Verizon Phone Upgrades Policy: Check If You're Eligible

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Verizon is one of the largest wireless carriers in the United States, and I have been subscribed to its service for almost a year now.

My Verizon phone was getting old, and with the arrival of the latest iPhone on the market, I wanted to upgrade my phone.

I brought this up in a conversation with my older brother, who told me about the ‘Verizon Phone Upgrades Policy’.

Intrigued, I searched online and read multiple articles about the topic to understand its terms and conditions.

After hours of research and going through information on the internet, I decided to write this article to help you understand all about Verizon phone upgrades policy.

Verizon Phone Upgrades Policy allows you to upgrade your Verizon phone every 24 months. As of today, you can go for an upgrade after 20 months by paying an upgrade fee of $35. Visit the ‘Verizon Upgrade’ page to check your eligibility.

In this article, I have also discussed how Verizon upgrades work, the Verizon Early Upgrade program, how to check your eligibility for an upgrade, upgrade fee, upgrading a non-smart Verizon device, and things to keep in mind before upgrading your phone.

How Do Verizon Upgrades Work?

‘Verizon Phone Upgrades Policy’ lets you upgrade your Verizon device every 2 years.

However, you are eligible to upgrade the device after 20 months of service by paying a $35 upgrade fee.

You can also upgrade your phone just after 30 days if you have paid 50% of the retail price and the original phone is in excellent working condition.

Keep in mind that you can update anytime you want if you pay the complete retail price of your device.

Verizon also allows you to upgrade your device using the Verizon store or its online service. The choice is yours.

However, before going for an upgrade, make sure that your device is eligible for it.

To upgrade your Verizon phone, follow these steps:

• Log in to your ‘Verizon Account’ and tap on ‘Device Overview’.
• Scroll and select ‘Upgrade Now’ under the eligible device.
• Follow the prompts to upgrade your device.

Verizon Early Upgrade Program

Using the Verizon phone upgrade policy, you can upgrade your device every 24 months or go for it after 20 months of service by paying an upgrade fee of $35.

However, if you cannot wait that long, you may use the ‘Verizon Early Update Program’ to upgrade your device early.

With this program, you can upgrade an eligible phone within 30 days, but you have to pay at least 50% of your device’s retail price under the device payment agreement. The eligible device must be in good working condition for the upgrade.

How to Check if You are Eligible For an Upgrade?

If you want to check your eligibility for an upgrade, go to the Verizon Upgrade page, and type the phone number of the device you want to upgrade.

You can also do this by logging into your ‘My Verizon’ account. Once there, go to the ‘Device Overview’ page.

The devices eligible for an upgrade have an ‘Upgrade now’ option underneath them.

Does Verizon Need You to Pay Off the Phone Before Upgrading?

To upgrade your Verizon phone, you do not have to pay it off before upgrading.

You can upgrade to a new phone anytime, but you must pay the full retail price.

If you wait till your contract is up, you do not pay for the phone, only the upgrade fee, which is comparatively low.

You can also upgrade to a device purchased outside of Verizon.

Is There an Upgrade Fee?

Verizon charges a one-time fee of $35 to upgrade a device on the Verizon plan.

You must pay this fee whether you buy the new phone using a one-time retail price or payment plan.

You can get the upgrade fee refund if you return your phone within 2 weeks of purchase.

Trading Your Old Phone For an Upgrade

To upgrade to a new phone at Verizon, you are not required to trade in your old device. You can keep your old phone for any emergency.

However, if you want to trade in your old phone, you can do so with a Verizon wireless gift card. It will be the phone’s value after Verizon evaluates it.

To trade in your phone, go to Verizon Device Trade-in and check your phone’s price. To complete the process, follow the page’s instructions.

Upgrading a Non-Smart Verizon Device

You can upgrade all kinds of devices at Verizon as long as they are eligible, including tablets, smartwatches, and more.

If you are on the payment plan for a newly upgraded device, you will only be eligible to upgrade to the same kind of product.

For instance, you can upgrade an old smartwatch to a new smartwatch.

You can upgrade to any device of your choice if you pay the full one-time retail price at the time of the upgrade.

Things to Keep in Mind Before Upgrading Your Phone

Before upgrading your phone, keep in mind that your device must be eligible for the upgrade. If your device is not eligible, you can not upgrade it.

Apart from the eligibility criteria, there are some other factors that you need to consider before upgrading your device.

Consider Your Requirements

Your needs and wants play an important role here. If your current device is old and not working properly, it may be time for an upgrade.

In addition, if your device has outdated specifications or does not support the latest apps, you should consider upgrading.

However, remember that your device should be in good working condition for the upgrade.

Your device is considered good if it powers on and off, has no prominent damage as determined by Verizon, has no cracks on the screen, and all password-protected features are disabled.

If you do not return your eligible device in good condition, your next bill will include the remaining balance under your original device payment agreement.

Choose the Right Operating System

Choosing the right operating system for your phone depends on what fits you best. Android and iOS systems have their distinct benefits.

Benefits of Android

• If you like to customize your phone, then Android is for you.
• Android allows you to personalize your phone via photos, live wallpapers, widgets, and much more.
• Android is also compatible with Google services such as Google Maps, Google Drive, Google Chrome, and GMail. If you frequently use Google services, you might think about using Android.
• Android devices such as Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra provide high-quality services and compare well with high-performance iPhones.

Benefits of Apple iOS

• Apple iOS provides reliable and straightforward phones. Apple provides a simple operating system that remains consistent from one device to another.
• Apple phones are also less likely to get hacked and get viruses.
• With the new models coming out every year, you keep up to date with smartphone technology.
• If you have a Mac, consider iPhones or iPads as they are compatible.

Final Thoughts

After reading this article, you should have a good understanding of the Verizon Phone Upgrade Policy.

When upgrading to a new device, you have the option to change your plan or stick with the current one.

To do so, go to your ‘My Verizon’ account and follow these steps:

Go to ‘Device Overview’ > Tap on ‘Update Now’ under your device > Follow the prompts to upgrade it > You will be asked to keep the same plan or explore more plans > Choose a plan > Follow the prompts to complete the process.

If you want to check the status of your order, open ‘My Verizon’ and select ‘My Orders’. Then click on an order to view its status.

You can get assistance from Verizon Customer support if you face any issues.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am eligible for an upgrade for my phone?

Go to the ‘Verizon Eligible Upgrade’ page and enter the phone number registered with the account. You can see the due date for an upgrade in your contract.

You can also check your eligibility via your ‘My Verizon’ account.

How often are you eligible for an upgrade with Verizon?

Verizon allows you to upgrade your device every 24 months. After 20 months, you can upgrade for a $35 upgrade cost.

Is it better to upgrade the phone online or in-store?

How to upgrade a phone is a personal choice. Using an online store, you get more selection but less support unless you buy from Verizon’s website. With in-store, you get less selection but more support.

What is the Verizon upgrade fee?

Verizon charges an upgrade fee of $35 regardless of what device you own and what device you upgrade to.