THE APEX TIMES
Apple rolls out Apple Upgrade in the United States, replacing its iPhone leasing and payment options
A new leasing program built with Klarna expands installment-style device financing to iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and iPad, with monthly payments starting as low as $11.99.
Apple has introduced Apple Upgrade in the United States, a new hardware leasing program that aims to make it easier for customers to get iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and iPad on a predictable monthly payment plan. The program is available through the Apple Store online, the Apple Store app, and in Apple Store locations, and is provided by Klarna.
Apple positioned Apple Upgrade as a broader, in-house alternative to earlier iPhone-specific plans. In the company announcement, Apple said that with the launch of Apple Upgrade, it will no longer offer the iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments in the United States. Customers who are already enrolled in the older iPhone Upgrade Program will be able to lease a new device with Apple Upgrade, finance with Apple Card Monthly Installments, purchase the product outright, or choose carrier financing, depending on eligibility.
Pricing under Apple Upgrade is presented by Apple as starting points rather than fixed totals. For iPhone and Apple Watch, Apple said it will offer 12- and 24-month leasing options, with monthly prices starting at $17.99 for iPhone and $11.99 for Apple Watch. For Mac and iPad, Apple said leasing periods run longer, with 24- and 36-month options, and monthly prices starting at $24.99 for Mac and $11.99 for iPad.
Apple said customers can lower monthly lease payments when they first enroll by trading in their currently owned device through Apple Trade In. The company also said lease payments made with Apple Card can earn 3 percent Daily Cash. Klarna is the leasing provider, and Apple described a streamlined enrollment process intended to support both online and in-store purchases.
Under Apple Upgrade, customers apply within minutes online or in store and receive quick approval from Klarna, according to Apple. Apple said applicants are subject to a soft credit inquiry that will not impact their credit score. After approval, customers complete the purchase through the normal checkout flow, and Apple said in-store customers can receive the device right away while online customers can choose delivery or in-store pickup.
Apple also emphasized continuity of its retail and services experience. It said the program is designed to work with Apple’s Personal Setup service, which helps get a new device ready to use. Apple also noted that customers can join free and educational Today at Apple sessions to learn how to get started with their new hardware. In addition, Apple said customers can add AppleCare subscriptions, which can make returning a current device and upgrading to a new one easier during the lease lifecycle.
At the end of a lease term, Apple said customers can upgrade to the latest generation device, purchase the device with a one-time payment, or return it and exit the program. Apple said customers can track their lease status and billing schedule in the Klarna app, including remaining payments. That app-based tracking is presented as a key element of the experience, tying the lease to ongoing monthly obligations rather than treating it as a one-time transaction.
The program extends Apple’s approach to device financing beyond a single product category. Apple said Apple Upgrade covers iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and iPad, and it includes both shorter and longer lease durations depending on the device. By shifting away from iPhone-only leasing and toward a unified leasing offering, Apple appears to be trying to reduce friction for customers comparing monthly affordability across its hardware lineup.
Still, the announcement leaves several practical details unspecified. Apple did not publish, in the provided material, the eligibility requirements for approval, how lease terms and monthly prices may vary by credit profile or trade-in value, or what additional fees may apply during the lease period or at return. Customers may also see different outcomes depending on how their current devices qualify under Apple Trade In, and those rules are not detailed in the release.
For customers and retailers watching Apple’s financial-services strategy, the launch is a clear announcement that Apple is leaning further into third-party financing while keeping enrollment, device setup, and service add-ons wrapped inside the Apple Store experience. The next point to watch is how widely Apple Upgrade rolls out, whether Apple expands additional Apple Card-linked incentives beyond the stated Daily Cash rate, and how the transition affects customers still in the discontinued iPhone-specific program.
Why It Matters
- Apple is consolidating device financing into a single leasing program across multiple hardware lines, rather than maintaining iPhone-only options.
- By partnering with Klarna and linking payments to Apple Card incentives, Apple is positioning the monthly payment choice as part of its broader Apple Store checkout experience.
- The end of the iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments in the U.S. suggests Apple may be shifting customer behavior toward leasing or Apple Card installments.
Key Facts
- Apple Upgrade is a new leasing program in the United States for iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, and iPad, provided by Klarna.
- Apple Upgrade is available online, through the Apple Store app, and in Apple Store locations.
- Lease options include 12- and 24-month terms for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24- and 36-month terms for Mac and iPad.
- Monthly prices start at $17.99 for iPhone, $11.99 for Apple Watch, $24.99 for Mac, and $11.99 for iPad.
- Customers can reduce monthly payments using Apple Trade In, and lease payments made with Apple Card can earn 3% Daily Cash.
- Apple said Klarna provides quick approval after a soft credit inquiry that does not impact credit scores.
- Apple said it will stop offering the iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments in the United States when Apple Upgrade launches.
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