Apple has just launched Apple Upgrade in the United States, a leasing program for iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad that allows you to pay a monthly fee instead of paying the entire price at once. The most striking point for your note is that the iPhone starts at $17.99 dollars per month, with options to renew, purchase at the end of the contract or return the device.
Apple Upgrade is already underway
Apple announced that Apple Upgrade is now available in the online Apple Store, in the Apple Store app and in physical stores in the United States. The program is a consumer lease offered by Klarna, not a traditional purchase or loan, and is designed to facilitate access to the brand's devices with lower monthly payments.
The novelty also marks the end of the iPhone Upgrade Program and iPhone Payments in the US market, which will be replaced by this new scheme. Apple also makes it clear that the proposal is limited to residents of the United States and that, for now, it does not apply outside that country.
How Apple Upgrade works
The process is quite direct. The customer chooses the device and the lease term, requests approval in minutes and, if the operation goes ahead, they can complete the purchase in the store or receive the equipment at home. Apple explains that the credit check is soft, so it does not impact the applicant's credit score.
The program offers terms of 12 and 24 months for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24 and 36 months for Mac and iPad. There's also the chance to reduce your monthly fee if you trade in used equipment through Apple Trade In, plus earn 3 percent Daily Cash if you pay with Apple Card.
The iPhone from $17.99
The figure of $17.99 per month corresponds to the entry price for some iPhone models within the program. Apple clarifies that payments change depending on the device, the chosen configuration and the contract term, so that price is a starting point and not a universal rate for all models.
For reference, Apple notes that a 256GB iPhone 17 Pro would have a typical fee of $31.99 per month on a 24-month plan or $45.99 per month on a 12-month plan. The commercial message is clear, because the system lowers the entry barrier and makes getting a new iPhone feel much more accessible for those who prefer soft payments.
What users gain with Apple Upgrade
When the contract ends, the user can upgrade to a new model, purchase the device with a one-time payment, or return it and exit the program. That flexibility is one of the great attractions of the plan, because it turns the experience into something more similar to a technological subscription than to a rigid lifelong purchase.
Apple also allows you to add AppleCare to protect the device, something useful if the idea is to renew frequently and keep the equipment in good condition. Of course, the service has conditions, because if you cancel early, significant charges may apply, and if you do not return the product or do not complete the process at the end of the term, the contract can change to a month-to-month modality.
In practice, Apple Upgrade pushes users towards a more flexible consumption model, with less initial friction and more control over the rate of renewal. It also fits with a very current reality, where many people no longer want to be tied to a complete purchase when they can spread the expense and change devices more frequently.
The program is also only available to residents of the United States and requires meeting several requirements, such as having an Apple and Klarna account, a valid tax ID, and approved credit. Even with these conditions, the idea is powerful because it puts on the table a more convenient way to get a new iPhone without having to pay the full price from day one.
