The Cupertino giant made official, on July 28, 2026, the arrival of an unprecedented electronics rental model for the North American market. Called Apple Upgrade, the modality was structured together with the financial platform Klarna to enable installment payments for equipment such as Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and iPhone. The format definitively replaces the old credit lines and renewal plans that the manufacturer maintained in the country.
The strategic move seeks to democratize the acquisition of premium hardware in an economic scenario where the digital credit model gains global strength, transferring the risk of default to the financial partner. Karen Rasmussen, executive responsible for the brand’s digital retail, stated that the corporation keeps the consumer as the top priority in its operations. The vice president also expressed enthusiasm about the ability to deliver a financial alternative that is much more adaptable to buyers’ budgets.
Deadlines and conditions of the new electronics rental model
The Apple Upgrade structure establishes contract windows that change depending on the category of equipment chosen by the user. Anyone looking for a smartphone or smart watch will have 12 or 24 month contract cycles available. On the other hand, the brand’s computers and tablets require longer commitments, set at 24 or 36 months. The monthly entry fees were designed to present attractive values, facilitating the entry of new customers into the company’s ecosystem.
Apart from the diluted cost over the years, the initiative guarantees extra benefits for subscribers. Consumers can reduce the value of the installments when delivering used equipment as part of the payment, using the official Apple Trade In system. There is also a direct financial incentive for Apple Card holders, who receive 3% cash back on all invoices paid using the company’s own credit card.
Learn more: New Apple Upgrade service allows you to rent iPhone and Mac in the United States
Step by step to take out financing in stores and on the website
The membership flow was designed to avoid bureaucracy, working in an integrated manner both in electronic commerce and in physical units spread across the United States. Before signing any document, the system displays a complete breakdown of all rental fees, terms and conditions. This upfront transparency ensures the buyer understands exactly the long-term financial impact of the subscription.
Completing the application takes just a few moments, depending on an instant credit check by Klarna, which performs a smooth check without damaging the applicant’s financial score. With the platform’s green light, the user decides whether they prefer to receive the box at home or pick up the package at the counter of a physical store. The service package includes face-to-face support for the initial configuration of the operating system and free access to educational workshops promoted in stores.
Alternatives available to the consumer at the end of the contract
When the loyalty period comes to an end, the subscriber needs to make a decision about the future of the equipment they have in their hands. The program offers three distinct paths:
- Technological renewal: Return the old hardware and sign a new contract to get the latest generation of the product.
- Permanent acquisition: Pay a residual value stipulated in the contract to become the permanent owner of the device.
- End of contract: Deliver the device in good condition to the company and cancel the subscription at no extra cost.
Control of the entire financial operation, from invoice history to outstanding balance, is concentrated in the credit partner’s official application. The manufacturer strongly advises users to include the AppleCare extended warranty in the package, as coverage against accidental damage avoids fines upon return and simplifies the exchange for a more modern model.
On the same topic: Apple prepares to launch iPhone and Mac rental service in the United States
Price table and hardware generations included in the catalog
The portfolio eligible for rental covers the brand’s main technology lines, with costs that fluctuate depending on storage capacity and loyalty time.
- Smartphones: Monthly fees start at US$17.99, covering the iPhone 17 family (including Pro, Max, Air and 17e versions). A 256GB iPhone 17 Pro costs around $31.99 per month for a two-year plan.
- Smartwatches: Costs start at $11.99 for models like the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3. The standard 42mm Series 11 (GPS) version costs exactly the starting price for the category on a 24-month contract.
- Computers: Prices start at US$24.99, covering machines such as MacBook Air (M5), MacBook Pro (M5, M5 Pro, M5 Max), iMac (M4) and Mac Studio. A 14-inch MacBook Pro with 16GB of RAM requires paying $38.99 monthly for three years.
- Tablets: From US$11.99 per month for the iPad Air, iPad mini and iPad Pro lines with M5 processor. The 11-inch Pro model with 256 GB runs a bill of $24.99 over 36 months.
The manufacturer left out of this financial modality some specific equipment from its current catalog. Devices such as the iPhone 16, the 16 Plus variant, the Apple Watch SE, the MacBook Neo, the Mac mini, the entry-level iPad (A16) and the Studio Display monitor cannot be rented through this partnership.
Discontinuation of old services and impact on current customers
The arrival of this new feature decrees the immediate end of the iPhone Upgrade Program and the iPhone Payments system in the United States. Consumers who have active contracts in these old modalities will receive guidance on migrating their profiles to the new financial ecosystem.
More on this story: New Apple device rental service hits the American market
This audience will have the freedom to start a new rental, use the brand’s standard credit card installments, buy the item in cash or use subsidies from telephone operators. This transition highlights a profound change in the technology giant’s commercial strategy, which is now betting on the strength of an outsourced credit platform to scale the distribution of its high-value-added products.