That's because Apple is getting that $40 and using it to pay for iUP. Verizon is paying Apple an upgrade commission, and they're passing it on to you.
The answer is to switch carriers and/or apply a corporate discount that waives the fee.
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
SIM-Free iPhones Now Qualify for 24-Month Interest-Free Financing With Apple Card
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
That's because Apple is getting that $40 and using it to pay for iUP. Verizon is paying Apple an upgrade commission, and they're passing it on to you.
The answer is to switch carriers and/or apply a corporate discount that waives the fee.
Really? I've purchased all my iPhones since the 7+ directly from Apple, unlocked, no carrier lock.
He's in the UK... so maybe what's lost in translation there is that you haven't been subjected to HSBC's app.
The.
Worst.
sorry I should have been more clear (I was in a hurry when I posted that). In the past, the unlocked iPhone wasn’t available until several months after release. Seems they have changed this the last couple years. However, you still cannot purchase an unlocked iPhone on either the iPhone upgrade program, or the monthly installment plan (and until yesterday, you couldn’t get it with interest free financing on the Apple Card).
it's too much of a hassle, she is back at college. no big deal, was just hoping to get some 0% interest action.
I hear you. I had to go through the hassle because the cost of interest is greater than the hassle.
I think there is still some confusion on what "unlocked" actually means. All of the iPhone upgrade program, monthly installments, and Apple Card installment phones are unlocked no matter what, and have been since they were introduced. They are not SIM free and did require a carrier activation on the 4 majors, if that's what you mean though. But the only difference between a SIM free phone and a carrier phone at Apple is that the carrier model has a SIM card inside the box. Same exact phone. The only way a phone purchased at Apple becomes locked is to finance it through the carrier.
I realize it may just be the wording as it seems you get it, but there seems to be a lot of interchanging the terms and just wanted to make sure. The new Apple Card installments is amazing for customers with the minor carriers who just need a SIM free phone!
Unfortunately they haven’t. If you click on unlocked and SIM free, you don’t get the Apple iPhone upgrade program option. I like that for annual upgrades
Bazinga07, thank you for this. I was unaware the phone was still unlocked despite coming with a carrier SIM card. I was under the impression that any iPhone with a carrier SIM was locked to that carrier. Thanks again!
They are all sold unlocked, AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, and Verizon.
Depending on the service plan you have (mostly business plans), putting an AT&T sim-card in an unlocked iPhone may lock that device to AT&T.
I was a Genius for three years (left about 6 months ago) and the above information was accurate the entire time I was an employee. While it is possible a change has slipped unnoticed by myself on this topic, Apple has no incentive to sell locked phones so it's unlikely that it has changed.
gotcha. i hate when they go and lock a phone on ya. what if you need to use it while traveling?
Then get her a new one. Why keep waiting if she's unhappy with her 5c? Any of the current phones: iPhone 8, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 or 11 Pro will be a HUGE upgrade.
There's always a new phone just around the corner. Stop the suffering now!
Then get her a new one. Why keep waiting if she's unhappy with her 5c? Any of the current phones: iPhone 8, iPhone XR, iPhone 11 or 11 Pro will be a HUGE upgrade.
There's always a new phone just around the corner. Stop the suffering now!
Because the “iPhone 9” will apparently be a budget option and a bit smaller than the monstrous iPhone 11 to boot.
when did this start happening? last time i bought iphones from the apple store for use with AT&T they were carrier-locked. but those were iPhone 6, so it was a while ago.
i just assumed when i bought the 11 for my kid that if you chose one of the carriers, you'd be carrier-locked, since they still had the unlocked version separately for sale. and also (the topic of this thread) the fact that you couldn't buy an unlocked 11 on apple card installments made me think there was some financial tie-up with the carriers that meant the carrier-specific phones were locked.
When purchasing an iPhone from Apple, there are currently four different ways to pay for it.
Full price: iPhone is software unlocked (at least true since iPhone 5, unsure about prior iPhones)
With carrier financing: AT&T/Sprint are locked, Verizon is unlocked, T-Mobile is unavailable (been this way since iPhone 5. Its possible T-Mobile financing is now available, but it wasn't when I was a Genius)
iPhone Instalments: thought of as financing through Apple, but has actually been facilitated by different banks over the years (now Goldman Sachs as the financing bank), all phones are sold unlocked regardless of carrier but require immediate activation when purchased in store if you choose a device with a pre-installed SIM-card. Don't remember when this financing option was added, but its older than iUP.
***This article is about the addition of SIM-free (which is not synonymous with unlocked) iPhones being able to be purchased using financing.
iPhone Upgrade Program: all phones are sold unlocked regardless of carrier. Continues to requires activation.
***This article isn't discussing iUP
ok, i didn't realize there was a distinction here. however i assume there may still be the risk of the phone becoming simlocked when immediately activated in-store? otherwise, what is the reason for the requirement of immediate activation?
It prevents fraud. But regular consumers don't need to worry about the device becoming locked unless you're on a business account with AT&T and even then its not always.
Trying to buy a new iPhone 11 Pro Max but when using the Apple Store app it doesn't show the interest free monthly payments option for sim free on my Apple Card, only full purchase.
But if I use safari that option shows up but I can't add to cart, only checkout. I want to get two iPhones interest free. The tech said I could but would have to complete the order at one time. Frustrating.
But if I use safari that option shows up but I can't add to cart, only checkout. I want to get two iPhones interest free. The tech said I could but would have to complete the order at one time. Frustrating.