Best Buy's 'Upgrade+' Program Lets Customers Get a New Mac Laptop Every Three Years With Monthly Financing

Best Buy today announced a new financing and upgrade program called "Upgrade+." The program involves a combination of interest-free financing through Citizens Pay and an option to upgrade to a new Mac laptop after three years.

best buy mac upgrade program
As an example, Best Buy cites a base M1 MacBook Air priced at $999.99. Through the Upgrade+ program, a customer can pay $19.99 per month for 36 months toward the machine. At the end of 36 months, the user has the option to make the remaining $280.35 payment and keep the machine, return the machine and leave the program, or upgrade to a new Mac laptop. If they return the machine, either to leave the program or upgrade to a new Mac, no final payment is required.

Examples of base Mac laptop configurations with Upgrade+ pricing terms:

  • ‌M1‌ ‌MacBook Air‌ ($999.99): $19.99/month with final payment of $280.35
  • M2 ‌MacBook Air‌ ($1,199.00): $25.98/month with final payment of $263.78
  • ‌M2‌ 13-inch MacBook Pro ($1,299.00): $28.15/month with final payment of $285.78
  • M1 Pro 14-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ ($1,999.00): $43.32/month with final payment of $439.78
  • ‌M1 Pro‌ 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌ ($2,499.00): $54.15/month with final payment of $549.78

AppleCare+ and select Apple accessories can also be folded into the program and financed over the 36-month term. Members of the Best Buy Totaltech program (priced at $199.99 per year) will also receive their normal membership benefit of ‌AppleCare‌+ at no cost for up to 24 months while participating in the Upgrade+ program.

best buy upgrade
Best Buy notes that Best Buy Totaltech member pricing and other promotional discounts may not be used with the Upgrade+ program, but it may still be a reasonable option for customers who prefer a small monthly payment to spread out the cost of the machine over three years rather than having to pay for it entirely up front.

Customers may also be able to obtain more money for their used Mac after the three-year period by selling it through other channels rather than accepting the forgiven final payment from Best Buy, but customers who wish to do that could simply make that final payment and then sell the machine on their own.

Best Buy says the Upgrade+ program will also help to reduce e-waste, as Mac laptops returned at the end of the program will find their way to Best Buy's other programs for giving used machines second lives.

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Top Rated Comments

steve217 Avatar
35 months ago
The road to the poorhouse is paved with easy payment plans.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TheYayAreaLiving ?️ Avatar
35 months ago

Ah yes, encouraging students to get into debt early. What student needs to upgrade a laptop after 3 years?

Sometimes, Macrumors, I think you guys post this stuff to wind us up.
It's a good option to have for students to get through college tho. Many don't have the funds right away to pay off the new Mac. Especially the fact, Apple will be raising the prices for the new upcoming Mac's in the future.
Score: 20 Votes (Like | Disagree)
cocky jeremy Avatar
35 months ago
Options are good. I don't see why anyone is mad about this. They aren't making this the only way to buy MacBooks or anything.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TwistedGleam Avatar
35 months ago

Ah yes, encouraging students to get into debt early. What student needs to upgrade a laptop after 3 years?

Sometimes, Macrumors, I think you guys post this stuff to wind us up.

Sounds like a good way to never get out of debt... maybe buy what you can afford and move on.

The road to the poorhouse is paved with easy payment plans.
The forgiven final payment for trade-in is a ripoff, but interest-free financing is a perfectly fine option, even for people who have the cash. especially if you consider the time value of money. A $30 monthly payment today is worth more than your 36th monthly payment of $30.
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProfessionalFan Avatar
35 months ago

I hope that Macrumors would venture into responsible journalism and add a note on whether this is a good deal or not
That would be called an editorial, which is not what this is. When presenting news, you're supposed to leave your own opinions out of it.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Cole82 Avatar
35 months ago
Sounds like a good way to never get out of debt... maybe buy what you can afford and move on.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)