苹果已经创建了信用卡(credit card)。对于主要将Apple视为一家计算机(或电话)公司的人来说,这可能是一个惊喜。然而,Apple与其说是一家科技公司,不如说是一个品牌,它销售关于事物应该如何看待、感觉和工作的特定观点。因此,原则上,Apple信用卡并不是那么奇怪。苹果(Apple)相信他们已经彻底改造了传统的信用卡,但在现实生活中这是一笔划算的交易吗?
我们仔细研究了Apple信用卡在纸上提供的服务,并搜索了Reddit和社交媒体等网站,以了解人们在使用这张(Reddit)Titanium卡 时遇到的日常麻烦。
因此,如果您想从Apple购买闪亮的新(卡片形)产品,请先阅读此内容,以确保您知道自己在做什么。
苹果信用卡:有什么优惠?
为什么任何人都想拥有一张Apple信用卡,而不是老牌银行机构的传统信用卡?苹果(Apple)信用卡带来了一些核心价值主张,可以总结如下:
- 完全集成和对 iPhone 的依赖
- 与 Apple Pay 集成
- 用于支付和利息的清晰直观的仪表板
- 非常优惠的利率(如果你能得到的话)
- 现金返还( (Cashback)Apple和合作伙伴的费率更高)
- Apple设备免息条款
除此之外,实体卡本身就是典型的苹果(Apple)工程。极简主义,由钛制成,这张卡不太可能磨损。但是,在本文中,我们并不关心实体卡,而是整个交易。因此,让我们更详细地讨论这些价值主张。
iPhone集成(Integration)(无论好坏(Better))
苹果(Apple)信用卡的一个独特之处在于它对 iPhone 的依赖。如果您没有iPhone,则无法获得Apple信用卡。
该卡本身只是您手机上存在的数字钱包系统的扩展。它上面没有信用卡号,几乎是空白的。如果Apple Pay不可用,实体卡本质上为您提供了一种支付方式。这意味着获得 1% 的现金返还,而不是 2%。当然,钛卡华丽而酷炫,但这根本不是重点。
苹果信用卡(Apple Credit Card)的利息(Interest)优势
苹果(Apple)表示,他们的卡是不同的,因为它激励你支付更少的利息。这似乎有点违反直觉,因为信用卡公司从您为借入的信用支付的利息中赚钱。
Apple已经竭尽全力向您展示确切的付款时间和方式,以避免对您的未结余额产生利息。您也只需支付您选择不支付的余额部分。这与大多数信用卡的工作方式并没有什么不同。如果您在短期内从信用卡借钱并在一定时间内偿还,您不会产生任何利息。
这里的主要区别是Apple向您展示了可以让您最大限度地减少利息支付的数字,而不是让那些隐藏在视线之外的数字。
苹果(Apple)信用卡值得注意的不仅仅是利息计算的透明度。苹果(Apple)还提供一些市场上最低利率的现金返还信用卡。
虽然您的潜在利率总体上相当低,但您与最低利率的接近程度将取决于您的信用评级以及Apple用于确定卡限额和利率的算法。
返现奖励
说到现金返还奖励,Apple有一个相当不平衡的解决方案。如果您从合作伙伴处购买Apple产品或进行Apple Pay购买,则现金返还奖励非常可观。如果您在此合作伙伴网络之外购买东西,那么那里的卡片平均可以提供更好的回报。
因此,Apple信用卡是否划算在很大程度上取决于您是Apple的常客、经常使用Apple Pay,还是在属于其合作伙伴网络的零售商处购物。
Apple 小工具的优势
老实说, Apple 推出(Apple)信用卡的主要原因之一是为了向人们出售更多Apple产品。由于您需要拥有一部 iPhone 才能拥有该卡,因此只有已经在其生态系统中的人才有资格。
Apple提议使用他们的卡向您出售Apple产品,完全不感兴趣。换句话说,您以现金价格购买Apple设备,但采用付款计划。(Apple)并非所有产品都符合条件,最长还款期各不相同,最长可能为 24 个月。
高盛的联系
虽然该卡上大胆地印有标志性的Apple标志,但听到(Apple)Apple尚未成为一家完全独立的金融机构,您可能并不感到惊讶。他们的卡得到了高盛(Goldman Sachs)的支持。
虽然这一举措原则上没有错,但任何正在考虑申请信用卡的人都应该知道他们在与谁做生意。在确定利率时, 媒体上有报道提出隐私问题和算法歧视的潜在问题。(issues of discrimination)
如果您对高盛(Goldman Sachs)的业务方式不满意,那么您将不会乐于拥有一张Apple信用卡。
苹果信用卡适合(Apple Credit Card Good)谁?
让我们首先解决主要问题。如果您还不是 iPhone 用户或将长期坚持使用 iPhone 和Apple生态系统的人,那么Apple Card 根本不值得。当然,它没有年费,但实际上,最便宜的 iPhone 售价 400 美元。所以,随心所欲。
由于您必须首先投资不便宜的 iPhone,因此回报并不能证明它是合理的。如果您正在寻找一种以最优惠的价格获得Apple维修服务的方法,那么这张卡就会变得更具吸引力。Apple小工具的免息付款计划是一项了不起的优惠。您还可以获得另外 3% 的设备还款现金返还。
Apple Pay购买也是如此。如果您已经在日常生活中使用Apple Pay ,那么该卡将提供很大的好处。(Apple Pay)如果您通常选择的零售商中没有人提供它,那么几乎没有理由使用Apple卡。
对许多人来说可能是一个问题的另一个问题是,Apple不允许超过一个人被授权使用该卡。因此,如果您想为配偶或孩子提供第二张卡,那么如果没有那个人购买自己的 iPhone 并申请自己的Apple信用卡,那么您就不走运了。
所以,综上所述,苹果(Apple)信用卡好不划算这个问题的答案,你要问自己是否爱苹果(Apple),拥有或想要一部iPhone,是否有大量使用苹果的机会支付(Apple Pay)。如果您对这些问题的回答是肯定的,那么这是一个了不起的交易。如果答案是否定的,那么你最好继续做其他事情。
An Apple Credit Card Review: Is It a Good Deal?
Apple has crеated a credit card. For people who mainly think of Apple as a computer (or phone) company, this might be a surprise. However, Apple isn’t so much a technology company as it is a brand that sells a particular viewpoint on how things should look, feel and work. So, in principle, an Apple credit card isn’t all that strange. Apple believes they’ve reinvented the traditional credit card but is it a good deal in real life?
We took a hard look at what the Apple credit card offers on paper and scoured sites like Reddit and social media to get a feel for the day-to-day troubles people have run into using this Titanium card.
So if you’re tempted to get in on the shiny new (card-shaped) thing from Apple, read this first to make sure you know what you’re in for.
Apple Credit Card: What’s the Deal?
Why should anyone want to have an Apple credit card instead of a traditional card from established banking institutions? There are a few core value propositions the Apple credit card brings to the table that can be summarized as follow:
- Total integration and dependence on iPhone
- Integration with Apple Pay
- Clear and intuitive dashboard for payments and interest
- Very favorable interest rates (if you can get them)
- Cashback (with higher rates for Apple and partners)
- Interest-free terms on Apple devices
Apart from that, the physical card itself is a typical Apple piece of engineering. Minimalist and made from titanium, the card is unlikely to ever wear out. However, in this article, we don’t care about the physical card, but rather the deal as a whole. So let’s discuss these value propositions in more detail.
iPhone Integration (For Better or Worse)
One unique aspect of the Apple credit card is its reliance on the iPhone. If you don’t have an iPhone, you can’t get an Apple credit card.
The card itself is just an extension of a digital wallet system that exists on your phone. It has no credit card number on it and is virtually blank. The physical card essentially gives you a way to pay if Apple Pay is not available. This means getting 1% cash back instead of 2%. Sure, the titanium card is gorgeous and cool, but it’s not the point at all.
The Interest Advantage of the Apple Credit Card
Apple says that their card is different since it incentivizes you to pay less interest. This seems a little counterintuitive because credit card companies make money from the interest you pay on your borrowed credit.
Apple has gone out of its way to show you exactly when and how to pay to avoid interest on your outstanding balance. You also only pay for the portion of the balance you elect not to pay. This isn’t all that different from how most credit cards work. If you borrow money from a credit card over short periods and pay it back within a certain time frame you don’t accrue any interest.
The main difference here is Apple shows you the numbers that let you minimize interest payments, rather than keeping those hidden out of sight.
The Apple credit card is notable for more than just how transparent it makes interest calculations. Apple is also offering some of the lowest interest rates in the market for a cashback credit card.
While your potential interest rates are pretty low overall, how close you get to the lowest possible interest rate will depend on your credit rating and the algorithm that Apple uses to determine card limits and interest rates.
Cashback Rewards
Speaking of cashback rewards, Apple has a rather unbalanced solution in place. If you buy Apple products or make Apple Pay purchases from partners, the cashback rewards are substantial. If you buy things outside of this partner network, there are cards out there that offer better returns on average.
So whether the Apple credit card is a good deal strongly depends on whether you’re a frequent Apple customer, use Apple Pay regularly, or shop at retailers who are part of their partner network.
The Apple Gadget Advantage
If we’re being honest, one of the main reasons that Apple likely came up with their credit card is so that they can sell more Apple stuff to people. Since you need to own an iPhone to have the card, only people who are already in their ecosystem will qualify.
Apple offers to sell you Apple products using their card at no interest at all. In other words, you’re getting your Apple gadgets at the cash price, but on a payment plan. Not all products are eligible and the maximum repayment period varies, with 24 months being the longest possible.
The Goldman Sachs Connection
While the card is boldly emblazoned with the iconic Apple logo, you’re probably not surprised to hear that Apple hasn’t become a completely independent financial institution. Their card is backed by Goldman Sachs.
While there’s nothing wrong in principle with this move, anyone who is considering applying for their card should know who they are doing business with. There have been stories in the media raising privacy concerns and potential issues of discrimination by algorithms when it comes to determining interest rates.
If you aren’t happy with how Goldman Sachs does business, then you won’t be happy to own an Apple credit card.
Who Is The Apple Credit Card Good For?
Let’s get the main issue out of the way first. If you aren’t already an iPhone user or someone who’s going to be sticking with the iPhone and the Apple ecosystem over the long term, the Apple card simply isn’t worth it. Sure, it has no annual fee, but in reality, the cheapest iPhone costs $400. So make of that what you will.
Since you’d have to first invest in an iPhone, which isn’t cheap, the rewards don’t justify it. If you’re looking for a way to get your Apple fix for the best prices, the card becomes much more attractive. The interest-free payment plans on Apple gadgets are an amazing offer. You also get a further 3% cashback on repayments towards the device.
The same goes for Apple Pay purchases. If you’re already using Apple Pay in your daily life, then the card offers great benefits. If no one in your usual selection of retailers offers it, there’s little reason to use the Apple card.
Another issue that might be a problem for many people is the fact that Apple does not allow for more than one person to be authorized to use the card. So if you wanted a second card for a spouse or child, you’re out of luck without that person buying their own iPhone and applying for their own Apple credit card.
So, to sum up, the answer to the question of whether the Apple credit card is a good deal or not, all you have to ask yourself is whether you love Apple, have or want an iPhone, and have plenty of opportunities to use Apple Pay. If your answer to these questions is yes, then it’s a fantastic deal. If the answer is no, then you’re much better off moving on to something else.