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Financing with Apple Card a new iPhone with “connect to any carrier later” option not available

Hi,

I got the Apple Card to be able to buy Apple products and finance them in 12-24 months without interest. Also, the only point to buy directly from Apple is not being locked into any carrier, I love my freedom. I was going to preorder the new IPhone 16 and, to my surprise, there is no option to use the Apple Card for financing the purchase while selecting “Connect to any carrier later”. If you finance it, you are forced to preselect one of the big four (Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile or Boost). I don’t want to be locked into any of these carriers, I want to use other carrier like Mint Mobile. How can order a phone, use my Apple Card to finance the purchase while choosing “connect to any carrier later”? Thanks

Posted on Sep 10, 2024 10:10 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Sep 10, 2024 10:23 AM

Purchase the iPhone outright using your Apple Card and then call an Apple Card Specialist at Goldman Sachs Bank and have the purchase converted to a 24 month interest free installment plan (Apple Card Monthly Installments or ACMI). You can then activate on any network that supports iPhone.

8 replies

Sep 13, 2024 2:40 PM in response to ovenheat

Apparently, but I wouldn't put any stock into any of these 'hacks' to get it done. You essentially need to convince someone at Goldman Sachs to switch your outright purchase to installments, and if you poke around the Internet for the same iPhone 15 situation, that's not a 100% reliable gambit.


The main draw of the card was buying and financing Apple product with literally two button presses. I'm not interested in being on hold with GS like a caveman and begging for what I want. Not a smart move by Apple. The card parlayed itself into my everyday payment method but yesterday that changed to a different card. Apple Card will remain dormant and unused from now on.


I'm with an alternate carrier that will have the phone on release day and finance the same way as Apple.


Another alternate plan might be to get a new card someplace else with an introductory 0% APR offer.


I also have a card that often has balance transfer deals. There is sometimes a cost associated but if you can sell your current iPhone for more than that fee, you'll make out. Selling your iPhone independently will pretty much always get you more than Apple trade-in. In my experience Swappa usually gets you the best resale value, especially on older phones.

Sep 13, 2024 3:02 PM in response to mattyj2001

So, hundreds on Facebook, Reddit, and Instagram have not had issues calling and simply asking GS to convert purchase to an ACMI. If it doesn’t work for you or you find it inconvenient, move on. The item has 14 days to be returned. But it’s a solution for many.


You offer good solutions too. No reason to be so negative about a solution that will work for many Apple Card holders.

Financing with Apple Card a new iPhone with “connect to any carrier later” option not available

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