Why is Apple ending unlocked iPhone apple Card financing on August 15th? This was a big perk for signing up for the Apple Card. I usually finance my phone through a carrier anyways, but what happens if my phone is lost or stolen and I don't have the financial means to up front buy a new one? Please consider keeping the option to finace an unlocked iphone through the Apple Card for customer satisfaction.
pkmk1996 wrote:
Why is Apple ending unlocked iPhone apple Card financing on August 15th? This was a big perk for signing up for the Apple Card. I usually finance my phone through a carrier anyways, but what happens if my phone is lost or stolen and I don't have the financial means to up front buy a new one? Please consider keeping the option to finace an unlocked iphone through the Apple Card for customer satisfaction.
The option to finance an iPhone with the Apple Card did not go anywhere.
You can still finance an iPhone using Apple Card Monthly Installments.
You are required to choose a carrier (Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile) during purchase and provide an active phone line with them. (does not need to be yours specifically)
Once you get the iPhone, you can bypass the setup with the chosen carrier and use an eSim from any carrier. T-Mobile seems to be the easiest one to do this with as explained by Jeff Donald in previous replies in this very thread. Just tap on the continue button 3 times when setting up the iPhone and it will let you complete setup and add your own plan without requiring the plan with the selected carrier.
pkmk1996 wrote:
Why is Apple ending unlocked iPhone apple Card financing on August 15th? This was a big perk for signing up for the Apple Card. I usually finance my phone through a carrier anyways, but what happens if my phone is lost or stolen and I don't have the financial means to up front buy a new one? Please consider keeping the option to finace an unlocked iphone through the Apple Card for customer satisfaction.
The option to finance an iPhone with the Apple Card did not go anywhere.
You can still finance an iPhone using Apple Card Monthly Installments.
You are required to choose a carrier (Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile) during purchase and provide an active phone line with them. (does not need to be yours specifically)
Once you get the iPhone, you can bypass the setup with the chosen carrier and use an eSim from any carrier. T-Mobile seems to be the easiest one to do this with as explained by Jeff Donald in previous replies in this very thread. Just tap on the continue button 3 times when setting up the iPhone and it will let you complete setup and add your own plan without requiring the plan with the selected carrier.
To the original poster, from what I found affirm may actually have 12 months 0% interest at checkout. That is what I will be trying.
As for the suggestion of still using the Apple Card to earn 3% cash back. 3% is nothing when you consider the 20%+ APR that will accrue on the card if you carry a balance. A smart way to carry a balance is on credit cards with a 0% APR which is why I got the Apple Card to begin with.
The reason for the perk removal is more likely because people like myself were buying unlocked devices to use with MVNO carriers like Mint Mobile. With Mint Mobile my bill will be $90 for the entirety of my 12 month period next year with unlimited talk, text & 5G data.
If this were a financial decision then it would have been removed from all options. This was more likely a tactic to force the consumer to use one of the big 3 wireless carriers.
photonut63 wrote:
I missed this change and just found out in store. Was going to update phone. No thank you Apple. I can spend in Apple Store and get free Apple Card financing on most all other Apple products but, only on iPhone if you use select carrier?? I call BS. That is ridiculous. We use those carriers also when you are consumer cellular or some of the other 3rd parties. I will stop using that card at all unless they change that if that’s the case. One of their biggest selling points for Apple Card was that option on EVERYTHING Apple. Forcing people to select primary carriers when all of them resale and people are still on them.
Clearly you did not read the thread. Please go back and read the read to understand how the AppleCard monthly Installments works and that you can use any carrier you wish.
Here it is again for your infoemation:
Jeff Donald wrote:
You do have to pick a provider among AT&T, t-mobile and Verizon), or purchase an unlocked iPhone. Picking a provider does not require an account or activation and the device will not be locked. If you go this route I recommend purchasing t-mobile. When you start the process you’ll see an activation screen. Your choices are to activate or later. Press later. This process will repeat 2 more times. Each time press later. After 3 attempts the system bypasses the activation screen and you can have the device activated on the network of your choice as long as they support eSIM.
Another option is to purchase the iPhone unlocked and upon getting home call an Apple Card Specialist at Goldman Sachs Bank and request the device be added to an ACMI.
Blaaaahhh wrote:
Can you elaborate? I think the new eSIM is a little harder to understand. Is it possible to buy a phone and then switch to unlocked?
All iPhones sold by Apple in any payment mechanism are unlocked. No switching necessary. (only exception is if you chose AT&T's own installment plan, then it will be locked to AT&T. Not to be confused with selecting AT&T as a carrier when choosing Apple Card Monthly Installments, they are different things)
Then only thing that changed is requiring an active phone line with one of the 3 major providers to be able to use the Apple Card monthly installment option.
Once you get the iPhone and set it up, you can ignore the selected carrier and use a sim card from any other carrier. This works whether using an eSim or Physical sim.
GS makes no money when a customer only swipes his card once a year. Apple sells hardware either way, so, they’re making money with or without an installment plan.
At the end of the day, do what makes the most sense to for you and your circumstances.
On a side note the Wells Fargo Active Cash Credit Card has 21 months 0% interest and a $200 sign up bonus (SUB) when you spend $500 to the first 3 months. You also earn 2% cash back.
It’s really simple, if you took the time to read any of the solutions offered in this thread and countless others in the community here, Reddit and Facebook groups. The simplest way to do it is buy it unlocked. Nothing is locked, no carrier message or activation will be required. Once the sale is completed, call an Apple Card Specialist within 48 hours and ask the transaction be converted to ACMI (Apple Card Monthly Installments).
CONTACTING — Goldman Sachs Bank
pkmk1996 wrote:
Why is Apple ending unlocked iPhone apple Card financing on August 15th?
They are not "ending it on August 15th". It has already been ended, back on August 15th of 2023.
I do not believe Apple has ever stated why.
This was a big perk for signing up for the Apple Card. I usually finance my phone through a carrier anyways, but what happens if my phone is lost or stolen and I don't have the financial means to up front buy a new one? Please consider keeping the option to finace an unlocked iphone through the Apple Card for customer satisfaction.
Apple doesn't read here in this user-to-user forum for feedback or suggestions. However, workarounds have been provided earlier in this thread.
It’s really simple, if you took the time to read any of the solutions offered in this thread and countless others in the community here, Reddit and Facebook groups. The simplest way to do it is buy it unlocked. Nothing is locked, no carrier message or activation will be required. Once the sale is completed, call an Apple Card Specialist within 48 hours and ask the transaction be converted to ACMI (Apple Card Monthly Installments).
CONTACTING — Goldman Sachs Bank
No contract is required. You’re assuming facts that aren’t in evidence. If you want to do an ACMI (Apple Card Monthly Installment) it’s easy to do. The iPhone is not locked either. The solution is posted in the thread above, or if you’re interested in learning, you can ask questions.
Just an FYI, in the future it’s not a best practice to respond to posts that date back 7+ months. If you’re just here to rant, I get it.
You are probably already aware, but just in case: You can still buy an unlocked iPhone with the Apple Card after August 15 but you will no longer be able to use the Monthly Installments option (i.e., you will pay interest on the unpaid balance if you purchase an unlocked phone after that date).
See: Products you can buy from Apple with Apple Card Monthly Installments - Apple Support
I also would use MVNO networks (Mint and Visible are preferred). With the new limitation on activation with the big 3, do we know if this is strictly post-paid or is pre-paid acceptable? Maybe even starting post-paid if necessary and then switching to prepaid? I don't think this would be a new policy, but curious if we have heard of others making a pre-paid switch under the big 3 financing options with Apple. T-Mobile now has Connect by T-Mobile (seems more directly T-Mobile unlike Metro) and they have very similar pricing compared to Mint (not surprising with the recent Mint acquisition). This could be one alternative to paying the higher big 3 prices while still getting to finance via Apple. Additionally, I know Visible works with Affirm and I had 0% for 36 months on my iPhone 14 Pro - another great option if Verizon coverage works for you AND Visible devices are unlockable after 60 days of service (even when financed w/Affirm).
Apple has nothing to say about it really. The last I read (in the large Apple Card FB group and Reddit), as of about 2 to 3 weeks ago, Goldman Sachs was still allowing people convert standard charges of qualified Apple products to installment plans. You’re welcome to call an Apple Card Supervisor at Goldman Sachs.
CONTACTING — Goldman Sachs Bank
ldc2805 wrote:
Just got the apple card approved for $3k and was about to buy iPhone and iPad until I realized you can only get the free interest benefit if you go ATT TMobile or Verizon. No thank you. Bye $2.6k sale.
Instead of assuming things and accusing Apple, please read the very thread you replied to. It explains how its still possible to get the installment plan without choosing a carrier.
I'm not sure why Apple removed this feature, but I am also disappointed with this perk removal. I do not use any of the big 3 wireless carriers and I feel as if though I am punished for not using AT&T, T-Mobile or Verizon.
I have been looking for alternative options and the best I have found is Affirm, but you can only get 0% interest with a 4 payment split spread across 4 weeks.
If I find a better option, I'll come back to this post and share what I find.
As for the Apple Card, this was my main reason for having it and its value has greatly diminished for me.
The date of the post you’re replying to is literally 6 months old. Things change in retail and the credit card industry and many times overnight. The whole credit card industry is undergoing major changes with reward programs changing, redemption procedures changing and loss of benefits. The fact that an installment plan now requires a few minutes on the phone or a short conversation via chat seems insignificant to the number of Apple Card users that now have benefit of ACMI, when they didn’t before.
In regard to the number of posts. People learned how it works and slightly changed buying patterns. The few that post currently are dredging up old posts and rehashing the same issue, unaware of the opportunities it has opened for so many more cardholders and retailers.
Unlocked iPhone Apple Card Financing
