Apple Prepares for iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra Launch by Expanding Its Reach

Apple is clearing the runway for its biggest iPhone event of the year. With the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the long-awaited iPhone Ultra expected in September, the company has spent early August rolling out changes designed to make switching to a new iPhone as painless as possible. In the span of a single week, Apple lowered the monthly cost of its Apple Upgrade leasing program, raised trade-in values across nearly its entire device lineup, and widened the list of Android phones it will accept in exchange for credit.

None of these moves happened by accident. They arrived roughly a month before Apple’s expected fall event, and together they lower the effective price of a new iPhone for existing customers while making it easier for Android users to jump ship. Here’s a full breakdown of what changed, why it matters, and how you can make the most of it before the iPhone 18 lineup goes on sale.

Apple Upgrade Lowers the Monthly Price

Apple Upgrade is the company’s newer leasing program, built in partnership with Klarna, that replaced the old iPhone Upgrade Program earlier this summer. Instead of financing the full retail price of a device, customers lease it monthly and can choose to buy it outright, upgrade to a new model, or return it once the lease term ends.

The headline change is simple: monthly pricing has come down, and Apple is leaning on that lower entry point to pull more buyers into the program ahead of the iPhone 18 launch.

Key details of Apple Upgrade pricing:

• iPhone leases start at $17.99 per month
• Apple Watch leases start at $11.99 per month
• iPad leases start at $11.99 per month
• Mac leases start at $24.99 per month
• iPhone and Apple Watch offer 12-month or 24-month lease terms
• Mac and iPad offer 24-month or 36-month lease terms
• Trading in a device at enrollment lowers the monthly payment further, with the credit spread across the entire initial lease term
• AppleCare+ is optional and billed separately, not bundled into the lease

For context, a 256GB iPhone 17 Pro typically runs about $31.99 per month on a 24-month lease, or $45.99 per month on a 12-month term, before tax and trade-in credit are applied. Because Klarna doesn’t charge an additional leasing fee, the total cost to eventually own the device roughly matches the retail price, plus applicable taxes.

The lower monthly pricing matters most for anyone eyeing a Pro or Ultra model this fall. It gives shoppers a predictable, subscription-style way to budget for a flagship iPhone without paying the full purchase price at checkout, and it sets up the trade-in changes below to stack even more savings on top.

Apple Raises iPhone Trade-In Values

Apple didn’t stop at the leasing program. On August 6, the company quietly updated its U.S. trade-in estimates, raising the value of most eligible iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches. Some devices jumped by close to 30% compared with the previous update in May, making this one of the largest single-day trade-in adjustments Apple has made this year.

How Much Trade-In Values Increased

Device	Previous Value	New Value	Change
iPhone 16 Pro Max	Up to $695	Up to $720	+$25
iPhone 16 Pro	Up to $560	Up to $630	+$70
MacBook Pro	Up to $690	Up to $855	+$165
MacBook Air	Up to $520	Up to $580	+$60
Mac mini	Up to $375	Up to $480	+~28%

Figures are Apple’s published “up to” estimates as of August 6, 2026, and actual payouts depend on device condition and configuration.

A few standouts from the update:

• Mac trade-in values saw some of the steepest increases of any category, with the Mac mini posting close to a 28% jump.
• Gains extended down through older models too, including devices in the iPhone 15, iPhone 14, iPhone 13, and iPhone 12 families, though the boosts were smaller for older hardware.
• Not every device moved. The iPhone 16e, iPhone X, and several Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and Apple Watch SE (2nd generation), held steady at their previous values.

Apple typically times these adjustments to smooth out demand ahead of a launch, and this one lines up almost perfectly with the iPhone 18 Pro’s expected September debut. Once the new lineup is official, Apple is expected to start accepting the current iPhone 17 generation for trade-in, which usually pushes values on older models down. That makes the next few weeks the strongest window to lock in current trade-in pricing before the math resets.

Trade-in credit isn’t limited to traditional purchases, either. Customers can apply it directly to an Apple Upgrade lease, which lowers the monthly payment even further, stacking the benefits of both programs.

Apple Expands Android Trade-In Eligibility

The most structurally significant part of this update isn’t the iPhone or Mac pricing; it’s who Apple is now willing to accept trade-ins from. Apple has historically kept its trade-in program focused on its own hardware. This update opens the door wider to Android switchers than it has in years.

Newly added Android devices include:

• Google Pixel 9
• Google Pixel 9 Pro
• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
• Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra
• OnePlus 13
• OnePlus 13R

Existing Android trade-in values were adjusted too, though the changes were mixed. Some models saw modest increases, while a handful of older phones actually dropped in value. Devices such as the Samsung Galaxy S21, Galaxy S21+, Google Pixel 8, Pixel 8a, OnePlus 12, and OnePlus 12R remained unchanged.

Why This Matters for Android Users

By accepting more recent Android flagships, Apple is removing one of the last practical barriers keeping Android users from switching. Trade-in value has always been one of the biggest deciding factors when someone weighs whether to stay in their current ecosystem or move to a new one. Expanding eligibility to newer Pixel and Galaxy devices signals that Apple wants to convert Android switchers specifically around the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra launch window, not just retain its existing customer base.

As with iPhone trade-ins, Android trade-in credit can be applied toward either a straight purchase or an Apple Upgrade lease, giving switchers the same flexible payment options as loyal iPhone owners.

What This Means Ahead of the iPhone 18 Launch

Put together, these three moves tell a clear story. Apple is lowering the monthly cost of getting a new device, increasing the credit customers get for their old one, and widening who qualifies for that credit in the first place. That’s a coordinated push to maximize both upgrades from existing iPhone owners and conversions from Android users, right before the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the debut iPhone Ultra arrive.

If you’re planning to upgrade this fall, the current trade-in values are likely close to their peak. Once the iPhone 18 lineup is announced, older models typically see their trade-in credit shrink as newer devices take priority in Apple’s pricing structure. Checking your device’s eligibility now, rather than waiting for the keynote, could mean the difference between a modest discount and a genuinely useful one.

Conclusion

Apple’s latest round of changes to Apple Upgrade, trade-in values, and Android eligibility isn’t just routine housekeeping. It’s a deliberate setup for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra launch, designed to lower the real-world cost of upgrading and make switching from Android less of a financial hurdle. Whether you’re trading in an aging iPhone, a Mac, or even a Samsung or Pixel phone, now is a smart time to check your device’s value and decide how you want to pay for whatever comes next.

FAQs

When will the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra launch?

Apple hasn’t confirmed an official date, but the lineup is widely expected to be announced in September 2026, following Apple’s usual fall launch pattern.

How much does Apple Upgrade cost per month?

iPhone leases start at $17.99 per month, with Apple Watch and iPad starting at $11.99 per month and Mac starting at $24.99 per month, before tax or trade-in credit.

Can I trade in an Android phone at Apple?

Yes. Apple accepts a growing list of Android devices, including several Google Pixel, Samsung Galaxy, and OnePlus models, for trade-in credit toward a purchase or lease.

Will trade-in values drop after the iPhone 18 launches?

Likely yes. Once new models are announced, Apple typically shifts trade-in priority to more recent devices, which can reduce credit for older iPhones.

Does Apple Upgrade include AppleCare+?

No. AppleCare+ is optional and billed separately from the monthly lease payment, unlike Apple’s older iPhone Upgrade Program.

Is Apple Upgrade the same as financing?

Not exactly. Apple Upgrade is a lease through Klarna. You can pay it off to own the device, upgrade to a new one, or return it at the end of the term, rather than owning it outright from day one like a traditional installment plan.