Apple Store closures could lead to iPhone Upgrade Program customers in England not getting the iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 12 Pro Max until December
Apple is expected to confirm the month-long closure of its retail stores in England as the country prepares to enter a four-week lockdown beginning Thursday, November 5th.
The closure of stores could mean customers who had intended to order the iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 12 Pro Max on the iPhone Upgrade Program having to wait until December to get their new devices, due to Apple at this time only accepting iPhone Upgrade Program enrollment in-store, and not online like in the US.
Customers who are either new to the iPhone Upgrade Program or wish to trade-in their current device are required to visit an Apple Store to complete their loan agreement in person, which won’t be possible under the UK’s new order for nonessential shops to remain closed until Tuesday, December 2nd at the earliest.
Apple launched iPhone loan approvals through the Apple Store app earlier this month, but this is limited to customers who wish to purchase their iPhone on a financing agreement, separate to the iPhone Upgrade Program, which allows users to trade-in their iPhone each year and upgrade to a new model.
The Apple Post has reached out to Apple to ask whether they will begin accepting iPhone Upgrade Program enrollment online ahead of iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max pre-orders beginning on Friday, November 6th in light of the lockdown.