How to preorder the iPhone 7
As expected, Apple unveiled the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus today, sans headphone jacks and with dust and water resistance. Here's how to be among the first to get your hands on one of the new iPhones.
Just moments ago, after months of rumors, Apple made the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus official, complete with an upgraded camera, pressure-sensitive home button and no
jack. Yes, Apple just started what may be the death of analog audio.In addition to what had been rumored for months, the iPhone 7 has a few things none of its predecessors had: water and dust resistance (IP67) and stereo speakers. The new pair of iPhones also come with the 64-bit A10 Fusion chip, which is a quad-core CPU with two low-power cores for efficiency as well as two high-performance cores. This A10 Fusion is said to be 40 percent faster than the A9 and 120 times faster than the original iPhone.
They also come in two new colors, a glossy jet black and simply black, with double the previous storage capacities: 32GB, 128GB and 256GB. The iPhone 7 will come with a 12-megapixel camera, while the iPhone 7 Plus will have a second 12-megapixel camera which offers enhanced optical and digital zoom.
In the box, you will also get a pair of Lightning-enabled EarPods, as well as a Lightning-to-3.5mm adapter so you can continue to use your existing headphones.
Pricing
Taking the place of last year's models, the base model iPhone 7 is priced at $649 and the Plus will start at $769. Each bump in storage capacity will add another $100 to the final price tag, making the most expensive model $969 before taxes.
Apple
Preorders begin at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 9 in the US. At that time, you will be able to place a preorder for an iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus online at apple.co/iPhone7preorder or in the Apple Store app on iOS devices.
More from Apple's event
Apple's preorder system allows you upgrade through your carrier. Just select the phone you want, choose AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile or Sprint, select a color and choose a storage capacity. Follow the prompts from there and wait until the official launch day, which is September 16.
If you have no luck through Apple's official preorder system, you may have better results going through your carrier of choice. Carriers tend to provide different incentives for ordering an iPhone directly from them, such as better trade-in offers, waived activation fees and spreading installments over 20 or 30 months instead of the standard 24.
Verizon
Verizon's preorders kick off online at the same time as Apple's -- September 9 at 12:01 a.m. PDT. No iPhone 7 specific deals or promotions have been announced yet, but Verizon's standard trade-in program and monthly payments will still apply.
You can either purchase the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus at full retail -- still $649 and up for the iPhone 7 and $769 and up for the iPhone 7 Plus -- or pay monthly installments. The iPhone 7 will begin at $27.08 per month for 24 months and the iPhone 7 Plus will set you back $32.08 per month for 24 months. Larger storage configurations will bring the monthly payments up by about $4.16 each per month.
You can trade in an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6S or iPhone 6S Plus for up to $650 credit, which will be applied to your account over 24 months and might get you a new 32GB iPhone 7 at $0 down. You will need to pay the difference for additional storage space or for the iPhone 7 Plus. You can also trade in an iPhone 5, iPhone 5C, iPhone 5S or iPhone SE for up to $400 towards the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus, and you can trade in an iPhone 4 or Android phone for up to $300 trade-in value.
Verizon also has its own iPhone upgrade program, similar to Apple's. If you finance the phone, you are eligible to turn in your existing iPhone and upgrade to the new one each year after only 30 days, so long as you've paid off at least 50 percent.
You can sign up to be notified when Verizon preorders go live here.
AT&T
Through AT&T, you have the option of using AT&T Next and AT&T Next Every Year to get your new iPhone.
AT&T Next allows you to spread the cost of the phone out over 30 months. You have the option to trade in and upgrade after 80 percent of the total price of the phone has been paid off. AT&T Next Every Year is similar, but divides the total price into 24 monthly installments. You are eligible to trade in and upgrade after 50 percent of the phone has been paid off.
With either option, you're subject to a credit check, which will determine whether you owe $0 or 30 percent down at the time of purchase. Tax on the full retail price will be due then, as well.
Specific pricing for AT&T Next and Next Every Year have not been released. You can sign up for an email notification when preorders go live (on September 9 at 12:01 a.m. PDT) on AT&T's iPhone landing page.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile is offering up to $650 in bill credits when new and existing customers trade in an iPhone 6 or newer. The credits would be applied over 24 months to offset the installments of the iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus model you choose.
With an eligible trade-in, the 32GB iPhone 7 could be $0. With the same trade-in, a 32GB iPhone 7 Plus will be only $120. If you need more storage, you will simply tack on $100 or $200 to the upfront price. In other words, if you had $650 in trade-in value and wanted the 256GB iPhone 7 Plus, you would owe $320 upfront, plus tax.
The remainder of the price of the phone will be spread out over 24 monthly installments.
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus also work with T-Mobile's Jump! On Demand program, which lets you upgrade phones up to three times in a 12-month period.
You can preregister with T-Mobile to receive a notification when preorders are opened, also happening at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 9.
Sprint
Sprint is letting new and existing customers trade in an iPhone 6, iPhone 6S, Samsung Galaxy S7 or Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge for a free 32GB iPhone 7. You must sign up for one of Sprint's rate plans, such as Unlimited Freedom, or you can get 50 percent off most competing plans from Verizon, AT&T or T-Mobile. Those rate plan savings will remain in effect until May 31, 2018.
Also included in Sprint's promotions is a 256GB iPhone 7 for the price of a 128GB model. That's $100 off the retail value. This offer is online only and while supplies last.
The iPhone 7 will also work with the iPhone Forever program, which allows you finance a new iPhone for as little as $1 per month with an eligible trade-in. With iPhone Forever, the price of the iPhone is spread out over 18 months, meaning the monthly payment will be higher than a 24 or 30 monthly installment plan. After the equivalent of 12 monthly installments have been paid, you can bring in your iPhone and upgrade to the new iPhone.
Sprint's preorders will also begin at 12:01 a.m. PDT on September 9. You can sign up for an email notification on their iPhone Forever landing page.
Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA
Both Boost Mobile and Virgin Mobile USA, two of Sprint's Prepaid brands, will be offering the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus starting Friday, September 23. No official pricing or promotions have been announced.
Editors' note: This post was originally published September 7, 2016, and has been updated to reflect individual carrier promotions, preorder deals and launch details for the iPhone 7 on Sprint's Prepaid brands.