Archive · 30 Jul 2026
Apple Upgrade and Indian Alternatives for Yearly Phone Swaps
Apple has a new plan that lets you pay for a phone in small monthly chunks and swap it for a newer model every year.
The plan isn’t available in India yet, so other companies are offering similar deals.
India iStore, with banks like ICICI and HDFC, lets you pay 75% of the phone’s price over two years and then return it for a new one, covering the rest with a buyback.
Samsung offers a similar program for its Galaxy phones, letting you upgrade as early as month ten and giving you protection plans.
BytePe lets you pay a small monthly fee, includes damage coverage, and lets you swap phones after a year.
These options help people keep the latest phones without paying the full price upfront.
Apple’s Upgrade program spreads iPhone cost over 24 months and allows yearly upgrades.
The program is not yet available in India, prompting third‑party resellers to offer similar lease‑and‑upgrade options.
India iStore, partnered with ICICI and HDFC banks, offers an “iPhone for Life” plan with a 75/25 split and a 25% buyback after 24 months.
Samsung’s Galaxy Forever program lets users upgrade as early as month 10 with tiered buyback rates and includes Samsung Care+ protection.
BytePe provides a monthly subscription model with zero upfront cost, bundled damage coverage, and annual device swaps.
- Who
- Apple, India iStore, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, Samsung, BytePe
- What
- Subscription and lease‑and‑upgrade programs for smartphones
- When
- Recently launched; not yet available in India
- Where
- Globally, with Indian alternatives offered by authorized resellers
- Why
- To allow users to upgrade phones annually without buying a new device outright
- Apple Upgrade Program
- Subscription-style financing with annual upgrades
- Availability
- Global, not yet in India
- Payment Structure
- 24 monthly payments
- Buyback Option
- 25% Assured Buyback after 24 months
- Coverage
- AppleCare+ included