Sprint today introduced iPhone Forever, a follow-up to last year’s iPhone for Life program. iPhone Forever lets Sprint-ers own the latest iPhone model whenever they want by allowing them to upgrade any time that they’re not currently using Apple’s newest smartphone. When they decide it’s time to upgrade, they trade in their old iPhone, and upgrade to the new version.
Starting today, August 17, Sprint customers that aren’t using an iPhone 6 can get a 16GB model for $22 per month. However, subscribers that upgrade to a new iPhone before December 31 can get a special price of $15 per month. And if you’re not already using an iPhone 6, you can use that deal twice to upgrade to an 16GB iPhone 6 now and then move up to the new model that Apple is expected to debut next month. So long as you upgrade before December 31, your price will remain $15 per month. After that date, your next upgrade will cost $22 per month.
Sprint iPhone Forever is available to new customers as well as existing subscribers that are upgrade eligible. Sprint also notes that if you’re not already on its network, it’ll pay off your old phone and contract if you switch.
Sprint’s new offer seems to be a response to a T-Mobile Un-carrier Amped move from last month that lets customers upgrade to an iPhone 6 for $15 per month and then upgrade to the next model for free if they do it before the end of 2015. However, Sprint touts that its offer “beats the competition because it’s (a) forever and (b) less expensive.” While Sprint’s asking price for new iPhone models will go up after 2015 ends, iPhone Forever is still an attractive option for Sprint customers that want to have the newest model each year but have been unable to afford straight-up buying a new iPhone every time that Apple announces one.