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Apple Upgrade Program for the X or Buy it outright?

I buy my iPhone's outright and the iPhone X is no difference, contract is a big rip off, however i have no idea about the Apple upgrade programme as i've never done it. I find buying the iPhone outright and then putting in a pay as you go sim card (here in the UK we can get the iPhone unlocked at release date) for me it saves cash considering i top up £7.50 a month with GiffGaff.

However i'm not sure how Apple will be playing it with the iPhone X, will they update it next year? or will it be a device that gets updated every 2 years (much like the iPad Pro's). That will be an interesting one to see, but regardless i prefer to buy outright, i prefer to know that i've paid for the device and i own it, i also don't believe in living beyond my means.
 
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MrXiro said:
I think you could definitely sell the base iPhone X for more than $500 in a year's time. Paying 50% and then giving it back to Apple is at very least walking away from $250. I can't imagine a used X selling for less than $750
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you could also look at the IUP as a resale insurance policy, you are guaranteed to get half the value if you trade in and upgrade. If the market value is higher, you can pay off the loan and sell it yourself. If, for some reason, it's the same or lower you don't have to worry about it. There's also the convenience factor of not having to deal with the risk of a sale gone wrong.
 
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BasicGreatGuy said:
If someone doesn't mind taking a hard pull on their credit every year, and paying for AppleCare upfront, and then having to get their money back from Citizens, then it might be ok for some.

Carrier financing is also interest free, doesn't require AppleCare, and doesn't have a hard credit pull every year. One can also pay off the phone in total (early) or pay off 50% to upgrade again.

If one is hung up on upgrading every year, the carrier financing is a better option.
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Having to deal with the carriers and all their related shenanigans and fine print is never the better option. ;)

Also not sure what "get their money back" from Citizens is referring to? You are leasing the phone per month, so there's nothing to take back.
 
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I'd do AUP if I was going to get AppleCare+ anyway (which normally I do if my phone is going to cost $800 or more). The phone comes unlocked. If you decide you'd rather sell it yourself, you can pay it off any time. The option to trade-in may not be worth it in terms of money exchanged, but avoiding the potential hassles of selling it yourself may make it worth it, and at least you have the option. There's no downsides that I know of.
 
ssspinball said:
Also not sure what "get their money back" from Citizens is referring to? You are leasing the phone per month, so there's nothing to take back.
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If you pay off the IUP early and don't use AC+, you can get the AC+ you didn't use back (you have to call Apple to cancel AC+ obviously). Citizens should then cut you a check for the cancelled AC+.
 
Can you opt out of the upgrade plan with Apple say after 12 months and return the device?
 
If it was like previous years and I was spending ~$800, I'd buy it outright but this year I'm gonna be spending $1350 on an X w/ AppleCare so I plan to do the AUP this time. I have the means to buy the X outright but would rather get the no interest 24 month loan and invest my money along the way. Downside being the hard pull.

I'll just pay it off at the 1 year mark and sell the phone on my own. I've been able to recoup ~75% of the iPhone's original cost before the new one comes out each year, which is a lot better than trading it in and losing 50%.
 
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Suppose it's a decent deal on IUP and you do get AppleCare included even though I. Don't think it's that useful if you are careful but better to be there than not I guess.
 
Just to confirm Apple upgrade program can be done through the app for first time enrolles right? I'm enrolling for the iPhone x on preorder night.
 
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BasicGreatGuy said:
According to Apple,yes.

I am guessing that Apple will offer pre-approval like they did for the iPhone 8's. That might be something to check into closer to ordering.
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Someone said pre approval was only for members already enrolled in iPhone upgrade but we shall see
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
That could be. I am not a member.

Going through the extra step of approval on order night may cause you to slip down in the order. Something to think about, when a matter of minutes make the difference.
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I just tried to order the iPhone 8 and went through prompts for Apple upgrade program and before you hit submit for the loan it already gives you the shipping date. It said 26th. So I don't think the wait will be that bad.

I didn't click submit or agree to loan but it does give you your shipping date. I'm assuming it's a hold
 
MrMister111 said:
My dilemma as well....(I'm in UK, so phone is a mammoth £1000)

I normally buy outright but have to say this year if got the X would be more worried on resale as I think this, likes others, was a little rushed and features/technology want ready.

I believe there will be another X or X plus that may hit this year's X resale next year.

However I probably wouldn't get AppleCare+ and I think if I want to pre-order it may take longer on pre-order day than to buy outright?
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Go for the normal iPhone payment programme If you want without the apple care 20months 0% finance
 
Is there a way to tell your credit card company to "accept" a MASSIVE payment for the X off Apple so it doesn't get blocked?

Or does it not matter really as long as order in, Apple will ask again or whatever anyway?

With all the rumours thinking of just trying to buy outright maybe, as looks like no change of IUP may delay the actual order process when seconds can count?
 
BasicGreatGuy said:
If someone doesn't mind taking a hard pull on their credit every year, and paying for AppleCare upfront, and then having to get their money back from Citizens, then it might be ok for some.
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Pay for AppleCare upfront? AppleCare is included with the upgrade program, there is no paying up front.
 
I want to do IUP for X too, but unfortunately I’ve never done it before and for T-Mobile users you have to go to Apple store to sign up when they actually have the inventory if you have not previously enrolled.
 
The hard pull thing is almost a deal killer for me....I can easily afford to buy it and always do, but the convenience of the AUP is great to me, and also I'm going to be buying a house or getting preapproved sometime in the near future, so I hate to have a hard pull before that.....I know I'll get approved regardless but it still sucks
 
I've kinda been asking the same question as OP. My thought process is that since this is the first version of this model...I was leaning towards going for an upgrade plan. This way I can switch to a better one next year and I wouldn't have forked out for an entire phone.
 
Why are people so scared of a hard pull so you have bad credit. It’s the same pull any loan would have.
 
I'm looking at buying 6 iPhone X for the entire family. That being said will one approval allow that many phones on IUP?

If we never use Apple Care and want to upgrade next year what happens?

I'm considering IUP for the first time as many said due to cost of X plus getting 6 devices. Essentially it's getting 6 of them at half price.
 
The positive side of the upgrade program is you get an interest free loan. You can also upgrade st the halfway point so you’re only out half the msrp of the phone.

The negative is that Apple works in the AppleCare cost, which is $200 this year, so your first year has you paying an additional $100 over msrp. We can discuss whether AC is worth it and all that, but it is forced on you unlike buying outright. There’s also a credit check every time.

If I’m already deciding to buy AppleCare I’m probably going with the upgrade program. I can pay off the remaining balance at any time and I’m given two years I interest to pay the phone off if I want to. Still, you’re looking st $1200+ taxes going that route. That’s Macbook territory now haha.
 
GadgetGeek407 said:
I'm looking at buying 6 iPhone X for the entire family. That being said will one approval allow that many phones on IUP?

If we never use Apple Care and want to upgrade next year what happens?

I'm considering IUP for the first time as many said due to cost of X plus getting 6 devices. Essentially it's getting 6 of them at half price.
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I believe it’s a per handset approval but don’t quote me.

The Apple care essentially just disappears. You’re paying monthly towards it so you’ll have paid half of the Apple care at the 12 month mark.
 
Curious - let’s say you have an open IUP account that is not ready for upgrade but you want to keep (for whatever reason). Can you use the same line that is activated on for a second phone through IUP. The loan isn’t tied to the number as I understand it (the number is only a precursor to be allowed into the program) - so I imagine it’s doesn’t matter but I was curious if it can be done that one.
 
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