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Short answer: New U.S. customers can no longer enroll in the former iPhone Upgrade Program. Apple ended new U.S. offerings when it launched Apple Upgrade on July 28, 2026. Existing members can continue their Citizens One loan and own the iPhone after 24 payments. For a new buyer, compare an outright purchase with today’s financing or leasing choices; for an existing member, compare finishing the loan, upgrading through the available path, or buying the next phone outright.
The former program was not simply a cheaper monthly price. It combined a 24-month, 0% APR loan for the iPhone and a selected AppleCare+ plan, required credit approval and eligible-carrier activation, and allowed an upgrade after the equivalent of 12 payments only if several return and coverage conditions were met.
Is the iPhone Upgrade Program still available in the United States?
No. Apple’s U.S. program page says the iPhone Upgrade Program is coming to an end. In its July 28, 2026 announcement, Apple said it had stopped offering the program to new U.S. customers with the launch of Apple Upgrade. That means a new buyer should not plan on enrolling in the old program, and an advertised payment from an older article may no longer describe an available offer.
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The comparison still matters for two groups:
- Existing members: You can keep making payments on your current Citizens One loan. Apple says the iPhone becomes yours after 24 payments.
- New buyers: You need to compare buying outright with the financing, trade-in, carrier, or lease choices currently offered at the time and location of purchase.
Apple’s terms and shopping prices can change. Check the live U.S. Apple pages before committing, and record the model, storage tier, date, tax location, carrier requirement, and protection plan used in your calculation.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
How the former iPhone Upgrade Program worked
The old U.S. arrangement was a 24-month installment loan at 0% APR for the full retail price of an eligible iPhone plus a selected AppleCare+ plan. The monthly amount therefore covered both the device and protection; it was not an iPhone-only price.
| Requirement or feature | What it meant in practice |
|---|---|
| Loan term | 24 months at 0% APR, according to Apple’s U.S. terms listed on October 13, 2026. |
| Credit | A credit check was required for the original loan and again when applying for a replacement loan. |
| Carrier | The iPhone had to be activated with an eligible carrier. |
| Protection | A selected AppleCare+ plan was included in the financed amount and had to remain active for an upgrade. |
| Taxes and fees | Depending on whether the transaction was in an Apple Store or online, applicable taxes or fees could be handled separately. |
| Upgrade threshold | The member needed the equivalent of at least 12 installment payments. |
| Return condition | The old phone had to be returned in good physical and working condition as directed. |
After six regularly scheduled payments, a member could accelerate payments until reaching the equivalent of 12. Reaching that threshold did not create an unconditional right to a new phone: the account also had to be in good standing, AppleCare+ had to have been maintained continuously, the phone had to pass the return requirements, and a new 24-month loan application had to be approved.
When all conditions were met and the upgrade was completed, Apple paid the remaining balance on the old loan. The old phone had to be sent back as instructed. If it was not returned within 14 days, the original loan could be reinstated. Damage, loss, or a condition that required service could lead to repair or other charges before an upgrade.
What existing members should do now
If you keep the current loan
Continue the Citizens One payments under your existing agreement. Apple states that the phone is yours after 24 payments. Until then, the loan and its contractual obligations remain in force; do not assume that simply stopping an upgrade makes the balance disappear.
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- Fully unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US-Cellular, Cricket, Metro, etc.).
- Inspected and guaranteed to have minimal cosmetic damage, which is not noticeable when the device is held at arm's length.
- Successfully passed a full diagnostic test which ensures like-new functionality and removal of any prior-user personal information.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a charging cable that may be generic.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
If you want another iPhone before the loan ends
Apple says current members can consider Apple Upgrade leasing, Apple Card Monthly Installments, buying outright, or carrier financing. These are separate choices, with separate approval, ownership, return, and early-exit rules. A replacement application can involve another credit check, and the old program’s 12-payment upgrade mechanism is not a new-enrollment offer for other customers.
If you were counting on the old upgrade option
Review the exact status of your loan, AppleCare+ coverage, payment history, and return instructions before shipping a phone. Keep tracking information and a record of the phone’s condition. Failure to return the device on time can reinstate the original balance under the former terms.
What buying an iPhone outright changes
An outright purchase transfers the phone to you at checkout, subject to applicable taxes and any purchase terms. You choose whether to add AppleCare+ or another protection option, and you decide when to keep, sell, trade, or replace the device. There is no program upgrade threshold and no requirement to surrender the phone to exercise a replacement option.
The price is not one universal number. Apple’s current U.S. shopping page lists different prices by model and storage, and advertised connectivity discounts for selected models can require connecting with a selected carrier at purchase. Treat a conditional carrier price separately from an unconditional unlocked price. Record taxes separately because state and local rates vary.
Rank #3
- Vibrant 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with OLED technology. Action mode for smooth, steady, handheld videos.
Ownership also changes the economics of a long holding period. If you keep the phone beyond the period used in your comparison, you continue using an already-paid device. If you sell or trade it, the proceeds reduce your net cost, but resale value is an estimate, not a guaranteed saving. The available evidence does not establish one average resale value or a universal savings figure.
How to calculate total cost fairly
Use the same iPhone configuration, tax treatment, protection assumptions, carrier assumptions, and ownership period for both paths. A monthly payment alone cannot answer which option costs less.
Outright-purchase equation
Outright total = device price + applicable tax + selected protection costs − estimated resale or trade-in proceeds
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- 6.1" Super Retina XDR OLED, HDR10, 800 nits (HBM), 1200 nits (peak), 2532x1170px at 460ppi, 4005mAh Battery
- 8GB RAM, Apple A18 6-core CPU (2 performance + 4 efficiency cores), Apple GPU 4-core, 16‑core Neural Engine
- Rear camera: 48MP, f/1.6, wide, Front Camera: 12MP, f/1.9, wide, iOS 18.3.1, upgradable to iOS 18.5
- Connectivity: Global 4G LTE, Sub-6 GHz 5G, LTE, Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, USB-C, Wireless Charging (7.5W). (does not have mmWave 5G or MagSafe or physical SIM card) - Dual eSIM Only
- Unlocked for freedom to choose your carrier. Compatible with both GSM & CDMA networks. The phone is unlocked to work with all GSM Carriers & CDMA Carriers Including AT&T, T-Mobile, Verizon, Straight Talk., Etc.
Former-program equation
Former-program cost over the comparison period = installments paid + applicable taxes or fees + service or damage costs
The former program’s installment included the iPhone and AppleCare+; do not add AppleCare+ a second time. When the member upgrades, the old phone is returned and is no longer an asset that can be sold. That surrendered device has economic value, but there is no published universal value to insert into the calculation. Treat it as a separate ownership trade-off rather than claiming a guaranteed credit.
A worksheet you can fill in
| Input | Outright purchase | Former program or existing-loan comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Model and storage | Enter the exact configuration | Enter the exact financed configuration |
| Device price | Live Apple price on a recorded date | Original financed retail price |
| Protection | Selected AppleCare+ cost, if any | Included selected AppleCare+ plan |
| Taxes and fees | Apply your location and transaction method | Check the loan and purchase documents |
| Holding period | For example, 12, 24, or more months | Payments made during the same period |
| Resale or trade-in | Use a dated, condition-specific estimate or zero | Usually zero after an upgrade because the phone is returned |
| Damage or service | Expected repair or protection costs | Potential repair or service charge before an upgrade |
This method produces a scenario result, not a published savings statistic. The answer changes with the model, storage, state or local tax, AppleCare+ choice, carrier promotion, replacement date, damage, and resale assumption.
Which option is more flexible?
| Decision factor | Buying outright | Former Upgrade Program |
|---|---|---|
| Ownership | You own the phone and can keep, sell, or trade it whenever you choose. | You owned the phone after completing 24 payments; to use the program upgrade, you returned it. |
| Replacement timing | Replace on your schedule, provided you fund the next device. | Eligible after the equivalent of 12 payments, including accelerated payments after six scheduled payments, subject to all other conditions. |
| Protection | Add and pay for the coverage you select. | A selected AppleCare+ plan was financed with the phone and had to remain active for an upgrade. |
| Credit | Paying the listed price does not require approval for an Upgrade Program loan. | Credit approval was required for the initial and replacement loans. |
| Condition risk | Damage affects your resale or repair cost, but not a program upgrade right. | Damage, loss, or unacceptable condition could require service or prevent the upgrade until resolved. |
| Carrier terms | Compare the actual unlocked or carrier-connected price you can obtain. | Activation with an eligible carrier was required. |
| Exit | Keep the phone, sell it, or stop using it without returning it to a lender. | Continue the loan, complete 24 payments, or satisfy the conditional upgrade and return process. |
Is it cheaper to buy an iPhone outright or upgrade every year?
There is no honest single answer without a model, storage capacity, purchase date, tax location, protection choice, replacement schedule, carrier terms, damage history, and resale assumption. The former program’s 0% APR avoided interest, but it also financed AppleCare+ and required the phone to be returned for the upgrade. Buying outright can cost more at the moment of purchase, yet it leaves you with an asset that can be kept or sold.
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- This pre-owned product is not Apple certified, but has been professionally inspected, tested and cleaned by Amazon-qualified suppliers.
- There will be no visible cosmetic imperfections when held at an arm’s length.
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For a frequent upgrader, calculate the cost of each replacement cycle and state whether you would otherwise sell the old phone. For a long-term owner, compare the outright price plus chosen protection with the number of years you expect to keep the phone. Do not label either path “cheaper” until the same device and time horizon are used.
Example decision cases without invented prices
- Replace around 12 months: The former program’s threshold could make an upgrade possible, but only with good standing, continuous AppleCare+, a qualifying return, a new approved loan, and compliance with the 14-day return instruction.
- Keep the phone for several years: Outright ownership avoids a mandatory return and lets you use the phone after it is paid for. An existing member who reaches 24 payments owns the financed phone.
- Expect heavy wear: An outright owner can repair or sell at a lower value. A former-program member may face service charges or lose upgrade eligibility if the device fails the return condition.
- Want to avoid another credit decision: An outright purchase does not depend on approval for a replacement program loan, although a buyer may choose other financing that has its own approval rules.
- Rely on a carrier promotion: Verify the required carrier connection and compare the resulting price with an unlocked configuration. A discounted advertised price is not automatically comparable to a no-condition price.
Is AppleCare+ included in the iPhone Upgrade Program?
Yes, the former U.S. program financed a selected AppleCare+ plan together with the iPhone. Continuous AppleCare+ coverage was one of the conditions for using the upgrade option. An outright buyer is free to decline coverage or purchase a plan separately, so the protection cost must be added to the outright calculation when you want an equivalent comparison.
Do you own the iPhone after the Upgrade Program?
Apple says an existing member owns the iPhone after making 24 payments on the Citizens One loan. If the member upgrades earlier under the old conditions, the phone is returned and the remaining balance is paid by Apple as part of the completed upgrade. That is different from buying outright, where ownership and the ability to sell the phone remain with you from the purchase.
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Yes. An existing member can continue the loan rather than exercising an upgrade. After 24 payments, Apple says the phone is theirs. Before that point, continue following the loan agreement; stopping upgrades is not the same as canceling the balance.
What Apple Upgrade is—and why it is not the old program
Apple Upgrade is the current U.S. leasing alternative announced in July 2026, provided by Klarna. It is not a renamed version of the former iPhone Upgrade Program. At the end of a lease, Apple says the customer may upgrade, purchase the device, or return it and exit. Early upgrade or termination requires the remaining payments plus applicable taxes. A returned device must be in good working condition to avoid damage fees.
If you purchase the leased device, the amount is based on the list price at lease signing minus payments and applicable trade-in credits. Because leasing has different ownership and end-of-term rules, compare it in a separate worksheet rather than combining its monthly payment with the old program’s figures.
Quick Recap
Step-by-step: choose the right path
- Identify your status. If you are not already enrolled, treat the former U.S. program as closed to new customers. If you are a member, locate the current loan balance, payment count, AppleCare+ status, and return instructions.
- Fix the comparison device. Write down the exact generation, storage capacity, color if it changes price, and whether the offer requires a carrier connection.
- Set a holding period. Choose the month you expect to replace or finish paying. Use the same period for outright and financed paths.
- Separate device, protection, tax, and service costs. Do not compare a former-program payment that includes AppleCare+ with an outright device price that excludes it.
- Record ownership at the endpoint. For outright purchase, include the phone’s estimated resale or trade-in only if you actually plan to use it. For an early former-program upgrade, record that the phone is returned.
- Check eligibility and condition. Confirm credit requirements, carrier activation, good standing, continuous coverage, and the phone’s physical and working condition before relying on an upgrade.
- Read current terms at checkout. Apple’s program status, prices, lease rules, carrier promotions, taxes, and eligibility can change; use the live U.S. terms for the transaction you are about to make.
Common mistakes that make the comparison misleading
- Using an old monthly payment as a current offer: the U.S. program stopped accepting new customers in 2026.
- Comparing monthly amounts only: one amount may include AppleCare+, taxes, or a carrier condition while the other does not.
- Assuming 12 payments guarantees an upgrade: good standing, continuous coverage, return condition, a new loan, and approval were also required.
- Counting the returned phone as a free trade-in: the former program required surrendering the device, and no universal resale value is established.
- Treating a carrier-connected price as unlocked: verify the activation requirement and use like-for-like assumptions.
- Ignoring the 14-day return instruction: failing to return an upgraded phone on time could reinstate the original loan.
- Calling Apple Upgrade the iPhone Upgrade Program: Apple Upgrade is a Klarna lease with different end-of-term, purchase, return, and early-exit rules.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
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