Apple Unveils 'Trade Up With Installments' Programme for iPhone

Apple is making it cheaper for users to purchase a new iPhone. The Cupertino-based company has announced a new trade-in program to allow users to turn in their old iPhone, Android, or Windows Phone handset and get a new iPhone model for as low as $12.45 (roughly Rs. 850) a month.

Called Trade Up With Installments, the programme allows users to pay less than they currently have to pay when purchasing a new iPhone model in instalments over 24 months. The new iPhone won't be locked to any carrier. Prior to the program, a user in the United States had to pay around $32 (roughly Rs. 2,200) a month for a 16GB iPhone 6S. This covers the AppleCare+ warranty program, but a user was still required to pay for wireless service. With the new plan, a customer could further curtail the monthly instalment fee to $15 (roughly Rs. 1,030) or less. Users, however, wouldn't get AppleCare+ warranty program, which is worth between $99 (roughly Rs. 6,800) to $129 (roughly Rs. 8,800).

Apple says that under the new program, it is accepting older iPhone models and curbing the monthly instalment fee they have to pay. The value of your old iPhone (or Android, Windows Phone handset) is deducted from the total sum of the monthly instalment charge. Depending on the phone you're trading in, and its physical condition, the value Apple estimates on it could vary. Apple says (via Cnet) that users can also trade in their Android smartphones, or handsets powered by Microsoft's mobile operating system and get between $100 (roughly Rs. 6,880) and $300 (roughly Rs. 20,600).

Unlike the iPhone Upgrade programme, the Trade Up With Instalments programme doesn't allow users to trade in their phone every year for the next model - users will have to finish paying all remaining instalments before that can be done. An iPhone 4 could cut your monthly instalment fee to $15 a month while the iPhone 5s could make it to as low as $14.58. The iPhone 6 will set your monthly total to $14.54 per month. The best deal is on an iPhone 6s (16GB), when traded in with a iPhone 6 Plus - $12.45 a month. Apple says that it is also happy to give you an instant credit for your old phone that is valid to be used in an Apple Store. For iPhone 4, you can expect about $100, for an iPhone 4 or iPhone 4s, $200 for an iPhone 5, or iPhone 5s, or iPhone 5c, and $300 for an iPhone 6.

The program is currently valid only in the United States, and via Apple Stores.