iPhone 17 Pro Max First-Time Pre-Order Questions (Apple Store + T-Mobile Financing)

[elbeborandy]

Hi, this is my first time pre-ordering through T-Mobile on the Apple Store, and I have a few questions:

1. I made a down payment because I wanted to keep my monthly bill the same. I’m trading in an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and it showed I would pay about $4/month for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. To lower that, I tried making a down payment. I was only able to pay $98 (it wouldn’t let me pay $99), so now my monthly payment shows $0.05/month over 24 months.
   • Is that normal? Is it impossible for the payment to be exactly $0/month?

1b. When I accepted the EIP agreement, I didn’t see anything about the down payment, but I do see it listed in my order/device details. Is that normal? Should it have appeared in the EIP documents, or will it be updated later once I receive the iPhone?

2. How do the credits work on my T-Mobile bill? I read that they usually start within the second billing cycle, but how much will I be paying until then? Does Apple send the down payment information directly to T-Mobile?

3. About the trade-in box: how does that process work? How will I know when Apple has received my iPhone? It’s in perfect condition, but how will I be notified if everything is accepted after they inspect it?

4. If I upgrade through the Apple Store, does that waive T-Mobile’s $35 connection fee?

Thanks in advance!

 

[4sallypat]

Hi, this is my first time pre-ordering through T-Mobile on the Apple Store, and I have a few questions:

1. I made a down payment because I wanted to keep my monthly bill the same. I’m trading in an iPhone 15 Pro Max, and it showed I would pay about $4/month for the iPhone 17 Pro Max. To lower that, I tried making a down payment. I was only able to pay $98 (it wouldn’t let me pay $99), so now my monthly payment shows $0.05/month over 24 months.
   • Is that normal? Is it impossible for the payment to be exactly $0/month?

1b. When I accepted the EIP agreement, I didn’t see anything about the down payment, but I do see it listed in my order/device details. Is that normal? Should it have appeared in the EIP documents, or will it be updated later once I receive the iPhone?

2. How do the credits work on my T-Mobile bill? I read that they usually start within the second billing cycle, but how much will I be paying until then? Does Apple send the down payment information directly to T-Mobile?

3. About the trade-in box: how does that process work? How will I know when Apple has received my iPhone? It’s in perfect condition, but how will I be notified if everything is accepted after they inspect it?

4. If I upgrade through the Apple Store, does that waive T-Mobile’s $35 connection fee?

Thanks in advance!

#4: TMO has a $0 connection fee. But that's a carrier choice - not an upgrade.

 

[armandxp]

2. If you send your trade-in pretty quickly, there’s a chance it could show up as a bill credit on your first bill. Mine usually does. It depends on when your next billing cycle is. Until you get the credit for your trade-in the monthly payment on your phone will be the price of the phone, minus down payment, divided by 24, I believe. If the credit doesn’t shut until the second billing. Then it’ll be two credits basically.

3. Once you ship the trade-in back to Apple, or their trade-in partner actually, you can track it through UPS or FedEx and once they receive it, you’ll get an email and probably a text message telling you it’s been accepted, etc.. It’s usually a pretty upfront and easy process.

4. Yes, there is no upgrade fee of $35 when purchasing directly from Apple and using a T-Mobile EIP.

 

[elbeborandy]

2. If you send your trade-in pretty quickly, there’s a chance it could show up as a bill credit on your first bill. Mine usually does. It depends on when your next billing cycle is. Until you get the credit for your trade-in the monthly payment on your phone will be the price of the phone, minus down payment, divided by 24, I believe. If the credit doesn’t shut until the second billing. Then it’ll be two credits basically.

3. Once you ship the trade-in back to Apple, or their trade-in partner actually, you can track it through UPS or FedEx and once they receive it, you’ll get an email and probably a text message telling you it’s been accepted, etc.. It’s usually a pretty upfront and easy process.

4. Yes, there is no upgrade fee of $35 when purchasing directly from Apple and using a T-Mobile EIP.

Thanks for taking your time in answering!