The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade • Hacker News Board

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#151

Post by s0rce » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:01 PM UTC

smallmancontrov wrote: post #128

ToucanLoucan wrote: post #111

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It's still obviously making them money. How much, who's to say, likely highly variable depending on the condition of the phone. But if it didn't make them money they wouldn't do it, they're not a charity. I'd imagine even a phone they can't fix to sell still has some value, even as scrap to them especially as the costs of every damn material that goes into any electronic device continue to soar. And that all being sa…

Since the days of Samuel Vimes, durable goods have undergone spectacular deflation and health care, housing, and education have undergone spectacular inflation. One month of median US rent buys three 55" TVs. The math has changed.

Durable goods also seem much less durable. I go through way more fridges, dishwashers, etc then previously.

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#152

Post by paxys » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:02 PM UTC

gruez wrote: post #144

dzonga wrote: post #140

Earlier quoted context omitted.

you overestimate the financial health of most Americans. most people live on credit cards as bridge finance between paychecks. when I mean most people - I mean 50% of the population.

>when I mean most people - I mean 50% of the population. That's not really applicable because: 1. the study is for an "unexpected" expense. This you can see from 2 years away 2. The wording in the study was something along the lines of "would have to dip into savings", not that they literally don't have any money for it. The fed's survey of consumer finances shows the median household has between 7-13k (depending whe…

Not sure what you are trying to argue.

Should people be more financially responsible? Yes

Are they today? No

In a rational world payday loans, predatory auto loans, BNPL, perpetually rolling credit card debt etc would not need to exist. Yet these sectors are rapidly growing and companies in it are thriving.

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#153

Post by [deleted] » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:02 PM UTC

tw600040 wrote: post #130

paxys wrote: post #65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> iPhone 17 pro max would be $1199 to buy (~1273 with tax) or $34.99 for 24 months totaling $839.76. So would cost 433.33 at the end of the lease to keep it A lot of people aren’t going to have that $433 at the end of the lease to purchase the device outright, and so will have to roll it into another 2-year monthly payment, and another one after that. So the goal of the program is the same as every other similar one…

Someone who won't have that $433 has no business even thinking about a 1200$ phone in the first place

[deleted]

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#154

Post by Zambyte » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:03 PM UTC

dzonga wrote: post #140

tw600040 wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone who won't have that $433 has no business even thinking about a 1200$ phone in the first place

you overestimate the financial health of most Americans. most people live on credit cards as bridge finance between paychecks. when I mean most people - I mean 50% of the population.

There are phones that cost a lot less though. 50% of Americans being unable to afford iPhones doesn't mean they should just lease them. People need to stop associating so much personal sense of worth with their handheld computer.

- written on my S10

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#155

Post by Aurornis » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:04 PM UTC

HeWhoLurksLate wrote: post #147

Aurornis wrote: post #100

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You know those financially irresponsible people don’t need this program, right? They would have used a credit card to buy it with much worse terms You seem tilted at Apple for offering a financing option, but your real gripe is apparently with some people who have poor financial decision making skills. Those people could (and probably would) do a lot worse with traditional options like a credit card. Can we at least…

> They would have used a credit card to buy it with much worse terms average credit card interest rate: 18-25% APR [0][1] average klarna effective interest rate:25-33% APR [2] getting what are effectively individual lines of credit per-burrito or iphone is crazy work and I wouldn't recommend it most of the time. Save some money up, people! [0] https://www.experian.com/blogs/ask-experian/research/current... [1] https:…

> average klarna effective interest rate:25-33% APR [2]

> getting what are effectively individual lines of credit per-burrito or iphone is crazy work and I wouldn't recommend it most of the time.

I think this whole sub-thread has gone off track from people who aren't reading the actual terms of the Apple deal.

Nobody's talking about getting a 33% Klarna loan for an iPhone or burrito. You included 2 statistics and 3 citations that have nothing to do with the program we're talking about.

We're trying to talk about the Apple program in the link, not some other financial services complaints that people have about other things.

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#156

Post by gruez » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:07 PM UTC

paxys wrote: post #152

gruez wrote: post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

>when I mean most people - I mean 50% of the population. That's not really applicable because: 1. the study is for an "unexpected" expense. This you can see from 2 years away 2. The wording in the study was something along the lines of "would have to dip into savings", not that they literally don't have any money for it. The fed's survey of consumer finances shows the median household has between 7-13k (depending whe…

Not sure what you are trying to argue. Should people be more financially responsible? Yes Are they today? No In a rational world payday loans, predatory auto loans, BNPL, perpetually rolling credit card debt etc would not need to exist. Yet these sectors are rapidly growing and companies in it are thriving.

>Not sure what you are trying to argue.

I'm saying the specific claim of "most people live on credit cards as bridge finance between paychecks. when I mean most people - I mean 50% of the population" is false.

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#157

Post by jborichevskiy » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:08 PM UTC

_zie wrote: post #102

"If you’re leasing an iPhone, you’ll need to connect to AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon when you enroll." Damn, this is the dealbreaker for me. Leasing an unlocked iPhone and being able to use my current $25/mo MVNO of choice (US Mobile) may have actually tempted me (I currently buy outright and then tell myself I'll sell my current phone when I upgrade, but in reality I just have iPhone graveyard at home.)

It's a little unclear; they make you select a carrier, but buried in the fine print is:

"For iPhone only: In order to lease an iPhone, you must select an eligible carrier (but you cannot use a prepaid carrier plan). A leased iPhone is always unlocked, so you can switch carriers at any time, subject to your carrier’s terms."

So it... is unlocked? I am also on US Mobile and don't want to leave it

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#158

Post by anonymousiam » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:09 PM UTC

nerdjon wrote: post #23

The math for the new program is kinda perplexing, my guess is that they are hoping that most people just will send in the device and upgrade. If I am reading the FAQ here properly: https://www.apple.com/shop/apple-upgrade . > If you decide to buy the device, the purchase option fee is the list price minus any lease payments you’ve made minus any remaining discounts or trade-in credit. (excluding tax and any damage fe…

Aside from the financial analysis, there is also the fact that this strategy from Apple will prevent customer churn to alternative phones.

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#159

Post by Zambyte » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:09 PM UTC

PunchyHamster wrote: post #133

tw600040 wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Someone who won't have that $433 has no business even thinking about a 1200$ phone in the first place

wait till you see what people do with car payments

Selling my car that I fully owned in favor of a nice bicycle and an e-scooter was one of my best financial decisions in the last few years.

I don't have to deal with insurance, parking (if parking is free by you, it shouldn't be), maintenance (I work on them myself, I just pay for cheap parts), and fuel is effectively free. That's all on top of the car payment for people who haven't paid off their car.

Re: The iPhone Upgrade Program is being replaced by Apple Upgrade

#160

Post by fishingisfun » Tue, Jul 28, 2026, 9:11 PM UTC

anonymousiam wrote: post #158

nerdjon wrote: post #23

The math for the new program is kinda perplexing, my guess is that they are hoping that most people just will send in the device and upgrade. If I am reading the FAQ here properly: https://www.apple.com/shop/apple-upgrade . > If you decide to buy the device, the purchase option fee is the list price minus any lease payments you’ve made minus any remaining discounts or trade-in credit. (excluding tax and any damage fe…

Aside from the financial analysis, there is also the fact that this strategy from Apple will prevent customer churn to alternative phones.

that doesnt happen lol