Are you an iPhone fan who always wants to have the newest model as soon as it comes out? If you‘re a T-Mobile customer, you‘re in luck. The Un-carrier‘s Forever Upgrade program allows you to get a new iPhone every two years at a significant discount. But how exactly does it work, what are the requirements, and is it the right choice for you? Let‘s take an in-depth look at everything you need to know about T-Mobile‘s iPhone Forever Upgrade.
What Is T-Mobile‘s Forever Upgrade Program?
Forever Upgrade is T-Mobile‘s iPhone upgrade program that launched in April 2021. It allows customers to get up to $800 off the newest iPhone model every two years by trading in their current eligible device. The discount comes in the form of monthly bill credits spread out over 24 months.
Here are the key features of Forever Upgrade at a glance:
- Get a new iPhone every 2 years
- Up to $800 off in trade-in value for your current iPhone
- Monthly bill credits for 24 months
- Must have an eligible Magenta MAX plan
- Max of 4 lines per account can enroll
- Can‘t be combined with some other offers and promotions
The biggest appeal of Forever Upgrade is that you‘re essentially getting the newest iPhone at a steep discount as long as you trade in your old one and stay with T-Mobile. It takes a lot of the sting out of the ever-increasing prices of flagship phones. And since new iPhones come out every year, this ensures you can always upgrade to the latest and greatest model every other year.
According to a recent study by Consumer Intelligence Research Partners (CIRP), the average selling price of iPhones has risen steadily over the past several years. In 2021, it reached $873, up from $783 in 2020 and $688 in 2016. With high-end models like the iPhone 13 Pro Max starting at $1099, it‘s become increasingly expensive to buy the newest iPhone outright every year or two.
| iPhone Model | Starting Price |
|---|---|
| iPhone 13 Pro Max | $1099 |
| iPhone 13 Pro | $999 |
| iPhone 13 | $799 |
| iPhone 13 mini | $699 |
| iPhone 12 | $699 |
| iPhone 12 mini | $599 |
| iPhone 11 | $499 |
| iPhone SE (2022) | $429 |
With Forever Upgrade, you could get an $1199 iPhone 14 Pro Max essentially for $399 ($1199 – $800 trade-in credit) plus 24 monthly payments of around $16. For comparison, trading in a two-year old iPhone 12 Pro Max to Apple directly would only net you about $400-$500 currently.
Avi Greengart, President and Lead Analyst at Techsponential, sees the appeal of a program like Forever Upgrade. "Flagship phone prices continue to rise, and US consumers tend to be very brand loyal, particularly with iPhones," he says. "An offer like T-Mobile‘s Forever Upgrade that lets you get a new iPhone at a steep discount every two years could be very compelling for a lot of people, as long as they understand the commitment they‘re making."
Forever Upgrade vs. The iPhone Upgrade Program: What‘s the Difference?
You may be wondering how T-Mobile‘s Forever Upgrade compares to Apple‘s own iPhone Upgrade Program. While they share a similar premise of allowing you to get a new iPhone on a regular basis, there are a few key differences between the two.
The iPhone Upgrade Program lets you get a new iPhone every year by trading in your current one after making 12 payments. You‘re essentially spreading out the full cost of the phone over 24 months, but can upgrade after a year by trading it in and starting the process over. It also includes AppleCare+ coverage.
T-Mobile‘s Forever Upgrade, on the other hand, allows upgrades every two years instead of annually. But the key difference is that T-Mobile gives you up to $800 in trade-in credit, effectively subsidizing a big chunk of the cost of the new iPhone. With Apple‘s program, you‘re still responsible for the full price of the device.
| Program | Upgrade Frequency | Trade-In Credit | Includes AppleCare+ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forever Upgrade | Every 2 years | Up to $800 | No |
| iPhone Upgrade Program | Every year | N/A (full price) | Yes |
So while Apple‘s program provides more frequent upgrades, T-Mobile‘s will likely save you more money in the long run, as long as you‘re willing to wait the extra year for each upgrade. The inclusion of AppleCare+ with the iPhone Upgrade Program is nice, but T-Mobile does offer its own device protection plans that you can add separately.
How to Qualify for T-Mobile‘s Forever Upgrade
Of course, there are some requirements you need to meet to take advantage of Forever Upgrade. The biggest one is that you need to be on T-Mobile‘s Magenta MAX plan, which is their most expensive unlimited offering. Regular Magenta and Essentials plan customers are not eligible.
You also need to have an eligible iPhone to trade in. Generally, this needs to be one of the two most recent models in good condition. At the time of this writing, that means an iPhone 12 or 13 model. Older devices like the iPhone 11 or SE likely won‘t qualify for the full $800 trade-in credit.
Another thing to keep in mind is that a maximum of four lines per account can enroll in Forever Upgrade at one time. If you have more than four lines on your plan, only the four most expensive ones with eligible iPhones can get the deal.
Finally, you won‘t be able to combine Forever Upgrade with some other device offers and promotions. This includes things like free line promos and discounted device promos. In most cases, you‘ll have to choose between Forever Upgrade and any other deals being offered at the time.
Is Forever Upgrade Worth It?
So now that we‘ve laid out all the details, the big question is whether Forever Upgrade is actually a good deal. As with most things in life, the answer is: it depends.
If you‘re someone who always wants the newest iPhone and is happy with T-Mobile‘s service, then Forever Upgrade is a fantastic option that will save you hundreds compared to buying new every two years. Getting $800 off a $1000+ phone is a pretty great discount, especially if you plan to stick with the iPhone indefinitely.
However, you need to look closely at the restrictions. Having to be on Magenta MAX means you‘ll be paying a premium for your plan compared to other T-Mobile offerings or cheaper carriers. You‘ll have to crunch the numbers to see if the savings on the phone are worth the extra you‘re paying for service every month. If you‘re happy with a cheaper plan, it might make more sense to just buy your iPhone outright and sell/trade it in every couple years.
Here‘s an estimated comparison of the costs over 6 years (3 upgrades) with Forever Upgrade vs. buying a new phone outright every 2 years:
| Upgrade Method | Phone Cost (After Trade-In) | Service Cost (Magenta MAX) | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forever Upgrade | $399 x 3 = $1197 | $85/month x 72 months = $6120 | $7317 |
| Buy New Every 2 Years | $1099 x 3 = $3297 | $60/month x 72 months = $4320 (cheaper plan) | $7617 |
Obviously these numbers can vary quite a bit depending on the exact models you‘re upgrading to, your trade-in values, and what plan you have. But it illustrates how Forever Upgrade can lead to some solid savings over time, even with the higher monthly service costs.
You also need to think hard about whether you really need to upgrade every two years. While it‘s nice to always have the latest tech, iPhones tend to be supported for a long time and the improvements each year are often incremental. If you‘re the type who likes to hold onto a phone for 3-4 years, then Forever Upgrade probably isn‘t the best fit.
"Consumers need to think carefully about their usage habits and how much they value having the latest phone," says Greengart. "If you‘re the type who is happy to hold onto a device for several years, then a program like Forever Upgrade might not make sense. But if you know you‘re going to want the new iPhone every year or two anyway, then it could save you a fair amount in the long run."
How to Get Started with Forever Upgrade
If you‘ve decided that Forever Upgrade is right for you, then getting started is relatively simple. The first step is making sure you‘re on the Magenta MAX plan. If you‘re already on it, great! If not, you‘ll need to switch, which may incur some additional fees.
Once your plan is squared away, you‘ll need to trade in your current eligible iPhone. You can do this by ordering a new iPhone through T-Mobile‘s website or by visiting a store. If you‘re ordering online, you‘ll get a trade-in kit to send your old phone back. In a store, they‘ll handle the trade-in right then and there.
After that, simply follow the prompts to complete your order and boom, you‘ll have your shiny new iPhone and be enrolled in Forever Upgrade to do it all again in two years. Just keep in mind that you‘ll need to pay any applicable sales tax on the full value of the new iPhone up front, and the trade-in credit will be spread out over 24 bill cycles.
Forever Upgrade FAQs
We‘ve covered a lot, but you may still have some lingering questions about how Forever Upgrade works. Here are answers to some of the most common ones:
Q: What happens if I cancel service or leave T-Mobile?
A: If you cancel, you‘ll lose any remaining bill credits and will be responsible for paying off the remaining balance on your iPhone at the full price.
Q: Can I pay extra to upgrade early?
A: No, upgrades are only available at the end of the 24-month period. However, you can pay off your iPhone early and wait until you‘re upgrade-eligible to trade it in.
Q: Is AppleCare+ included?
A: No, Forever Upgrade doesn‘t come with AppleCare+, but you can add T-Mobile‘s Protection plan for an additional fee.
Q: What if I don‘t have T-Mobile service but I still want to take advantage of Forever Upgrade?
A: Unfortunately, Forever Upgrade is only available to current T-Mobile customers on Magenta MAX plans. If you‘re with another carrier, you‘ll need to switch and meet the other eligibility requirements.
Q: Can I trade in a phone from another carrier or manufacturer?
A: No, to get the Forever Upgrade deal you need to trade in an eligible iPhone. Other devices won‘t qualify.
Q: What if I have multiple lines on my account?
A: You can enroll up to four lines in Forever Upgrade. If you have additional lines, you‘ll need to pick which ones to enroll.
The Bottom Line on T-Mobile‘s Forever Upgrade
Overall, T-Mobile‘s Forever Upgrade program is a compelling option for iPhone lovers who are committed to the Un-carrier. The ability to get the newest iPhone every two years at such a steep discount is a great perk, especially in light of how expensive phones have gotten.
However, it‘s not for everybody. You need to be ok with the restrictions, namely being locked into the pricey Magenta MAX plan. And if you‘re more frugal-minded, upgrading phones every two years might not be the most cost-effective approach in the first place.
But if you‘re a loyal T-Mobile customer who always needs to have the latest and greatest iPhone, Forever Upgrade is tough to beat. Just be sure to mark that two-year upgrade date in your calendar.
From T-Mobile‘s perspective, Forever Upgrade makes a lot of sense. It encourages loyalty by incentivizing customers to stay with the carrier long-term. It also props up revenue by pushing people towards the more expensive Magenta MAX plan. "Forever Upgrade is a clever way for T-Mobile to keep high-value customers from fleeing to competitors," says Greengart. "By offering such an aggressive trade-in deal, they‘re making it hard for iPhone users to leave."
The program also aligns well with T-Mobile‘s overall "Un-carrier" branding and strategy. Forever Upgrade is yet another way the company is trying to differentiate itself from rivals Verizon and AT&T by offering creative incentives. "T-Mobile has had a lot of success over the past decade by zagging when others are zigging," notes Greengart. "Forever Upgrade fits right into that mold."
It will be interesting to see if other carriers follow suit with similar offers, or if Apple feels pressured to make its own iPhone Upgrade Program more enticing. But one thing is for sure: as long as phones keep getting more expensive, innovative financing and trade-in models like Forever Upgrade are likely to find an audience. For now, it‘s certainly an option worth considering for any T-Mobile customer who considers themselves an iPhone loyalist.
