Apple has launched Apple Upgrade in the United States, a new leasing program for iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad that is handled through Klarna and available online, in the Apple Store app and at Apple Store locations. The move gives customers a fresh way to pay for Apple devices, with lease terms that vary by product and monthly prices starting as low as $11.99.
For many shoppers, the timing matters because Apple is changing how U.S. customers can finance its devices just as it rolls out the new program. Karen Rasmussen said Apple wanted a more flexible way for customers to pay for the products they love, and the new option is designed to let eligible buyers apply within minutes and get quick approval from Klarna, whether they start online or in a store.
The pricing is tiered by device and term. iPhone and Apple Watch leases run for 12 or 24 months, while Mac and iPad leases are offered over 24 or 36 months. Monthly payments start at $17.99 for iPhone, $11.99 for Apple Watch, $24.99 for Mac and $11.99 for iPad. Customers can lower those payments by trading in a currently owned device through Apple Trade In when they enroll, although the exact credit depends on the device they bring in rather than a fixed discount.
Apple is also tying the program to other parts of its ecosystem. Customers can earn 3 percent Daily Cash back when they make lease payments with Apple Card, and they can add AppleCare for protection. Lease details, including billing schedules and remaining payments, are shown in the Klarna app. That makes the program more than a one-time purchase plan; it is a managed monthly commitment with a digital paper trail.
The shift carries a cost for Apple customers who have used its older financing paths. With the launch of Apple Upgrade, Apple will no longer offer the iPhone Upgrade Program or iPhone Payments in the United States. Customers currently enrolled in the iPhone Upgrade Program will be able to choose Apple Upgrade, Apple Card Monthly Installments, buying the product outright or carrier financing, which means the new system is arriving at the same time the old one is being retired.
At the end of the lease, customers can move to the latest generation, pay once to keep the device, or return it and leave the program. That final choice is what will decide whether Apple Upgrade feels like a convenient monthly bridge or just another way to spread out the cost of a device that many buyers would rather own outright.
