No, You Probably Shouldn’t Lease Your iPhone
Apple has introduced a new leasing program for its hardware, allowing users to rent devices like iPhones and Macs for a monthly fee. The article argues that this model is financially disadvantageous for consumers compared to buying and reselling devices.
Why it matters
The shift toward subscription-based hardware models changes the nature of consumer ownership and long-term financial planning for personal technology.
Apple has spent more than a decade tending to its thriving walled garden of products. Outgoing CEO Tim Cook’s core legacy at the company was turning it into a subscription service, where devices and services sync and communicate seamlessly, locking customers in.
Apple Upgrade is the latest iteration of that vision. On Tuesday, Apple announced a new product leasing service that lets you rent products like a new iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch. (The news was leaked a week early by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.)
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