Apple has ended its long-running iPhone Upgrade Programme in the UK and replaced it with a new payment option called the Flexible Finance Account.
The new scheme, provided by Creation, is a line of credit that allows customers to spread the cost of an iPhone over time, with a mix of interest-free and low-interest plans.
Apple describes the move as “a new chapter for upgrades”, saying the updated approach gives customers more flexibility when it’s time to buy the latest iPhone.
Unlike the old Upgrade Programme, which was backed by Barclays and built around an annual upgrade cycle after 11 payments, the new Flexible Finance Account offers multiple repayment structures.
Customers can choose a 20-month, 0% interest plan from £39.95 per month and upgrade after 11 payments, mirroring the old yearly upgrade model.
Alternatively, a 30-month, 0% interest plan is available from £26.63 per month, allowing customers to keep monthly payments lower and upgrade after 23 payments.
Other plans are available at variable interest rates, including 12-month and 36-month options at 14.9% APR.
Once opened, the Flexible Finance Account can be reused for multiple Apple purchases, not just a single iPhone.
Apple says customers can apply for the new plan either online or in an Apple Store, removing the store-only restriction that existed under the previous Upgrade Programme.
Existing iPhone Upgrade Programme customers will continue making payments to Barclays as normal. Those who have already made 11 payments can still upgrade, with Apple guaranteeing that the trade-in value will be enough to clear the remaining balance.
Apple said it “continually reviews its offerings to ensure we can provide the best affordability options for our customers”, and said the new system provides “even more options for upgrading”.
The change marks the end of a scheme that first launched in the UK in 2016 and became popular with customers who wanted a predictable annual iPhone upgrade path bundled with AppleCare+.
With the Flexible Finance Account, Apple appears to be shifting away from a fixed yearly upgrade model towards a broader credit-based system that can be used across its product range.