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bammargera3176

macrumors regular
Original poster
Oct 16, 2015
107
8
so last year right around this time I got a new two year contract for an iPhone 6S+. I want to get the new iPhone 7. Can I bring my phone to apple, and trade the phone in, Receive a credit on the iPhone 7, and enroll in their annual trade in program or whatever even though my contract with att has one year left? I just want to be able to upgrade somehow to the new iPhone. If that's not it what else can I do?
 
Yes you can do the exact scenario you described. However you are still stuck in a 2 year contract with your carrier and need to keep paying the fees associated with it. For instance ATT charges you an additional $25 per line on 2 year contract. They don't care if you still own/use the phone anymore.
 
What are the fees exactly with ATT? Is it just a $25 one time fee for having this new iPhone 7? Is that annual or monthly?
 
What are the fees exactly with ATT? Is it just a $25 one time fee for having this new iPhone 7? Is that annual or monthly?
Monthly. Now technically ATT doesn't offer 2 year contracts anymore so this is a mute point but I will explain anyway. ATT charges you a monthly access fee for each phone. $15 for off-contract phones and $40 for on-contract phones. So yes you pay only $200 for the phone upfront but you also pay an additional $600 over the course of 2 years. Which means you technically pay $800 for a $650 phone.
 
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Also, going off last years prices any ideas what the new phone will cost me? I assume my 6s+ will get a trade in of $250, and the new iPhone 7 (dual camera and big screen) will be 650, so I will have to pay $400. Does that sound about right?
 
Also, going off last years prices any ideas what the new phone will cost me? I assume my 6s+ will get a trade in of $250, and the new iPhone 7 (dual camera and big screen) will be 650, so I will have to pay $400. Does that sound about right?
Not sure what kind of trade in value you can expect but assuming Apple keeps same price points as previous years the iPhone 7+ (dual camera, big screen) will cost $750 for entry level storage (presumably 32GB)
 
So by doing the math, I will be paying $25x12 = $300 extra for an additional line. Hmmm that makes it a little less appealing
[doublepost=1473138383][/doublepost]So roughly $750 (phone) + $300 additional line fee - 250 trade in value = $800 just for a damn iPhone 7 that doesn't have many appealing features. That price just doesn't sound right and not worth it. If this was a year from now, I would deff do it
 
So by doing the math, I will be paying $25x12 = $300 extra for an additional line. Hmmm that makes it a little less appealing
Exactly, but like I was saying ATT doesn't even offer 2 year contracts anymore. Your basically have 2 options:
  1. Pay for phone in full ($750)
  2. Do upgrade program (approx. $37/month on iPhone Upgrade Program, includes AppleCare)
[doublepost=1473138469][/doublepost]
So by doing the math, I will be paying $25x12 = $300 extra for an additional line. Hmmm that makes it a little less appealing
[doublepost=1473138383][/doublepost]So roughly $750 (phone) + $300 additional line fee - 250 trade in value = $800 just for a damn iPhone 7 that doesn't have many appealing features. That price just doesn't sound right and not worth it. If this was a year from now, I would deff do it
No no no. When buying phone for full price you do not sign a contract and will be charged only $15/month from ATT for access. You are paying this already so you shouldn't see a change.
 
What would you do if you were me? Pay for full or do the apple program?

And what do u mean about that fee - is it that I will be charged for $15 a month now not $25, or the fee will stay the same even if I get a new phone in the middle of the contract?

And does me being in a family plan with three others change anything for this? Like my sister has the next 12 and it's almost paid off for a year. Can I steal her upgrade?
 
What would you do if you were me? Pay for full or do the apple program?

And what do u mean about that fee - is it that I will be charged for $15 a month now not $25, or the fee will stay the same even if I get a new phone in the middle of the contract?

And does me being in a family plan with three others change anything for this? Like my sister has the next 12 and it's almost paid off for a year. Can I steal her upgrade?
Since you are currently on a 2 year contract I honestly would not buy the iPhone 7 this year. You will be paying $40/month to ATT until the contract ends. Even if you do buy the iPhone 7 for full price or through Apple upgrade program your monthly access fee will not go down to $15 until the contract ends. You will have your 6s+ contract strapped to you for another year. As for stealing your sisters upgrade I don't think that is an option because ATT no longer offers subsidized 2 year contracts. I'm signing off for now. Feel free to message me if you want to talk more tomorrow.
[doublepost=1473139262][/doublepost]
Does Apple allow trading in locked devices?
I would assume they do. Apple owns the unlock codes so they probably don't care.
 
If you had to pick one, what would you choose? I'm leaning towards just buying it unlocked. I don't want insurance. Plus I won't be paying the whole $750 because I will be trading in my 6S+ with it, so hopefully price will be around $500 before tax.
 
Well unlocked is your only option. Now technically Apple does not (in years past) sell the unlocked SIM-free iPhones until after launch day. However you can pre-order the T-Mobile iPhone because it comes unlocked, costs full price, and will work on ATT.
 
why will it work on att? how long after launch day does it take apple to sell them unlocked?
 
why will it work on att? how long after launch day does it take apple to sell them unlocked?
because it is a GSM phone and it comes unlocked to be used on any GSM carrier, including ATT. Last year it took 2 weeks for the official SIM unlocked phones to go on sale. However the T-Mobile iPhone is literally the exact same but it comes with a TMO sim card included
[doublepost=1473213613][/doublepost]Trust me from experience. I pre ordered the TMO iPhone 6 two years ago, popped my ATT SIM card in, and it worked like a charm
 
So all I would do would be to have to get my SIM card out of my current 6S+ and put that into the t-mobile phone and I'm good?
 
because it is a GSM phone and it comes unlocked to be used on any GSM carrier, including ATT. Last year it took 2 weeks for the official SIM unlocked phones to go on sale. However the T-Mobile iPhone is literally the exact same but it comes with a TMO sim card included
[doublepost=1473213613][/doublepost]Trust me from experience. I pre ordered the TMO iPhone 6 two years ago, popped my ATT SIM card in, and it worked like a charm

Also, I've never taken a sim card out. can i just use a needle to pop it open..?
 
Yes. Also if you were to pick it up in an AppleStore they can help you get set up.

Ok, and if my family member who has an upgrade with ATT next, can they trade the phone in to apple at the store instead of ATT and get their free upgrade?
 
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