Apple's New Upgrade Program Lets You Lease an iPhone, Mac, or iPad Starting at $17.99 USD Monthly
The Apple Upgrade program launches across US online and physical stores in partnership with Klarna.
Summary
Apple has officially introduced Apple Upgrade, a new US-based leasing program for iPhone, Mac, iPad and Apple Watch models
Developed in partnership with Klarna, the service offers 12- and 24-month terms for iPhones and Watches alongside 24- and 36-month terms for Macs and iPads
The program replaces the existing iPhone Upgrade Program and provides options to upgrade early, purchase the device or return it at the end of the lease
Apple has launched “Apple Upgrade,” a comprehensive hardware leasing program designed to provide a more accessible entry point for its latest ecosystem of devices. Rolling out across the brand’s online and physical stores in the United States, the service arrives just weeks after the tech giant hiked prices on its MacBooks and iPads amid ongoing industry component shortages. Now, users can lease an iPhone 17e starting at $17.99 USD per month, an Apple Watch Series 11 or iPad Air for $11.99 USD per month and a MacBook Air for $24.99 USD per month.
Developed in partnership with financial provider Klarna, the service requires a soft credit check for approval and operates much like a standard vehicle lease. Customers commit to 12- or 24-month terms for iPhones and Apple Watches, while Mac and iPad plans extend to 24 or 36 months. At the end of the selected term, users can trade their device in for a next-generation model, buy the hardware outright with a one-time payment or simply return the product and exit the ecosystem entirely. To lower monthly costs, participants can integrate their existing hardware through Apple Trade In or earn three percent Daily Cash back by paying with an Apple Card.
The new initiative effectively phases out the decade-old iPhone Upgrade Program, which is no longer accepting new enrollments. A critical shift in the transition is the removal of bundled AppleCare coverage, a feature previously baked into the legacy mobile leasing plan. Furthermore, the brand appears to be establishing strict guardrails to ensure consistent payments. Code discovered in early beta builds of iOS 27 suggests developers are preparing a restricted mode capable of locking financed devices out of specific applications if accounts fall into arrears.
