I save up and buy one in cash. No contracts for me and no debts thank you!

It's called a loan. They take out a loan to buy an Apple phone.

But it's also the best loan ever.

In the U.S., financing through Apple is 0% and gets you free AppleCare for the life of the loan.

Put the cash you would have spent on AppleCare and the phone in the bank, and buying an iPhone actually makes you money.

What Apple program gives you free AppleCare+? I’m part of the iPhone Upgrade Program, and I have to pay for both the phone and AppleCare+.

Check your documents. Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program includes AppleCare+.

- Get a new iPhone every year

- AppleCare+ coverage included

- Low payments from $37.41/month

- Works with your carrier

https://www.apple.com/shop/iphone/iphone-upgrade-program

Look under "Low monthly payments."

> The full cost of your iPhone and selected AppleCare+ coverage is spread out over 24 months with 0% interest.

Free AppleCare would be awesome, but in the case of the iPhone Upgrade Program, it’s rolled into the monthly payments.

"buying an iPhone actually makes you money"

:-)

It's a loan with no interest (meaning you actually keep the interest). It's a better deal than buying one cash since you can invest the money you are not using.

AFAICT, the most common installment plan is carrier-based and usually not a loan, the payments total up to the same as buying it outright at the beginning.