Other Upgrade every year: AppleCard financing versus iUP

[Luba]

I like to upgrade my iPhone every year and have been on the iUP, but now I'm thinking of the pro's and con's of iUP versus AppleCare financing.

Both are 0% financing.

iUP is more complex and less flexible. Can't easily cancel an order and set up another. I think I read it take 24 hours for iUP to reset. If you change your mind on the phone you want and you cancel you'll have to wait 24 hours to put in another iUP order.

iUP guarantees 50% trade-in value while with Apple's trade-in program it varies. Both programs inspect the phones that were traded in and 1UP could make you use AppleCare+ entailing a deductible. With Apple trade-in a Specialist inspects the phone in front of you in the store? I wonder which program is more strict with scratches and minor damage. My previous iUP phones have all been in cases so they've all been in great condition

Any other situations I missed?

 

[joshwithachance]

If you buy base storage configurations you’re typically better off with ACMI vs iUP, as it not only doesn’t force you into getting AC+ but you often get MORE than 50% in trade-in value back at the one year mark.

For example, I financed my 256GB 16 Pro Max with AppleCard financing at the $1199 price last September and will be trading it in for $700 toward the Air this week, when I’ve only paid $600 of it.

 

[Luba]

If you buy base storage configurations you’re typically better off with ACMI vs iUP, as it not only doesn’t force you into getting AC+ but you often get MORE than 50% in trade-in value back at the one year mark.

For example, I financed my 256GB 16 Pro Max with AppleCard financing at the $1199 price last September and will be trading it in for $700 toward the Air this week, when I’ve only paid $600 of it.

I got the 512 GB version so I should get about 50% for trade-in. I'll do an incomplete fake order to confirm. It’s sounding like ACMI is better than iUP

 

[vi2867]

This is my 4th year doing the Apple trade in program. I like it. I only pay for half the phone price and I get a new iPhone every year.

 

[Apple_Robert]

In my opinion, having a credit check done so you can take out a loan for an iPhone is not a good idea. If you don't have the money to pay for the phone in full, (even if you may do the Apple Card route) you probably should reassess your total financial situation.

 

[MisterSavage]

In my opinion, having a credit check done so you can take out a loan for an iPhone is not a good idea. If you don't have the money to pay for the phone in full, (even if you may do the Apple Card route) you probably should reassess your total financial situation.

Right but it's not a hard check every year. Once you're established it can be a soft check that they do.

 

[trife]

In my opinion, having a credit check done so you can take out a loan for an iPhone is not a good idea. If you don't have the money to pay for the phone in full, (even if you may do the Apple Card route) you probably should reassess your total financial situation.

Never understood this logic. It’s a 0% loan. You’re paying the same amount of money if you buy outright or if you make all your payments.

And a hard pull credit ding isn’t that big of a deal unless you’re rebuilding credit or are buying a house.

 

[leesweet]

How do you move from IUP to ACMI? How do you end the Citizens loan half way through to get the new phone via ACMI?

 

[ant the ninja]

So I’ve been on iUP since it launched. Never had a real issue with it and to me it’s easy.

I was one of the ones with a 9/25 date so I cancelled and reordered on iUP, I only had to wait 20 minutes not 24 hours for the order to reset.

I also do not use a case or a screen protector so the peace of mind of having AppleCare built in works for me. I’ve also only had one hard pull at launch years ago and only soft pulls since then.

 

[ant the ninja]

How do you move from IUP to ACMI? How do you end the Citizens loan half way through to get the new phone via ACMI?

You just have to call citizens and pay off your phone loan. Then the phone is yours.

You can then trade it on with Apple, apply the credit towards your new phone and use ACMI.

 

[trife]

How do you move from IUP to ACMI? How do you end the Citizens loan half way through to get the new phone via ACMI?

Here’s a (unethical?) life hack:

If you’re eligible for an upgrade via iUP, meaning you’ve already made 12 payments, order a new phone via iUP like you normally would.

Go through the process of returning your old phone once the new one comes in, and then return your new device. Apple will not return your old phone and will close out the loan since you made your 12 payment AND returned the phone. They will also close out your new iUP loan upon return. Now you’re out of the iUP.

Source: I’ve done it.

 

[hinrgmike]

So I’ve been on iUP since it launched. Never had a real issue with it and to me it’s easy.

I was one of the ones with a 9/25 date so I cancelled and reordered on iUP, I only had to wait 20 minutes not 24 hours for the order to reset.

I also do not use a case or a screen protector so the peace of mind of having AppleCare built in works for me. I’ve also only had one hard pull at launch years ago and only soft pulls since then.

same. been on IUP for many many years and only had 1 hard pull the first year