If you’re in the UK and have been using Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Programme to get the newest iPhone every year, there’s a big change on the way.
Apple has officially confirmed that the iPhone Upgrade Program is coming to an end in the UK, marking what it calls “a new chapter for upgrades.” Which, in classic Apple fashion, sounds dramatic… but also carefully reassuring.
The good news? Current customers don’t need to panic.
What Apple is telling existing customers
Apple says that if you’re already enrolled in the Upgrade Programme, nothing changes immediately.
You simply continue making your remaining payments as usual. When it’s time for your next iPhone, Apple says you’ll be offered a new option through a different financing setup.
So no sudden disruptions, just a quiet phase-out.
The flexible finance account takes over
In place of the old Upgrade Programme, Apple has launched a new financing option in the UK called the “Flexible Finance Account.”
This is being offered through a new partner, Creation, a consumer finance company based in Belfast.
Apple describes it as a line of credit that lets you spread the cost of your next Apple device, available exclusively through the Apple Store.
The Flexible Finance Account includes multiple plans, such as:
- 20-month plan, with upgrade eligibility after 11 payments
- 30-month plan, with upgrade eligibility after 23 payments
In short, Apple still wants upgrading to feel easy, just with slightly different terms.
One major difference: No AppleCare Included
Here’s the part some buyers may actually notice.
Unlike the original iPhone Upgrade Programme, the new Flexible Finance Account does not bundle AppleCare.
That means protection coverage becomes an optional add-on instead of part of the package. For some customers, that could make the new setup feel a bit less “all-in-one,” even if it offers more payment flexibility.
The 404 take
It’s a small change, but it shifts the value equation.
Overall, this looks less like Apple stepping away from yearly upgrades, and more like Apple reshaping the system with a new partner and a more modular approach.
The upgrade path is still there. It just comes with a new name, new structure, and a few fewer perks baked in.
