TLDR: Considering Apple Care? Even without Upgrading, Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program is the Best Deal, saving $50 vs. buying an iPhone 11 outright and adding Apple Care separately.
As iPhone sales leveled out, Apple, looking for new ways to encourage adoption of their latest phones, began offering an alternative to carrier subsidies for their iPhone line. The iPhone upgrade plan breaks up the cost of a new iPhone and Apple Care+ over 24 months. As an added bonus, after completing 12 monthly payments, you can trade in that iPhone for any new model at no additional cost. Well almost. Your new phone may have a different monthly fee depending on which model you choose, and you do have to pay sales tax in advanced as if you bought the phone for one lump sum (this is typical for any upgrade plan of this type). Essentially it’s a 0% interest lease for your phone. If you keep the phone for 24 months, the loan is paid in full and the phone is yours to keep. Is this a good deal for you? Let’s look at the numbers.
Surprisingly, buying the iPhone 11 outright for $699 and adding Apple Care for $199 brings you to $898 in the US. Over 24 months the iPhone 11 will cost $847.92 on Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program. Since the iPhone Upgrade Program comes with Apple Care+, you save $50.08 before tax. Apple allows you to pay off the phone at any time, so even if you prefer a lump sum, if you don’t mind the credit check, signing up for the upgrade program may be the best way to buy an iPhone. If you plan on getting Apple Care+ anyway, this is actually the best deal.
Of course Apple Care isn’t for everyone. If you just want the phone, your credit card provides insurance, or you’re one of those lucky people who never seems to smash a phone. Apple’s phones are becoming sturdier every year, a focus of this year’s ad spots for both models. Here we find another mathematical oddity: paying monthly for your iPhone 11 actually comes out cheaper than buying it outright: $698.88. Twelve whole cents cheaper, to be exact! Don’t spend it all in one place.
There is one frustrating catch to the iPhone upgrade program. Signing up requires a post-paid plan on one of the 4 major carriers. As yet I cannot find a satisfactory explanation for this. The loan is between you and Apple’s partner Citizens One and requires a soft credit check, so why it must be tied to T-Mobile, Sprint, AT&T or Verizon, is unclear. If you have Apple Card you can still finance a phone over 24 months, even unlocked, but that’s your only option through Apple.
Please Just Work is a project I’ve been developing off and on over the past couple years. There’s still a lot to do, but with all the people buying or gifting tech this holiday, this is an ideal time to put all my advice in one place for those who would like it.
Best Phone for Most People
iPhone XR
With nearly all the features of the $1000+ Xs and Xs Max, and the Goldie Locks 6.1″ screen size the iPhone XR seems like the perfect phone for anyone looking to upgrade to the latest iPhone line without spending too much. If money is no object, and/or you want the biggest screen on an iPhone, the extra features the more expensive models have a few features that may be worth it for some. Read more in my full guide coming soon. The one exception is if you can still get an iPhone X and it’s the same or cheaper, I think that is a better buy. Apple is no longer making them though so at some point stock will run out. Personally, I find the most appealing thing about the XR are the color options. If color doesn’t matter to you, rather than the black or white, I’d recommend the product red model. Apple donates 30% of the purchase price to help fight AIDS in Africa. It’s a kind thing you can do this holiday and it doesn’t cost you anything extra.
Best Wifi Router
Eero
The most important thing when buying a new router is to get one with automatic updates from a company with a good track record. It’s also nice to be able to expand your network to reach those areas of your house that never seem to have strong WiFi. I’ve been recommending Eeros for over a year now, and everyone who’s taken me up on it loves it. The app gives plenty of functionality for those who want to fool around with settings and features, but it also works reliable behind the scenes for those who want to set it and forget it. Since updates are automatically installed in the background you can rest easy knowing your network is secure for years to come. Just make sure your neighbors can’t guess your password.
Best Tablet for Most People
iPad 9.7″
If you’re an artist or photographer with money to burn, an iPad Pro is your best bet. Either the newest, or last year’s model. However for everyone else, the $329 standard iPad will be all the tablet you need. With holiday deals bringing it as low as $249, this well built workhorse is nearly an impulse buy. Even if you have an android phone, the sheer number of tablet optimized apps in the Apple App Store, combined with Apple’s willing to support hardware for up to 5 years with software and security updates, there really isn’t any other tablet that comes close.
