Apple has launched Apple Upgrade in the United States, a new leasing program through Klarna that lets customers pay monthly for iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad. The program is now available on the Apple Store online, in the Apple Store app and at Apple Store locations in the United States.
For Apple Watch, monthly leasing starts at $11.99, while iPhone plans start at $17.99, Mac at $24.99 and iPad at $11.99. Customers can choose 12- or 24-month leasing for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24- or 36-month leasing for Mac and iPad.
The new offer gives Apple customers a different way to get devices right away. In-store buyers can leave with a new device the same day, while online customers can choose delivery or in-store pickup. Apple said customers can apply within minutes and get quick approval from Klarna, and every applicant goes through a soft credit inquiry that does not affect a credit score.
Karen Rasmussen said Apple puts the customer at the center of what it does and is pleased to offer a more flexible way to pay for products online and in-store. That flexibility comes with a clear set of choices at the end of the lease: customers can upgrade to the latest generation, buy the device with a one-time payment, or return it and exit the program. Apple also said eligible customers can lower monthly payments by trading in a device through Apple Trade In when they first enroll, and they can add AppleCare or use Apple Card to earn 3 percent Daily Cash back on lease payments.
The launch also closes off two older paths in the United States. Apple will no longer offer the iPhone Upgrade Program or iPhone Payments there, and current iPhone Upgrade Program users can choose Apple Upgrade, Apple Card Monthly Installments, outright purchase or carrier financing when eligible. That makes this a cleaner split than a simple add-on: Apple is replacing its old U.S. payment setup with a broader leasing system that covers more products, not fewer.
Customers who want to keep track of the lease can do that in the Klarna app, which shows the billing schedule and remaining payments. Apple also says buyers can use Apple Personal Setup and free Today at Apple sessions after getting a device, which pushes the program beyond financing and into the full handoff from checkout to use.
