While claims of a $1,399 starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro may be exaggerated, there’s no doubt at all that we are going to see steep price increases for this year’s lineup.

Apple has already prepared the ground for the resulting sticker shock with the new Apple Upgrade program, and now T-Mobile is responding with the launch of a new 3-year payment plan …

Back in June, Apple responded to dramatically increased memory costs by introducing significant price increases across most of its product range. Existing iPhones were not included, but it’s a certainty that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will cost more than last year’s predecessors.

The Apple Upgrade leasing program reduces the monthly cost of getting your hands on a wide range of products, including iPhones. However, the big catch is that you will not own the product at the end of the payment term. Many customers may end up being trapped in a never-ending cycle of Apple Upgrade leases.

T-Mobile is tomorrow launching a new payment plan allowing customers to pay off both the cost of the iPhone and all associated costs over three years rather than two. Dubbed EIP Flex 36, the company says it’s launching with 0% interest and zero upfront costs.

EIP Flex 36 – the only financing option in wireless that lets new and existing customers finance the device, taxes, and fees at checkout over 36 months – removing one of the biggest financial hurdles to getting a new phone. Unlike traditional $0 down offers that still require upfront costs, EIP Flex 36 helps lower upfront costs for everyone and eliminates them entirely for well-qualified customers — meaning they can walk away with a new phone and pay NOTHING upfront, a $0 out-of-pocket option with, for a limited time, 0% APR.

It’s worth highlighting the two riders there: both zero upfront costs and 0% interest only apply to customers with good credit ratings. The small print notes that some customers may pay as much as 24% APR. But if you qualify and are planning to keep your next iPhone for three years or more, it may prove an attractive deal.

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