What is One Upgrade?
If you constantly crave the latest phone? You might want to consider the One Upgrade plan. For $10 per month you can switch to a new phone whenever you like.
However, unless your phone is very new and in perfect condition, trading up can incur additional costs.
How do I get a new phone with One Upgrade?
Signing up to the One Upgrade plan is straightforward:
1. Buy a phone in-store
Purchase a new phone interest-free on any of One NZ’s four Pay Monthly mobile plans:
- $40 Plan: 3GB Data
- $50 Plan: Endless Data Capped Max Speed 6GB
- $70 Plan: Endless Data Capped Max Speed 50GB
- $85 Plan: Endless Data No Max Speed Cap
One NZ’s phone range covers the latest models from iPhone, Motorola, OPPO and Samsung.
2. Add One Upgrade
Sign-up to One Upgrade when purchasing your new phone and plan.
3. Upgrade in 30 days
You can upgrade to a new phone anytime after the first 30 days of your interest-free term. However, you might have to pay a redemption fee, depending on the condition of your phone and how long you’ve had it.
How do I upgrade?
If you want to upgrade, you must return your current phone to any One NZ store, where it will be assessed for its condition and if you need to pay any redemption fees.
You can then upgrade to any new phone from One NZ’s range on any eligible pay-monthly plan. You choice of phone can be cheaper or more expensive than your previous phone.
What are the redemption fees?
When you trade in your phone, you may have to pay a redemption fee. The fee depends on how long you’ve left on your interest-free term and the condition of your phone:
| Interest-free term | Term left | Good condition | Poor condition |
| 12 months | 0-6 months | $0 | $99 |
| 6 months+ | $99 | $299 | |
| 24 or 36 months | 0-12 months | $0 | $99 |
| 12 months+ | $99 | $299 |
Is One Upgrade worth it?
If you are somebody who likes to have an expensive phone that you upgrade regularly, then One Upgrade is definitely a good deal when compared to trading in your phone for a new model with One NZ.
For One NZ usually only gives you a trade-in of up to 55% of the purchase price of your phone if it’s a couple of years old, and in perfect condition. For example, One NZ is currently offering a trade-in value of up to $700 for an iPhone 15 128GB – a model that One NZ retails for $1299 – and up to $825 for an iPhone 16 128GB, which sells for $1499.
However, it’s worth remembering that unless your phone is less than six months old on a 12-month interest-free term, or 12 months on a 24- or 36-month one, it will cost you an additional $99 to swap your phone to a new model… And, primarily, the whole point of the deal is so that iPhone and Samsung fan boys and girls can upgrade to the latest models, which, as we all know, are released annually around the same time.
So while you might be able to time your first upgrade within the 12-month fee-free window, your next upgrade will certainly cost you an upgrade fee of at least $99.
However, even if you hold onto your phone for three years ($120 x 3 = $360) and then pay $99 to upgrade ($360 + $99 = $459) the deal would still work out better value than trading in your old phone and using your own money to upgrade.
But if you’re the type of person who has a mid-range phone that you only upgrade every three to four years, the extra costs associated with One Upgrade might not be worth it.
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About the editor of this page
Bruce Pitchers is Canstar NZ’s Content Manager. An experienced finance reporter, he has three decades’ experience as a journalist and has worked for major media companies in Australia, the UK and NZ, including ACP, Are Media, Bauer Media Group, Fairfax, Pacific Magazines, News Corp and TVNZ. As a freelancer, he has +worked for The Australian Financial Review, the NZ Financial Markets Authority and major banks and investment companies on both sides of the Tasman.
In his role at Canstar, he has been a regular commentator in the NZ media, including on the Driven, Stuff and One Roof websites, the NZ Herald, Radio NZ, and Newstalk ZB.
Away from Canstar, Bruce creates puzzles for magazines and newspapers, including Woman’s Day and New Idea. He is also the co-author of the murder-mystery book 5 Minute Murder.
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