Overview
- Multiple outlets report Apple plans to introduce the Apple Upgrade leasing service in the United States on July 28, 2026, though Apple and Klarna had not publicly confirmed the launch.
- The program is said to offer 24‑month leases for iPhones and Apple Watches and 36‑month leases for Macs and iPads, with options to return, buy out, or swap devices during the term.
- Enrollment would require a soft credit check and the program would exclude some lower‑priced models and business or education purchases, and it reportedly would not bundle AppleCare.
- Apple is expected to stop new signups for its existing iPhone Upgrade Program and standard financing to make way for the Klarna‑backed lease service, shifting financing off Apple’s balance sheet.
- Reports say the move responds to recent memory and storage driven price increases linked to AI data center demand and could raise questions about fees, ownership rights, and regulatory scrutiny of lease and BNPL products.