How to get an iPhone 7 for Christmas

Socks, games consoles, overpowering perfume and novelty jumpers be damned. We all know what we really want shoved into an impractically sized sock this Christmas: an iPhone 7.

Apple's latest smartphone is always a popular gift around this time of year. After all, it's the world's most popular smartphone brand, and the latest model tends to become readily available in shops at the height of the festive shopping season.

But this year's model is a little different, particularly if you're British. The iPhone 7 is more expensive than ever, while for many people money has never been tighter.

Here, then, are a couple of ways you can 'sell' the idea of an iPhone 7 to your loved ones. Using these techniques and an awful lot of charm, you might even convince them that upwards of £600 is a reasonable amount of money to spend on a fragile pocket computer that will be obsolete before they even finish paying it off. The idiots.

It might sound steep, but the cheapest way to buy a new iPhone invariably involves buying it outright rather than signing up for a lengthy contract. Tot up how much many iPhone contracts cost over two years, and you'll be looking at a three figure sum.

Now, even if they're minted, encouraging a loved one to splash out £600 or more on any one gift is going to be a tough ask. You're going to have to make it sound like they're getting a really good deal. That's tough in a world where you rarely get cut-price deals on Apple gear.

One way to do this is to extol the virtues of John Lewis's two year guarantee. It's pretty much the only retailer that offers such a thing, which essentially doubles Apple's own default offering.

You can still use Apple's own guarantee for the first year too, allowing you to stroll into an Apple Store and have your phone fixed for free should anything non-accident-related go wrong with it. But you then have another year of marginally less convenient coverage from the British retailer. That's a bargain, right? Right. Good luck explaining that to your dad.

Phone contracts are popular because they spread the cost of a pretty hefty piece of kit over a manageable period. However, as we've just discussed, buying your phone up front works out cheaper overall because you don't have what basically amounts to interest payments whacked onto the bill.

If only there was a way to get the best of both worlds. You'll never guess what. No, go on, guess. That's right, there IS a way to get the best of both worlds - with some extra-special sauce sprinkled on top.

Apple has just brought its iPhone Upgrade Programme to the UK (and China) after kicking it off in the US last year. This essentially gives you an iPhone 7 with Apple Care+ - Apple's advanced insurance policy that includes coverage for two cases of accidental damage - for a manageable monthly payment.

You could also point out that this method is a gift that keeps on giving. After all, at the end of a year you'll have the option of restarting your Apple Upgrade Programme and trading your iPhone 7 in for the next model - provided you keep the handset in good condition.

That's an enticing package for any iPhone fan, but the real kicker is the price. Apple's entry-level example involves an iPhone 7 for £33.45 per month and a £49 up front payment. This is basically a 20 month interest-free credit agreement, with the total price of £718 accounting precisely for the phone and AppleCare+.

Persuade your potential benefactor along those lines - you can sort out a low cost SIM-only contract yourself - and it'll be hard for them to resist. Whether they handle the renewal process and persistent charges or you take it up yourself is something to worry about another day. The point is: you'll have your shiny new iPhone 7, with the added bonus that your loved one will be able to afford to eat in January.