Other Debating on using iPhone Upgrade Program for the first time - any gotchas?

[BeatCrazy]

Over the past 5 years, I've resigned myself to the fact I'm hooked on upgrading my iPhone immediately upon fall release. For the past couple of times, I've just been buying my iPhones outright from my carrier (AT&T) when the pre-order goes live. This has worked out just fine. Except I have to go through the minor hassle of selling my 1-year-old iPhone every fall. I do have spare iPhones, so it's never a timing issue getting rid of the current phone while waiting for my new one to arrive.

My iPhone X is paid for, and currently for sale via Swappa, I'm using an extra iPhone 8.

Should I plan on signing up for the IUP when pre-orders for the XS go live? Would I sign up before that, and just place my order at midnight PST when pre-orders go live?

How inconvenient is it to upgrade immediately next year? I know for the X, a lot of IUP users got left out in the cold for pre-orders. I imagine Apple fixed this going forward, but is there any other gotchas with this strategy? I don't mind paying the extra for AppleCare+.

 

[jtrue28]

I didn't want to fool with the hassle of the application on the night of pre-orders. I just ordered as normal through the Apple Store app. I received the phone on launch day. I then took it into the Apple Store the next day and had them reverse the "upgrade" through AT&T and set me up on IUP. Worked like a charm. YMMV.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I didn't want to fool with the hassle of the application on the night of pre-orders. I just ordered as normal through the Apple Store app. I received the phone on launch day. I then took it into the Apple Store the next day and had them reverse the "upgrade" through AT&T and set me up on IUP. Worked like a charm. YMMV.

Hmm... that is an interesting work-around, but not sure if I want to deal with making a trip to the Apple store.

So basically one cannot apply for IUP until the iPhone you "want" is available via the program? No way to pre-apply?

 

[jtrue28]

You can't pre-apply if you're not in the program. They started doing that last year, but only for the people already enrolled. That way you could get pre-approved for the device you wanted, then on Friday morning, finish the purchase. Still haven't seen any notification that they're doing pre-approvals yet this year.

Last year was a bit different though since the X didn't come out until 6 weeks after the press event.

 

[ascender]

Can you sign up for the upgrade programme in advance of the launch so you've got the paperwork out of the way, then when phones are available just go and pick one up?

 

[BeatCrazy]

You can't pre-apply if you're not in the program. They started doing that last year, but only for the people already enrolled. That way you could get pre-approved for the device you wanted, then on Friday morning, finish the purchase. Still haven't seen any notification that they're doing pre-approvals yet this year.

Last year was a bit different though since the X didn't come out until 6 weeks after the press event.

OK that is good info. Now I'm starting to lean back towards using AT&T, either Next, or just buying it outright (again, like I did with X). The AT&T Next program has been hassle-free for me in the past, and I don't plan on changing carriers.

 

[ckurt25]

I'm not aware of Apple setting aside more phones for iUP vs any other buyer. Get in as soon as pre-orders start for your best chance to have one on launch day.

 

[Pipper99]

I didn't want to fool with the hassle of the application on the night of pre-orders. I just ordered as normal through the Apple Store app. I received the phone on launch day. I then took it into the Apple Store the next day and had them reverse the "upgrade" through AT&T and set me up on IUP. Worked like a charm. YMMV.

I did the same thing last year. Now that I'm in the program, I plan to get preapproval (if available) and upgrade online at Zero Hour, but I hope there's no glitch versus buying at full price and taking it to the store and having them put it on the upgrade plan (of course, that might be problematic, too, I don't know).

 

[theshoehorn]

OK that is good info. Now I'm starting to lean back towards using AT&T, either Next, or just buying it outright (again, like I did with X). The AT&T Next program has been hassle-free for me in the past, and I don't plan on changing carriers.

I've used AT&T Next for years, and no issues here. Even better than the iPhone Upgrade program (in my opinion) because you don't get dinged with a credit check every single upgrade as long as you're a customer.

 

[BeatCrazy]

I've used AT&T Next for years, and no issues here. Even better than the iPhone Upgrade program (in my opinion) because you don't get dinged with a credit check every single upgrade as long as you're a customer.

Yeah, I've kinda forgotten that it's easy to upgrade on 'release night', even with AT&T Next. You just gotta make sure you've made the minimum payments (ahead of time!) in order to be upgrade-eligible via AT&T Next.

Glad I started this thread.. I don't think IUP is going to be right for me.

 

[quietstormSD]

I heard the ding on the credit report is just the first time you do the IUP
[doublepost=1536607857][/doublepost]Can I pay off the device early using the IUP?

 

[BeatCrazy]

Can I pay off the device early using the IUP?

Yes.

 

[BeatCrazy]

Just an update... Apple opened up 'pre-approval' for the Xs/Xs Max today, so I did that. Just took a couple of minutes. It says to just launch the Apple Store app when pre-orders open up, and my phone will already be pre-selected with carrier/color/size. So I imagine it will be just a few easy clicks to get the Xs headed my way.