Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

nylon

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 26, 2004
1,383
1,019
I preordered an iPhone 7+ for launch day delivery. I upgraded my iPhone 6+ 128GB today to iOS 10 and felt like the software upgrade gave the phone a new lease on life. It's not instantaneous in its response time but it's not any worse than iOS 9. My only concern is if I forego upgrading till next year the resale value might drop a lot. However, I would be able to maximize usability. Anyone else doing the same cost benefit analysis?
 

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,152
3,707
Boston, MA
Resale value will certainly tank. Keep in mind all the carriers are allowing trade in for a free (through monthly installment credits) upgrade. If you know you're good with your carrier this is a pretty sweet deal. Your essentially getting paid $650 for your trade. If you want a plus it's $100 down. 138gb means $200 down.
 

nylon

macrumors 65816
Original poster
Oct 26, 2004
1,383
1,019
Resale value will certainly tank. Keep in mind all the carriers are allowing trade in for a free (through monthly installment credits) upgrade. If you know you're good with your carrier this is a pretty sweet deal. Your essentially getting paid $650 for your trade. If you want a plus it's $100 down. 138gb means $200 down.

I wish we got those kind of deals in Canada but unfortunately we are stuck buying full cost directly from Apple or getting locked into a contract with a carrier at a ridiculous monthly rate. I pay $45 a month for unlimited minutes and 2GB of data. If I lock into a contract for 2 years that goes upto $85/mo for the same plan and I still need to shell out ~$700 (for the model I need) up front for a locked phone from the carrier. It's far easier to buy unlocked at full price and then at least you have the ability to move to whichever carrier you want based on rate plan. The only problem is having to shell out full price for the phone every time.
 

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,152
3,707
Boston, MA
I wish we got those kind of deals in Canada but unfortunately we are stuck buying full cost directly from Apple or getting locked into a contract with a carrier at a ridiculous monthly rate. I pay $45 a month for unlimited minutes and 2GB of data. If I lock into a contract for 2 years that goes upto $85/mo for the same plan and I still need to shell out ~$700 (for the model I need) up front for a locked phone from the carrier. It's far easier to buy unlocked at full price and then at least you have the ability to move to whichever carrier you want based on rate plan. The only problem is having to shell out full price for the phone every time.
I am sorry. :(
 

roland.g

macrumors 604
Apr 11, 2005
7,335
3,006
Resale value will certainly tank. Keep in mind all the carriers are allowing trade in for a free (through monthly installment credits) upgrade. If you know you're good with your carrier this is a pretty sweet deal. Your essentially getting paid $650 for your trade. If you want a plus it's $100 down. 138gb means $200 down.
Not sure these sentences make sense. But I wouldn't call it a free upgrade in any way.

I have a 6S Plus. I got it on an installment plan. I paid 11 or 12 installments. To upgrade to the iPhone 7 Plus I had two options:

1. I could pay AT&T to the point where I could trade in (not sure if I was already at that point) and then GIVE them my 6S Plus for the right to get a 7 Plus (pay the tax and a $40 upgrade fee), and then start making installments again,

OR

2. I could pay the phone off, sell it, hopefully at some profit over what I just paid and then I can get a 7 Plus (again paying just the tax and $40 upgrade free), and start making installments again.

I chose #2 knowing that I will likely get more for my iPhone now on the open market than my payoff amount was.

This allows me to continue making payments which I would have had to do, and make a little off my old phone and get the new one.
 

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,152
3,707
Boston, MA
Not sure these sentences make sense. But I wouldn't call it a free upgrade in any way.

I have a 6S Plus. I got it on an installment plan. I paid 11 or 12 installments. To upgrade to the iPhone 7 Plus I had two options:

1. I could pay AT&T to the point where I could trade in (not sure if I was already at that point) and then GIVE them my 6S Plus for the right to get a 7 Plus (pay the tax and a $40 upgrade fee), and then start making installments again,

OR

2. I could pay the phone off, sell it, hopefully at some profit over what I just paid and then I can get a 7 Plus (again paying just the tax and $40 upgrade free), and start making installments again.

I chose #2 knowing that I will likely get more for my iPhone now on the open market than my payoff amount was.

This allows me to continue making payments which I would have had to do, and make a little off my old phone and get the new one.
It's a free upgrade if you have a fully paid off device. You didn;t pay off your device yet. People with the iPhone 6 are sitting pretty. They hand in their 6 and get $650 twoards a 7/Plus model. The "catch" is they need to keep that device (and their service) for 24 months... or I guess they can sell it but they cant upgrade on that specific line.
 

roland.g

macrumors 604
Apr 11, 2005
7,335
3,006
It's a free upgrade if you have a fully paid off device. You didn;t pay off your device yet. People with the iPhone 6 are sitting pretty. They hand in their 6 and get $650 twoards a 7/Plus model. The "catch" is they need to keep that device (and their service) for 24 months... or I guess they can sell it but they cant upgrade on that specific line.
No carrier is giving you $650 off a new phone for trading in a 6. That would mean you could buy a 7 for free or next to nothing. Trading in a 6 and starting up payments for 24 months is not getting it free. I doubt you have this right.
 

T4t3r

macrumors member
Jun 24, 2010
65
113
No carrier is giving you $650 off a new phone for trading in a 6. That would mean you could buy a 7 for free or next to nothing. Trading in a 6 and starting up payments for 24 months is not getting it free. I doubt you have this right.

Actually he has it exactly right.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BeeGood

airjay75

macrumors regular
Oct 1, 2014
206
168
No carrier is giving you $650 off a new phone for trading in a 6. That would mean you could buy a 7 for free or next to nothing. Trading in a 6 and starting up payments for 24 months is not getting it free. I doubt you have this right.

AT&T is and I suspect other carriers are as well. If you own a 6, 6+, 6s, or 6s+ outright and you buy a 7 or 7+ using AT&T's Next installment plan and trade in one of those old phones, you get $650 in statement credits over the term of the Next contract. I'm doing it with 2 of the iPhones (a 6+ and 6s+) on my family plan. The catch is that you will only get that $650 in statement credit over the term of the Next contract, so if you pay off or upgrade early, you'll lost the remaining credits.
 

roland.g

macrumors 604
Apr 11, 2005
7,335
3,006
AT&T is and I suspect other carriers are as well. If you own a 6, 6+, 6s, or 6s+ outright and you buy a 7 or 7+ using AT&T's Next installment plan and trade in one of those old phones, you get $650 in statement credits over the term of the Next contract. I'm doing it with 2 of the iPhones (a 6+ and 6s+) on my family plan. The catch is that you will only get that $650 in statement credit over the term of the Next contract, so if you pay off or upgrade early, you'll lost the remaining credits.
Then it's only worth it if you don't plan on upgrading next year otherwise you only get half the credit for about $325. My paid off 6S plus is worth more than that
 
  • Like
Reactions: BeeGood

airjay75

macrumors regular
Oct 1, 2014
206
168
Then it's only worth it if you don't plan on upgrading next year otherwise you only get half the credit for about $325. My paid off 6S plus is worth more than that

Yep, definitely agree. Since I don't want to upgrade next year (at least right now) works perfect for me. I wasn't even going to upgrade this year until this deal came along.
 

roland.g

macrumors 604
Apr 11, 2005
7,335
3,006
Yep, definitely agree. Since I don't want to upgrade next year (at least right now) works perfect for me. I wasn't even going to upgrade this year until this deal came along.
It sounded like a good deal to me. Get $650 for my phone. Until the part of losing my remaining credits. I know I'll upgrade again on the anniversary edition. What I don't knows if I'll be impressed enough by the 7 Plus to keep it.
 

BeeGood

macrumors 68000
Sep 15, 2013
1,851
6,104
Lot 23E. Somewhere in Georgia.
AT&T is and I suspect other carriers are as well. If you own a 6, 6+, 6s, or 6s+ outright and you buy a 7 or 7+ using AT&T's Next installment plan and trade in one of those old phones, you get $650 in statement credits over the term of the Next contract. I'm doing it with 2 of the iPhones (a 6+ and 6s+) on my family plan. The catch is that you will only get that $650 in statement credit over the term of the Next contract, so if you pay off or upgrade early, you'll lost the remaining credits.

This. It's not a good idea if you're planning on upgrading next year. You're locked to that carrier AND that device for 24 months.
 

dontworry

Suspended
Mar 18, 2010
385
165
It's a free upgrade if you have a fully paid off device. You didn;t pay off your device yet. People with the iPhone 6 are sitting pretty. They hand in their 6 and get $650 twoards a 7/Plus model. The "catch" is they need to keep that device (and their service) for 24 months... or I guess they can sell it but they cant upgrade on that specific line.

I'm trading in my iPhone 6 16gb and I think i'm getting a hell of a deal on a new 7 128gb for $100 extra. I am still on my unlimited plan so i don't plan on switching within the 2yrs. If apple comes out with something crazy next year I'll find a way to make it work, besides the carriers will probably do the same deal next year.
 

CaptMarvel

macrumors 68000
Sep 20, 2014
1,737
2,138
North Carolina
I preordered an iPhone 7+ for launch day delivery. I upgraded my iPhone 6+ 128GB today to iOS 10 and felt like the software upgrade gave the phone a new lease on life. It's not instantaneous in its response time but it's not any worse than iOS 9. My only concern is if I forego upgrading till next year the resale value might drop a lot. However, I would be able to maximize usability. Anyone else doing the same cost benefit analysis?

I know exactly what you mean, surprisingly the iPhone 6 Plus feels incredible on iOS especially compared to what I had grown accustomed to. Everything is snappier and is as almost as buttery smooth as when it debuted. Still missing out on features the 6S/6S Plus crowd received and not to mention everything that new the new flagships.

However, I am not, will not, shall not, won't not cancel my order or return my iPhone 7 Plus that is scheduled to arrive Friday. I think mine has battery issues so I will be taking advantage of the AT&T offer. But interestingly enough, I could but a battery and then give the iPhone to my Father. He has the iPhone 6 and also wants to upgrade to bigger iPhone, but I guess even with the deal AT&T is the best option to save the most money right now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nylon

FSUSem1noles

macrumors 68000
Feb 23, 2006
1,622
16
Ft. Lauderdale
Yep, definitely agree. Since I don't want to upgrade next year (at least right now) works perfect for me. I wasn't even going to upgrade this year until this deal came along.

Do you have a link or something? I have two lines on my family plan that are free and clear. I'd be inclined to upgrade if I can trade in the 6 and get $650 in credit! Thanks
 

airjay75

macrumors regular
Oct 1, 2014
206
168
On losing the credits after 1 year if you decide to upgrade, it's worth noting that $325 is still a lot more than many trade-in services are currently offering, particularly if you're trading in, say, an iPhone 6 16 GB. Heck, even with my iPhone 6S+ 64 GB, I only have one trade-in offer greater than $325 ($440 from Nextworth), and that's only because I locked it in well before launch. Of course, if you are willing to sell through ebay or craigslist, you can probably get more. But, $325 is still not too bad IMO.
 

TheRealAlex

macrumors 68030
Sep 2, 2015
2,778
1,918
I preordered an iPhone 7+ for launch day delivery. I upgraded my iPhone 6+ 128GB today to iOS 10 and felt like the software upgrade gave the phone a new lease on life. It's not instantaneous in its response time but it's not any worse than iOS 9. My only concern is if I forego upgrading till next year the resale value might drop a lot. However, I would be able to maximize usability. Anyone else doing the same cost benefit analysis?
Just think of it in Reverse.

you just Upgraded to the newer Model which has a new 3.5mm Audio jack that allows you to charge and listen to music simultaneously without any dongles. And You have the newer Physical home Button which is a Pleasure to press.
 
  • Like
Reactions: nylon

airjay75

macrumors regular
Oct 1, 2014
206
168
Do you have a link or something? I have two lines on my family plan that are free and clear. I'd be inclined to upgrade if I can trade in the 6 and get $650 in credit! Thanks

https://www.att.com/shop/iphone.html - See the promo banner at the top. You can click on the offer link for more details. When I completed my orders, I opened up a chat with a customer service rep to confirm I was eligible for the deal and to ask how I would trade in my old phone - when you check out, the website doesn't say anything about the deal, so I wanted something in writing that I was eligible and then I e-mailed myself the chat transcript. Each order I made, the rep assured me I was eligible and all I would need to do was take my old iPhone to a store once I got my new iPhone.
 

FSUSem1noles

macrumors 68000
Feb 23, 2006
1,622
16
Ft. Lauderdale
https://www.att.com/shop/iphone.html - See the promo banner at the top. You can click on the offer link for more details. When I completed my orders, I opened up a chat with a customer service rep to confirm I was eligible for the deal and to ask how I would trade in my old phone - when you check out, the website doesn't say anything about the deal, so I wanted something in writing that I was eligible and then I e-mailed myself the chat transcript. Each order I made, the rep assured me I was eligible and all I would need to do was take my old iPhone to a store once I got my new iPhone.

Thank you kindly! I greatly appreciate this. I'm going to look into it now.
 

VSMacOne

macrumors 603
Oct 18, 2008
5,574
2,491
I think Apple got the iOS 10 upgrade right this year. I can't believe how it runs on an iPhone 5c!!!
 

sdwaltz

macrumors 65816
Apr 29, 2015
1,045
1,621
Indiana
My 6+ seems to run better on iOS 10 than it did iOS 9, but since 3D touch is becoming more integral to the experience AND the camera is vastly superior, I'm happily buying the 7.

6+ is still a great piece of equipment though and there's no shame in holding onto it.
 

lordofthereef

macrumors G5
Nov 29, 2011
13,152
3,707
Boston, MA
I'm trading in my iPhone 6 16gb and I think i'm getting a hell of a deal on a new 7 128gb for $100 extra. I am still on my unlimited plan so i don't plan on switching within the 2yrs. If apple comes out with something crazy next year I'll find a way to make it work, besides the carriers will probably do the same deal next year.
While they'll likely do the same, anyone taking the deal this year would still technically owe around $325 on this year's phone when trading in for the 2017 model. You could always just pay that balance out of pocket. That's about what depreciation on the devices seems to be.
[doublepost=1473872733][/doublepost]
No carrier is giving you $650 off a new phone for trading in a 6. That would mean you could buy a 7 for free or next to nothing. Trading in a 6 and starting up payments for 24 months is not getting it free. I doubt you have this right.
I absolutely do have this right. Feel free to look it up if you wish...

They're essentially having you sign up for 24 monthly payments. They're also crediting your account those 24 monthly payments each month.

Again, don't take my word for it. Look it up yourself. This really isn't a whole lot different than subsidized pricing they used to do. It's just s different form of contract. If you want to free phone you have to stick with the carrier for the next 24 months. Otherwise you owe msrp minus about $27 per month you did stick with them upon leaving.

Any way you look at it you'd be damn lucky to get $325 today for an iPhone 6. This obviously becomes less of an enticing deal if you have newer hardware (6s or 6s plus) to trade in. If I had a 6 it would be going in for the trade immediately.

Look a couple posts above mine for the ATT deal. But all carriers are offering this currently.
 
Last edited:

bufffilm

Suspended
May 3, 2011
4,227
2,536
I wish we got those kind of deals in Canada but unfortunately we are stuck buying full cost directly from Apple or getting locked into a contract with a carrier at a ridiculous monthly rate. I pay $45 a month for unlimited minutes and 2GB of data. If I lock into a contract for 2 years that goes upto $85/mo for the same plan and I still need to shell out ~$700 (for the model I need) up front for a locked phone from the carrier. It's far easier to buy unlocked at full price and then at least you have the ability to move to whichever carrier you want based on rate plan. The only problem is having to shell out full price for the phone every time.

Why does the plan go from $45/month to $85/month if you sign a 2 yr contract?

$45 with 2gb data and unlimited voice/texts is pretty good for Canada.
 
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.