iPhone 15 Pro Why did Apple remove the Apple Card installment upgrade ability to get an unlocked device?

[dictoresno]

I currently have an iPhone 13 Pro that I purchased carrier free through the Apple Card Monthly Installment plan two years ago. I was considering upgrading to the 15 Pro using the monthly payment plan but, as most have seen, they did away with being able to select “set up with carrier later” option when choosing monthly payments. Why did they do this? I’m on FirstNet (AT&T) and don’t want to select a carrier phone. I actually need to call them to make sure the 15 is compatible since I am using a FirstNet black SIM card with prioritization and need to confirm the eSIM will properly work.

So anyone know why they stopped allowing monthly payments with Apple Card with non-carrier phones? Any way around this or is purchasing outright the only way?

 

[drew0020]

No way around it but the phone is still unlocked. You just need to choose a carrier or you can pay outright.

 

[dictoresno]

No way around it but the phone is still unlocked. You just need to choose a carrier or you can pay outright.

I’ll probably just pay outright then. Unfortunately they are only offering me $640 for my 13 Pro 512GB.

 

[patricem]

I didnt realize this until trying to do the pre order, I kept redoing it thinking I was missing something. So I did a search. I mean, this is why I got the Apple card!!!

Apple to discontinue Apple Card financing for iPhones bought without a carrier connection - 9to5Mac

Apple is making a major change to its Apple Card Monthly Installment purchase option for iPhone buyers. Starting in August,...

9to5mac.com

 

[patricem]

9to5mac recommends Decluttr, and if you add in 9to5mac23 where it says 'voucher' you get another 10% back. For me that works out to $70 more. I have never used them and havent read the fine print. I did sign up though and if you use this link we'd both get $5 back. (Not trying to promote anything here, just passing this along) .

Get $5 extra

Get $5 extra at Decluttr.

decluttr.mention-me.com

 

[sat24]

I didnt realize this until trying to do the pre order, I kept redoing it thinking I was missing something. So I did a search. I mean, this is why I got the Apple card!!!

Apple to discontinue Apple Card financing for iPhones bought without a carrier connection - 9to5Mac

Apple is making a major change to its Apple Card Monthly Installment purchase option for iPhone buyers. Starting in August,...

9to5mac.com

So is there any use using the apple card at all to buy this iphone? Might as well use my Chase card for points. Hmmm...

 

[Tokenfreak]

9to5mac recommends Decluttr, and if you add in 9to5mac23 where it says 'voucher' you get another 10% back. For me that works out to $70 more. I have never used them and havent read the fine print. I did sign up though and if you use this link we'd both get $5 back. (Not trying to promote anything here, just passing this along) .

Get $5 extra

Get $5 extra at Decluttr.

decluttr.mention-me.com

Looks like the 10% is capped at a max of $30 extra but still ok I guess

 

[dictoresno]

I checked out decluttr and they only offered me a $30 bonus with the code, totaling $640 which is indeed better than apples trade in offer of $480 for my iPhone 13 Pro. but I don't know what I'm gonna do. either way ill have to buy the phone outright now with my Apple Card to buy the unlocked version which I guess I can do.

 

[camelwalker]

I guess you could sign up with a carrier to get the Apple Card monthly payments, and then when you get the phone, cancel the carrier account and put the new phone on the carrier that you want? It does say that you can switch carriers at any time. If you are buying it from apple it will be unlocked.

 

[mattopotamus]

Carriers throwing their weight at Apple is my guess. I typically pay my phones off in a few months, but it was nice having the no interest option. You also lose the “instant” credit if you do a trade in. With the Apple Card monthly installments Apple gives you a trade in credit on the front end. That’s gone for SIM free.