Now available: Maximizing points, miles and coverage with Apple’s new iPhone 14
Editor’s note: This story has been updated with new information.
The annual "iPhone day" is here.
Apple on Friday launched its latest generation of smartphones, the iPhone 14 family, with the new models hitting store shelves on Sept. 16.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 14 began on Friday, Sept. 9, just two days after the company’s Far Out special event, where the tech giant unveiled its latest products, including the latest iPhones; Apple Watch Series 8, SE and Ultra; and next-generation AirPods Pro.
For a recap, be sure to check out the 11 travel must-haves with Apple’s latest devices.
From satellite connectivity to crash detection to “Find My” support for the AirPods Pro charging case, the latest devices should appeal to many consumers, especially those who are always on the road, including myself and our flight review team.
Now that the devices are available for purchase, you’ll definitely want to maximize the splurge by using the right credit card (more on that below).
In the meantime, there are four new iPhones you might be considering:
- iPhone 14, starting at $799.
- iPhone 14 Plus, starting at $899.
- iPhone 14 Pro, starting at $999.
- iPhone 14 Pro Max, starting at $1,099.
Making the purchase
Three of the four iPhones are now available for purchase — the iPhone 14 Plus doesn’t launch until Oct. 7. Though there have been some reports of shipping delays with pre-orders, the latest models will be arriving to customers around the world in the coming days and weeks.
If you didn't pre-order an iPhone, your best bet is to monitor in-store availability for a same- or next-day pickup. Apple's online store displays real-time availability, so check it frequently if you're looking to pick up a device as soon as possible.
In addition to purchasing directly through Apple, you can also pick up a device from your carrier of choice (AT&T, Verizon or T-Mobile) or through third-party vendors such as Best Buy and Walmart.
In some cases, buying an iPhone through a third party can be a better deal than going directly through Apple, especially during limited-time promotions.
Trade-in options
The new iPhones certainly aren’t cheap, but they can be far more affordable if you’re willing to trade in your current phone. Credits range from $40 for the iPhone 7 (2016) to as much as $720 if you hand over last year’s iPhone 13 Pro Max.
You’ll need to make your purchase directly through Apple to take advantage of that particular trade-in offer, though many third-party sellers have similar promotions available.
Shopping portal bonuses
iPhones aren’t typically eligible for shopping portal bonuses shortly after launch, though that’s something to look for if you decide to make your purchase at a later date. It can also make sense to use a shopping portal aggregator like CashBack Monitor to identify the largest return easily.
Which cards to use
A number of Apple enthusiasts will almost certainly end up making their purchase with the Apple Card — it’s not the worst option since you’ll be able to take advantage of an interest-free monthly installments plan and earn 3% back if you purchase directly through Apple. But it’s not necessarily your best pick, either.
Historically, I’ve made my Apple purchases with The Platinum Card® from American Express. Though you’ll earn just 1 Membership Rewards point per dollar spent, worth 2 cents each according to TPG’s valuations, the card’s included purchase protection is a great insurance policy if I end up breaking or losing my iPhone.
Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Plus, as you’ll see below, Amex recently added ongoing cellphone protection to the Platinum card, making this card my top pick for iPhone purchases.
Ultimately, given the high cost of Apple’s latest smartphones, I’d focus on cards that offer purchase protection and extended-warranty benefits rather than those that offer the greatest return — with one exception, which I’ll dig into below. Other top purchase-protection picks include:
| Card | Maximum coverage amount | Maximum coverage amount | Coverage duration (days) | Earning rate(s) | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Express® Gold Card* | $10,000 per item (or $500 per event for natural disasters). | $50,000 per card per calendar year. | 90. | 4 points per dollar at restaurants; 4 points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar); 3 points per dollar on directly purchased airline tickets or airfare purchases through amextravel.com; 1 point per dollar on all other purchases. Terms apply. | $250 (see rates and fees). |
| Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card | $10,000 per claim. | $50,000 per account. | 90. | 10 miles per dollar on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel; 5 miles per dollar on flights booked through Capital One Travel; 2 miles per dollar on all other purchases. | $395. |
| Ink Business Cash Credit Card | $10,000 per claim. | $50,000 per account. | 120. | 5% at office supply stores/telecom (up to $25,000 per account anniversary year, then 1%); 2% at gas stations/restaurants (up to $25,000 per account anniversary year, then 1%); 1% on all other purchases. | $0. |
| Blue Cash Everyday® Card from American Express* | $1,000 per item (or $500 per event for natural disasters).* | $50,000 per card per year. | 90. | 3% cash back at U.S. supermarkets, U.S. gas stations and U.S. online retail purchases on up to $6,000 per calendar year in purchases for each category (then 1%), and 1% cash back on other purchases. Terms apply. | $0 annual fee (see rates and fees). |
| Chase Freedom Flex | $500 per claim. | $50,000 per account. | 120. | 5% on up to $1,500 in combined purchases in bonus categories each quarter you activate; 3% on dining and drugstore purchases; 1% on all other purchases. | $0. |
*Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by AMEX Assurance Company.
Protect your investment
These days, some credit cards don’t only include purchase protection during the first few months after getting your shiny new phone. A number of cards also now offer ongoing cellphone protection, as long as you pay your carrier bill with an eligible card that offers loss and damage protection.
Personally, I’d recommend using either The Platinum Card® from American Express, the Chase Freedom Flex or the Capital One Venture X, all of which offer both purchase protection and cellphone protection benefits.
| Card | Coverage/deductible | Notable exclusions | Earning rate on cellphone bill | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ink Business Preferred Credit Card | Up to $1,000 per claim; three claims max per 12-month period with a $100 deductible per claim. | Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the phone’s ability to function; lost phones. | 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar.* | $95. |
| The Platinum Card® from American Express** | Up to $800 per claim; two claims max per 12-month period with a $50 deductible. | Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the phone’s ability to function; lost phones. | 1 Amex Membership Rewards point per dollar. | $695 (see rates and fees). |
| Chase Freedom Flex | Up to $800 per claim; max two claims worth $1,000 per 12-month period with a $50 deductible. | Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the phone’s ability to function; lost phones. | 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point per dollar. | $0. |
| Capital One Venture X | Up to $800 per claim; max two claims and $1,600 per 12-month period with $50 deductible. | Cosmetic damage that doesn’t affect the phone’s ability to function; lost phones. | 2 Capital One miles per dollar. | $395. |
*On the first $150,000 in combined purchases each account anniversary year in the categories of travel, shipping purchases, internet, cable and phone services, and advertising purchases with social media sites and search engines.
**Eligibility and benefit levels vary by card. Terms, conditions and limitations apply. Visit americanexpress.com/benefitsguide for details. Policies are underwritten by New Hampshire Insurance Company, an AIG Company.
Meeting minimum spending
It could make sense to time your large Apple purchase with the opening of a new card. This way, you’d be much closer to meeting the minimum spending requirement to earn a significant sign-up bonus. One of our top picks at the moment is the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, which is offering 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
I’ll run through some other top contenders below, and you can find a full list of top offers here. Just note that not all of these cards include purchase protection and extended-warranty perks, so if you’re looking to prioritize coverage over points, refer to the chart above.
- Chase Sapphire Preferred Card: Best starter travel credit card.
- American Express® Gold Card: Best for dining at restaurants.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Best premium travel card.
- Chase Sapphire Reserve: Best for travel credits.
- Ink Business Preferred Credit Card: Best for small-business travel.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Best for lounge access.
- Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card: Best premium hotel card.
- Delta SkyMiles® Platinum American Express Card: Best for airline rewards.
- Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card: Best mid-tier hotel card.
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Best for American Airlines flyers.
The information for the Hilton Aspire Amex card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
For rates and fees of the Amex Gold Card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Blue Cash Everyday card, click here.
For rates and fees of the Amex Platinum card, click here
Top offers from our partners
How we chose these cards
- Learn Moreabout Credit One Bank Wander® CardTerms Apply
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
| 2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,400+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and our Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023
Rewards Rate
| 10X | Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel |
| 5X | 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel. |
| 2X | 2 Miles per dollar on every purchase, every day |
Intro Offer
Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel75,000 bonus milesAnnual Fee
$395Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO© Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.740-850Excellent
Why We Chose It
The Capital One Venture X card is one of the best all-round travel credit cards ever launched. Not only is it offering a tremendous welcome bonus, but cardholders can earn tons of miles on everyday spending and receive a 10,000-mile anniversary bonus to boot. Its annual fee is $395, but cardholders can count on up to $300 in statement credits toward travel booked through Capital One Travel each year and other valuable benefits like access to Priority Pass lounges and Capital One’s own growing family of airport lounges.Pros
- Excellent welcome offer worth 75,000 miles after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first three months.
- Up to $300 in annual travel statement credits toward bookings make through Capital One Travel.
- 10,000 bonus miles (worth $100 toward travel) each account anniversary.
Cons
- The $395 annual fee might be expensive for some, but this card’s benefits provide much more value than that.
- If you don’t travel frequently, this might not be the best card for you.
- Earn 75,000 bonus miles when you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening, equal to $750 in travel
- Receive up to $300 back annually as statement credits for bookings through Capital One Travel, where you'll get Capital One's best prices on thousands of options
- Get 10,000 bonus miles (equal to $100 towards travel) every year, starting on your first anniversary
- Earn unlimited 10X miles on hotels and rental cars booked through Capital One Travel and 5X miles on flights booked through Capital One Travel
- Earn unlimited 2X miles on all other purchases
- Unlimited complimentary access for you and two guests to 1,400+ lounges, including Capital One Lounges and our Partner Lounge Network
- Receive up to a $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck®
- Use your Venture X miles to easily cover travel expenses, including flights, hotels, rental cars and more—you can even transfer your miles to your choice of 15+ travel loyalty programs
- Named editors' choice for "Best New Credit Card of 2021" by The Points Guy
- Earn 10 miles per dollar when you book on Turo, the world's largest car sharing marketplace, through May 16, 2023