you have to finance an iPad though, you might want to take a step back for a minute and think about your financial situation.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

I hope Apple allows everyone to be able to finance without needing a carrier right away and I hope for when the iPhones release we all can be approved for financing regardless of credit score.

 

[winxmac]

116.58 × 12 = 1398.96
38.00 × 36 = 1368.00

Whichever way, you're still at a loss.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I knew this was coming. Called it! 🙂

Same. Going to be like car loans and Apple is all about it! Chase taking over the Apple Card is going to be rolling in the interest.

Doesn't matter how much something costs if you can just pay in installments..RIGHT!

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

I hope for when the iPhones release we all can be approved for financing regardless of credit score.

This is an awful idea

 

[Spock]

Makes sense, now would be the time to make any kind of financing options a priority.

 

[jbachandouris]

Interesting as I’ve already done this twice through AT&T. 0% interest. My current iPad Pro has 11 months left.

Not planning on doing it again. Never really got into using an iPad as much as others. A waste for me.

 

[Leobreaker]

Financing does not solve the problem of iPad's outrageous pricing tiers. 12 month 0% interest is not the worst...but 36 months!? Insane.

 

[triumvirate]

The “buy now, pay later” schemes like Klarna have made this subscription lifestyle all the more popular. This was a logical next step after the price hikes to say, “see, it costs less every month!”

If you absolutely need the service for that long and are completely responsible with payments to avoid the interest, perhaps it’s worth it (?) But these plans aren’t offered out of the kindness of their hearts.

 

[ibran]

"Hey, there's a bubble"

 

[contacos]

Financing? As a German I could never

 

[turbineseaplane]

And we wonder why so many people are financially upside down (in the US anyways).

 

[capamac]

Cool and I can use payday advance loans to make my monthly iPad payments.

 

[DBZmusicboy01]

This is an awful idea

Apple can blacklist it so idk I believe people would pay it off or they will lose their phone service permanently on it. It’s different than a MacBook because iPhone is needed as an everyday tool and without service it’s useless outside one’s bedroom.

 

[macduke]

They're going to need to update the iPhone Upgrade Program next to a three year option for the iPhone Ultra. Maybe four.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They're going to need to update the iPhone Upgrade Program next to a three year option for the iPhone Ultra. Maybe four.

Might as well just go to full blown "iPhone Rental Program".

It's coming. I can feel it.

 

[capamac]

See, this sort of thing is why I switched to a Samsung A17 when I retired my seven year old iPhone 7. Coz the A17 is a third the cost of Apple's cheapest phone.

 

[turbineseaplane]

"financing an iPad?"

My reaction 👇

 

[jtptus]

In an earlier generation of iPad, I had the model with the cellular feature. As the availabilty of wifi and hot spots increased, my need for the cell option disappeared. Now: no need for cellular feature and the expense of the additional mobil line it requires. When I finally updated from iPad 7th or 8th gen (do not recall which), I opted for wifi no cellular version. Did not need it.

 

[webkit]

If you have to finance an iPad though, you might want to take a step back for a minute and think about your financial situation.

Financing an iPad or any item at 0% APR can be a reasonable financial move, assuming there aren’t cheaper places to buy for cash, as you can earn investment/interest returns on the cash that would've otherwise gone towards the full purchase price. 0% APR is essentially "free" money in that sense.

Imagine if three years ago someone had financed a $1,399 device for three years at 0% APR and used the $1,399, that would’ve otherwise gone to the full purchase price, to buy Apple stock. Today, assuming they made the payments, they'd have a paid off device plus Apple stock worth nearly $2,400. 🙂

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

And we wonder why so many people are financially upside down (in the US anyways).

It's a 36 month, interest-free purchase. After 36 months, you've spent the same amount as if you bought it outright.

Now with people who can't afford $2000 out of pocket all at once, how is it bad?
For people who don't blink twice spending $2000 all at once, put that $2000 in an interest bearing account or invest it, make the zero interest payments for 36 months, and you wind up making money, yes?

 

[turbineseaplane]

Financing an iPad or any item at 0% APR can be a reasonable financial move, assuming there aren’t cheaper places to buy for cash, as you can earn investment/interest returns on the cash that would've otherwise gone towards the full purchase price. 0% APR is essentially "free" money in that sense.

Imagine if three years ago someone had financed a $1,399 device for three years at 0% APR and used the $1,399, that would’ve otherwise gone to the full purchase price, to buy Apple stock. Today, assuming they made the payments, they'd have a paid off device plus Apple stock worth nearly $2,400. 🙂

If making money is the goal, they should have not made payments on a device (even at 0%) and just kept buying the stock.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's a 36 month, interest-free purchase. After 36 months, you've spent the same amount as if you bought it outright.

Now with people who can't afford $2000 out of pocket all at once, how is it bad?
For people who don't blink twice spending $2000 all at once, put that $2000 in an interest bearing account or invest it, make the zero interest payments for 36 months, and you wind up making money, yes?

Talking to the wrong person here.

These are all massively overpriced at MSRP (which is what you're buying at), to say nothing of the ridiculous Cellular upcharge (ridiculous in 2026 at least) and the cellular plans one will be forced to accept (also overpriced vs options).

I'm an advocate for preowned Apple gear only (basically).


To address your point, though:

If you can pay it off in time it's a fine deal. But these setups are also predatory against people who aren't good with money and don't realize they have a financial time bomb ticking down behind the curtain.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Talking to the wrong person here.

These are all massively overpriced at MSRP (which is what you're buying at), to say nothing of the ridiculous Cellular upcharge (ridiculous in 2026 at least).

I'm an advocate for preowned Apple gear only (basically).

Moving goalposts isn't cool. Is the argument of yours that financing is terrible, even at 0% (which is what you said) or is it iPads are massively overpriced? I agree 100% on the latter, but what about the former?