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iMore Question My 2 year (iPhone 5S) contract with Verizon ends in November this year. I will stay with Verizon cell service but I want to get a new iPhone every year instead of every 2 years. Better deal thru Apple or Verizon? Thanks!
The cost should be exactly the same - Verizon's Device Payment Plan and Apple's Upgrade Program simply split up the cost of the iPhone over 24 months.
The upside of Apple's upgrade program is that you can tack on Apple Care + for $5/month. The downside of Apple's program is that you have to open a line of credit to finance the phone and requires a hard pull on your credit. If you've been a Verizon customer for a while with good payment history, they'll at most do a soft pull of your credit (if any at all) and you won't have to open a line of credit which is much more ideal.
Unless you want Apple Care and want to pay for it monthly rather than all at once, Verizon's plan is the better way to go, IMO.