rent iPhones, iPads and Macs

He leasing of cars It has worked very well for them to companies for years, and now the idea is also going to reach iPhones and other Apple devices. According to indicate in Bloombergthe company is preparing to launch Apple Upgrade, a device rental program. The service is expected to be announced on July 28 and will cover most iPhone, Mac, iPad and Apple Watch models. But be careful: rather than subscribing to them, you will rent them. There is a slight difference.

Leasing for iPhone and Mac. The service works exactly the same as the leasing or car leases. The customer pays a monthly fee, as in a subscription, for a period of 24 months (for iPhone and Apple Watch) or 36 months (for Mac and iPad). After that period, the device will not belong to the customer, because what will happen is that at that moment they will have to decide if they want to return it, keep it (paying a variable final amount) or exchange it early for a new model, so the previous monthly payments will be renewed during the same period.

The idea comes from afar. Apple launched its iPhone Upgrade Program in September 2015 with a curious idea: that we could subscribe to the iPhone. Any client I could pay a monthly fee (which at that time started at $32) to have an iPhone that could also be renewed every year. The program included Apple Care+, and was only valid for iPhones.

A key financial partner. This time Apple will not be responsible for assuming the financial risk of the program. Instead, the Cupertino company has teamed up with Klarna, which will act as support for the initiative. The news of the appearance of the program had an immediate effect on its stock market shares, which appreciated by 11% while Apple’s barely moved. Neither company has commented on the matter.

Previous check. To be able to access the program, users must pass a simplified credit check (“soft credit check”), which will be a “light” version of the checks that must be passed by those who lease a car, for example. The service will be available in both physical and online stores, initially in the US.

First price rise, now this. The launch comes just weeks after Apple decided to raise prices Mac or iPad, although the iPhone is not affected yet. It was something that was a given, and even Tim Cook himself announced that they would have to raise prices because the situation had become “unsustainable”. The memory crisis was already the trigger for this price increase, and now it is also the trigger for this new way of having an Apple device paying for it in monthly installments… without it becoming completely yours in the end.

Changes from the past. Apple is ending support for new registrations in its iPhone Upgrade Program, which had standard financing. Unlike this service, AppleCare support is excluded from Apple Upgrade, and this leasing will also exclude some affordable devices, such as the Apple Watch SE, the entry-level iPad, the iPhone 16 or the MacBook Neo. Purchases for companies and educational centers will not be included either.

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