iPhone 12 Pro Launch Day XS Max 87% capacity. Can I go another year?

[maerz001]

So the current deal is you get $800 for an iPhone 8 and up!!! So you could actually buy an 8 for $250 trade it in for $800. My daughter had an 8 plus, they gave me $800 in credits. The only thing is you get it spread out over 30 months. If you plan to be with them for that long it’s a great deal. The phone only has to be worth $95 in real street value to qualify for the $800! If it’s worth $35 you only get like $450.

And how much is the monthly cost of the contract?

 

[Renho]

Thanks. Interesting. I'll look into that, but we would probably want an iPhone 12 Pro Max to get the larger screen size, will see if they still have that same deal when that model becomes available.

Ya me too, so they will give you $800 off the Max. Still above market value for a XS Max. I ask a rep how long this deal with last and they said they have no clue. I said well at least till max is launched and they said ya they assume at least that long.

 

[Renho]

And how much is the monthly cost of the contract?

Well for the 12 it brake’s down to $26.67
Oh do you mean for service? It depends on what unlimited plan you pick. My daughters is $65 for Unlimited extra.

 

[JUCJ85]

Battery degradation is a pretty minor issue and not one I would consider sufficient to justify a new phone, if everything else with your current phone is working well and meets your needs.

My two-year old Xs Max has battery at 84% and I'm having it replaced at the Apple Store - $69.00. (If you don't have a store nearby, there are lots of other places that can do the same thing).

I'm keeping my own Xs Max for as long as it is working satisfactorily. It has just a couple of payments left (AT&T) and I'll welcome the lower monthly payments for my cell plan.

I get the attractiveness of a new phone, but for myself I don't do that much with the camera, so the latest and greatest camera is not going to be a huge deal for me. Likewise my phone has more than enough storage space (256 GB which was more than it turns out I need, by a lot) so I'm not running out of storage.

The phone will loose value in another year and different folks will have different perspectives on the cost-benefit of getting a new phone every 2 years, or even more frequently. There is another thread on the forum here where someone is making the argument that they are better off selling their phone and buying a new one each year.

I'm not sure that I notice any difference in battery life with my own phone at 84%, do you (at 87%)? Apple considers anything above 80% to be fine.

Different strokes for different folks!

My launch day XS Max says 94% battery health, thought it might be bad, but compared to you and the OP I'm happier now. I wasn't upgrading until a 1TB iPhone, if need be I'll get battery replaced, I have AppleCare+, not sure how much a battery is under that.

 

[HankHowdy]

People still have 7's and 8's and you're asking about a two year old phone?

Before the XS Max I got a new phone every year. This is the first time I have kept an iPhone for two years.

I’m just worried about trade in value.

I have been using device installments since the 6S plus and have been doing 12 months of payments for a 24 month contract. I trade the phone in after one year since it’s half paid off, and get a new phone.

On the XS Max I kept it for two years since the phones have been really good and have been keeping up with updates. Also my carrier has been offering nice trade in deals for payed off iPhones.

I can get $440 in value for my phone and get a 12 pro Max, basically have half the payment I had with the max. Plus I have $35 dollars in device credit to put toward the $440. Seems like a good deal. Keep a phone for two years and only pay for half of it each time.

 

[ferretex]

Honestly the trade in offers on these devices seems better than most years because they also aim at current customers, not just new ones. I think if I didn't have the 11 Pro Max, I'd be going for this. I'd do it.

You can always turn off 5G I believe. Aside from a few negative things you'd read here, this is a good year for people with devices older than the 11 series in my opinion.

I totally agree with your point. I just got my new iPhone 12 and I’m loving it. I came from an iPhone Xr (trade in offer) and I couldn’t be happier.

 

[Renho]

Before the XS Max I got a new phone every year. This is the first time I have kept an iPhone for two years.

I’m just worried about trade in value.

I have been using device installments since the 6S plus and have been doing 12 months of payments for a 24 month contract. I trade the phone in after one year since it’s half paid off, and get a new phone.

On the XS Max I kept it for two years since the phones have been really good and have been keeping up with updates. Also my carrier has been offering nice trade in deals for payed off iPhones.

I can get $440 in value for my phone and get a 12 pro Max, basically have half the payment I had with the max. Plus I have $35 dollars in device credit to put toward the $440. Seems like a good deal. Keep a phone for two years and only pay for half of it each time.

Only if you had ATT, then you would have 2/3rds of phone paid off for your trade in!

 

[HankHowdy]

Only if you had ATT, then you would have 2/3rds of phone paid off for your trade in!

So true, I saw that offer and it’s amazing.

 

[Phil77354]

My launch day XS Max says 94% battery health, thought it might be bad, but compared to you and the OP I'm happier now. I wasn't upgrading until a 1TB iPhone, if need be I'll get battery replaced, I have AppleCare+, not sure how much a battery is under that.

If you have a 2-year old Xs Max, with 94% battery health, you are doing very well in my opinion. My wife's phone, exactly same configuration and age as mine, is at 90%. I don't know why my battery has degraded more than hers, but I do use it extensively and perhaps I let the battery draw down to a greater degree before recharging, than she does. Regardless, it is a small price to pay for a new battery after 2 years, in my view.