There's no getting around it –- Apple products are expensive. The new iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199, the MacBook Air is $999, and the Apple Watch Series 11 will run you at least $399. If you buy directly from Apple, you may be able to trade-in ...

Buy a case and screen protector: You'll protect your phone from costly damage and will increase the phone's resale or trade-in value for when you're ready to move on. If you're careful with how you use your phone, it should last for years.

It is also unclear why she was told going to Best Buy to buy a phone was the best option by the representatives. In fact, T-Mobile is no longer a carrier offered at Best Buy after the companies’ “corporate break up” in 2023. This means that customers who buy phones at T-Mobile need to get their phones unlocked and then get it connected at T-Mobile.