'Apple Upgrade' Program Reportedly Launching Next Week

[C7 POWER]

Wonder if this will keep the annual upgrade portion of the iPhone upgrade program or not.

It doesnt sound like it will per the article, which is what worries me. I have been on the 1UP Program since Apple introduced it and love getting a new phone seamlessly each year and sending the old one back in.

 

[k1121j]

Here is some advice: if you need to finance a new phone or computer buy a refurbished unit and save some money. I usually keep Apple computers at least four years and the phone three years at minimum. I am seriously considering just replacing the battery in my iPhone 15 Pro and use it for another 1-2 years. I think the battery replacement cost is $99 which is significantly cheaper than a new phone.

Good luck trying to get a battery replacement even if you offer to pay for it.

If you have apple care it’s easier to break your screen and get a replacement then get a battery replaced.

Battery Health at 79% with Apple CareI first made and appointment at a Best Buy from Apples website who canceled my appointment and said they don’t do battery replacement.

Called apple care since I live 65 miles from an Apple Store to see if they can mail a replacement like they do fir a screen….Nope I can mail them my phone and go with out 3-5 days or drive over an hour to wait at an Apple Store

Long story short have a broken screen they will mail you a replacement phone put your old phone in the same box and mail it back…..Simple

 

[Black_Mage]

Klarna is a popular "buy now, pay later" service, similar to Affirm.

AKA buy now, poor later. You don’t waste money on interest if you save the money and buy later.

 

[Ethrem]

I'm sure there are, and good on you taking advantage of it.

I promise you the vast majority are not in that camp.

Guys -- they don't offer financing schemes to not make money off them (0% financing)

Manufacturers offer low cost or free financing to move more product. They're not trying to make money off of the financing but rather the product and the volume.

What I'm opposed to is in the broader picture here ... the financialization of every bloody thing in our lives and the constant, relentless, push to turn everything into a recurring revenue extraction.

I agree with you here. It's definitely getting old.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Good luck trying to get a battery replacement even if you offer to pay for it.

If you have apple care it’s easier to break your screen and get a replacement then get a battery replaced.

Battery Health at 79% with Apple CareI first made and appointment at a Best Buy from Apples website who canceled my appointment and said they don’t do battery replacement.

Called apple care since I live 65 miles from an Apple Store to see if they can mail a replacement like they do fir a screen….Nope I can mail them my phone and go with out 3-5 days or drive over an hour to wait at an Apple Store

Long story short have a broken screen they will mail you a replacement phone put your old phone in the same box and mail it back…..Simple

I keep wondering how long until they refuse to replace batteries on phones beyond a certain age (I don't mean ancient, but like a 13 Mini from 2021).

You know ... "for safety reasons" 😉

 

[gamerdude]

So basically we're leasing computers now.

You will own nothing and be happy

 

[Padre_Pio]

Corporate does it all the time.

Also, YOU'RE NOT FORCED TO DO IT.

I see so many people decrying this and lecturing people on how to spend their money. You're not forced to do any of this and if the new Apple Bauble is so enticing, there is an option.

I don't see an interest rate--is this interest free?

 

[capamac]

I keep wondering how long until they refuse to replace batteries on phones beyond a certain age (I don't mean ancient, but like a 13 Mini from 2021).

You know ... "for safety reasons" 😉

Europe is mandating user-replaceable batteries.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Europe is mandating user-replaceable batteries.

Oh boy. I'll bet there are folks around these parts who really don't like that.

 

[platinumaqua]

The year to year changes are so incremental that I never felt like participating in the program. I’m also in the position that paying full price won’t break the bank because I have the patience to save until I can.

Not lecturing on how people spend their money, of course.

 

[sw1tcher]

Oh boy. I'll bet there are folks around these parts who really don't like that.

You left out the part where they think Apple should leave the EU too. 😀

 

[svish]

Upgrade program for Macs and iPad is good. Apple will definitely be thinking that with these changes it can still attract customers despite the higher price tags for all products. Will definitely be a US only program.

 

[wilee]

Agree, that the only actual change is moving from 1y financing to 2y, which is good of course - financing with 0% is no brainer better than paying outright

Klarna sucks though - hope they will not make this program unusable

 

[Hajj.david]

Europe is mandating user-replaceable batteries.

iPhones are exempt:

https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/iphones/eu-is-mandating-readily-removable-batteries-for-phones-but-iphones-may-be-exempt

EU Rules Will Not Force Removable iPhone Battery Doors In 2027

Viral internet rumors claim that the European Union will force future iPhones to feature a removable battery door in 2027, but an exemption says otherwise.

www.macobserver.com

 

[TechRemarker]

How does this differ from just trading in your old one and financing a new one like most people are doing today already?

As noted in the brief article...

Unlike the iPhone Upgrade Program, however, Apple Upgrade will apparently not include AppleCare+ coverage.

 

[TechRemarker]

Agree, that the only actual change is moving from 1y financing to 2y, which is good of course - financing with 0% is no brainer better than paying outright

Klarna sucks though - hope they will not make this program unusable

This in the brief article seems like a major change. Also thought was always 24 months just you are eligible to upgrade after 12 months, just like this new one.

Unlike the iPhone Upgrade Program, however, Apple Upgrade will apparently not include AppleCare+ coverage.

 

[Siliconguy]

Like I always say.
Apple is really a financial engineering firm nowadays, that happens to make tech products.

Considering what happened to GE when it shifted from serious hardware to financial engineering because "number must always go up" there is a valid reason to worry.

 

[Aleco]

I’ve never used a BNPL service, but given how popular they’ve become, this move makes sense.

Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program was overdue for an overhaul. iUP users felt like second-tier customers, and requiring a hard credit check every year for ~$1,000 line of credit always seemed excessive.

They used Apple Card Monthly Installments to garner more attention to the Apple Card, but the Apple Card is pretty bad with no sign-up bonus (no, $75 at Nike is not a sign up bonus) and not many additional perks; it's main purpose is to purchase Apple products. This should be interesting so see them implement across a range of products, and likely the end of GetUpgraded.com.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Considering what happened to GE when it shifted from serious hardware to financial engineering because "number must always go up" there is a valid reason to worry.

Oh I think the goose is cooked, it's just a matter of when, not if.

The regulatory environment (lack of one around antitrust enforcement) could allow this to go on for a LONG time.

The company has pretty much ceased being product driven at this point.

 

[ghanwani]

This is Apple innovation at its finest.

 

[TechRemarker]

Here is some advice: if you need to finance a new phone or computer buy a refurbished unit and save some money. I usually keep Apple computers at least four years and the phone three years at minimum. I am seriously considering just replacing the battery in my iPhone 15 Pro and use it for another 1-2 years. I think the battery replacement cost is $99 which is significantly cheaper than a new phone.

While for many they may use Apple Upgrade Program to get something they can't afford in the moment, also for many of us, we can afford but it's 0% interest, since can instead keep that money in an account gaining interest. Like how people say to use debit instead of credit, but many of us pay off every month so never pay interest but get $100s of dollars cash back and other perks such as buyer's protection. And most people don't "need" a new device every year, or frequently, but people can spend their earn money how they choose. But yes, many many, use financing as an option to but things they can't afford, and should be saving instead of purchasing.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Details are even more depressing (to me).


Apple plans to advertise the program as a way to have lower payments versus current financing programs. The company is planning to discontinue new enrollments for its current iPhone payment programs — the iPhone Upgrade Program and standard financing — to make way for the Apple Upgrade initiative.

Unlike the iPhone Upgrade Program of today, Apple Upgrade doesn’t include AppleCare.

That's where AppleCare One comes into play - I've been waiting for them to decouple these things. If you have multiple Apple devices, you can pay less for them all in the long run.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Because you're still paying full MSRP when doing a financing scheme, even at 0%.

Preowned or even new on sale are far more prudent ways to go about it.
That will become even more true here with them axing AppleCare+ out of the deal now.

Is there a way to pay below MSRP? If not, this is cheaper...and even cheaper still if you use AppleCare One instead of paying for AppleCare+.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Klarna is a money making operation, right?

I'm not sure why folks think they aren't making money off you somehow if you use their "services".

It's a zero percent loan. Klarna makes money because they are owed money.

 

[Iconoclysm]

Where does this say it's a zero percent interest loan? Klarna is in the business to profit off customers who sign up for this upgrade program.

The iPhone upgrade program was 0%. No reason to expect this will be any different.