Apple Offering Pre-Approvals to iPhone Upgrade Program Customers Ahead of iPhone 8

by

Apple has emailed customers enrolled in its iPhone Upgrade Program with instructions on how to get a head start on the iPhone 8 pre-order process.

iphone upgrade program iphone 8
Apple advises customers to open the Apple Store app on their current iPhone, choose their preferred iPhone 8 or iPhone 8 Plus model, and get pre-approved for an iPhone Upgrade Program loan. The window to get pre-approved ends tomorrow, Thursday, September 14, at 4:00 p.m. Pacific Time.

Pre-approved customers can then return to the Apple Store app when iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus pre-orders begin on Friday, September 15 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time to complete the process.

This year, it appears that iPhone Upgrade Program members will be able to use a Trade-in Kit with a prepaid shipping label to return their old iPhone to Apple, rather than being forced to visit an Apple Store to complete the upgrade process. The mail-in option should make this year's launch a less frustrating experience.

While the iPhone X is Apple's new flagship smartphone, iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus shipping estimates could become lengthy soon after pre-orders begin, so getting pre-approved is highly recommended.

Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program lets customers upgrade to a new iPhone after they have made at least 12 payments towards their current iPhone and trade it in upon upgrading. The full cost of the iPhone and included AppleCare+ coverage is spread out over 24 months with zero percent interest.

Here's the monthly cost breakdown for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X in the United States. The program is also available in the UK.

iphone upgrade program x 8 8 plus
At this time, the pre-approval process doesn't appear to apply to the iPhone X, which can't be ordered until Friday, October 27.

(Thanks, Timothy!)

Tag: iPhone Upgrade Program
Related Forum: iPhone

Popular Stories

iOS 26

iOS 26.4 and iOS 27 Features Revealed in New Leak

Friday December 12, 2025 10:56 am PST by
Macworld's Filipe Espósito today revealed a handful of features that Apple is allegedly planning for iOS 26.4, iOS 27, and even iOS 28. The report said the features are referenced within the code for a leaked internal build of iOS 26 that is not meant to be seen by the public. However, it appears that Espósito and/or his sources managed to gain access to it, providing us with a sneak peek...
Read Full Article • 89 comments
Apple Foldable Thumb

Leak Reveals Foldable iPhone Details

Monday December 15, 2025 9:09 am PST by
The first foldable iPhone will feature a series of design and hardware firsts for Apple, according to details shared by the Weibo leaker known as Digital Chat Station. According to a new post, via machine translation, Apple is developing what the leaker describes as a "wide foldable" device, a term used to refer to a horizontally oriented, book-style foldable with a large internal display....
Read Full Article • 139 comments
apple beta 26 lineup

Apple Leak Confirms Work on Foldable iPhone, AirTag 2, and Dozens More Devices

Monday December 15, 2025 2:05 pm PST by
Last week, details about unreleased Apple devices and future iOS features were shared by Macworld. This week, we learned where the information came from, plus we have more findings from the leak. As it turns out, an Apple prototype device running an early build of iOS 26 was sold, and the person who bought it shared the software. The OS has a version number of 23A5234w, and the first...
Read Full Article • 54 comments
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.2 With Alarms for Reminders, Lock Screen Changes, Enhanced Safety Alerts and More

Friday December 12, 2025 10:10 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.2, the second major update to the iOS 26 operating system that came out in September, iOS 26.2 comes a little over a month after iOS 26.1 launched. ‌iOS 26‌.2 is compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 series and later, as well as the second-generation ‌iPhone‌ SE. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones over-the-air by going to Settings >...
Read Full Article • 111 comments
iOS 26

iOS 26.2 Coming Soon With These 8 New Features on Your iPhone

Thursday December 11, 2025 8:49 am PST by
Apple seeded the second iOS 26.2 Release Candidate to developers earlier this week, meaning the update will be released to the general public very soon. Apple confirmed iOS 26.2 would be released in December, but it did not provide a specific date. We expect the update to be released by early next week. iOS 26.2 includes a handful of new features and changes on the iPhone, such as a new...
Read Full Article • 82 comments
Apple Logo Top Half

Early iOS 26 Software Leak Uncovers Dozens of Upcoming Apple Features

Monday December 15, 2025 3:05 pm PST by
Software from an iPhone prototype running an early build of iOS 26 leaked last week, giving us a glimpse at future Apple devices and iOS features. We recapped device codenames in our prior article, and now we have a list of some of the most notable feature flags that were found in the software code. In some cases, it's obvious what the feature flags are referring to, while some are more...
Read Full Article • 18 comments
macOS Tahoe 26 Thumb

Apple Releases macOS Tahoe 26.2 With Edge Light

Friday December 12, 2025 10:08 am PST by
Apple today released macOS Tahoe 26.2, the second major update to the macOS Tahoe operating system that came out in September. macOS Tahoe 26.2 comes five weeks after Apple released macOS Tahoe 26.1. Mac users can download the macOS Tahoe update by using the Software Update section of System Settings. macOS Tahoe 26.2 includes Edge Light, a feature that illuminates your face with soft...
Read Full Article • 98 comments
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3

Thursday December 11, 2025 11:28 am PST by
Apple today released new firmware designed for the AirPods Pro 3 and the prior-generation AirPods Pro 2. The AirPods Pro 3 firmware is 8B30, up from 8B25, while the AirPods Pro 2 firmware is 8B28, up from 8B21. There's no word on what's include in the updated firmware, but the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 are getting expanded support for Live Translation in the European Union in iOS...
Read Full Article • 68 comments

Top Rated Comments

Bryan Bowler Avatar
Bryan Bowler
108 months ago
Even though I love tech, at the price these devices now cost, I’ve now decided to just upgrade every 2-3 years. I have the money, but just can’t justify the cost.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
78Bandit Avatar
78Bandit
108 months ago
If your credit score is so marginal that a credit check is going to be the tipping point that makes you pay a higher interest rate or be denied a loan then you probably don't need to be financing a phone. Buy something decent for $250 outright that will last a couple of years and put the extra money toward paying down the other balances that would be ultimately causing your credit problems.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GREEN4U Avatar
GREEN4U
108 months ago
Ridiculous pricing. I long miss the days of subsidized iPhones. I'm still using my iPhone 5 which I paid $200 for. It has a cracked screen now and not the best battery, but in retrospect, it was the steal of a lifetime.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
b3ats Avatar
b3ats
108 months ago
What gets me is that in the UK, the 64GB iPhone X is £56.45 compared to $49.91 in the USA. I've said it before and I'll say it again - Apple are definitely ripping Brits off!
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheShadowKnows! Avatar
TheShadowKnows!
108 months ago
I cannot fathom why do people fall into Apple's creative-financing rabbit hole.

Maybe I do not understand.

But this is what I have distilled (maybe possibly wrong):

1. The device is financed across 24 monthly payments without interest as a hard loan.
2. The loan is loaded with AppleCare+ and taxes, even though AppleCare+ is neither discounted (B&H) nor fully executed (see No. 5 below).
3. After twelve months (50% of loan) one can opt-in for a new hard loan.
4. But that requires turning-in as trade-in the fully-functioning device.
5. However, the market value of this unit is probably closer to 85% of its original cost (with AppleCare+ remaining for 12 months).
6. The AppleCare+ expense, which still has 12 months before expiration, gets washed-out.
7. The new loan will force another hard entry on your credit report, diminishing your credit score.
8. And, most insulting, if you decide to pay-off early the loan, Apple will pay back your used iPhone with an Apple Gift Card, for a fraction of its value.
9. Of course, you are responsible for the outstanding difference in cold cash.

A great deal for Apple and the financing company; lousy to every one else.

Did I get this right?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
a.gomez Avatar
a.gomez
108 months ago
I really cant believe the 8 has those bezels heading into 2018. If not doing the X, at a minimum give it something like the old Xperia XA. iPhone bezels are ancient.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments