Apple has announced a new leasing program backed by Klarna called Apple Upgrade. It offers eligible customers monthly payment options for Apple devices, including iPhone starting at $17.99 per month and Apple Watch starting at $11.99 per month. Apple Upgrade provides 12- and 24-month leasing options for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24- and 36-month leasing options for Mac and iPad. Leasing prices start as low as $17.99 per month for iPhone, $11.99 for Apple Watch, $24.99 for Mac, and $11.99 for iPad. This effectively marks the end of the iPhone Upgrade Program in the United States.
Despite what some social media posts claim, according to MacRumors, “Apple will not lock you out of your device if you miss payments. If you miss a payment, it’s simply rolled into the next month’s bill. There are no late fees. Three strikes rule: Miss three payments in a row and Klarna automatically terminates the lease. The full remaining balance becomes due immediately. Klarna subtracts the current value of the device when you return it, reducing what you owe. If you don’t return the device or pay the balance, the account goes to collections.” It’ll be interesting to see how this stacks up against just buying a phone through a carrier plan—especially since these leased devices are unlocked, thought it does go to show the broader impact Klarna has had.
In other Apple news: Apple may unveil a home hub that functions like Amazon’s Echo Show, but with Siri. Latest reports point to a device with Siri AI, a 7-inch screen, and an operating system described as a blend of tvOS, watchOS, and iOS. Expected retail price is around $350.If this came from any other company I’d call it a likely flop. But people keep buying Apple products even when they’re overpriced. The price itself isn’t the real issue—Apple can always lean on “privacy” as the selling point, plus the ecosystem lock-in. The actual make-or-break factor (the “convergent nexus,” as Miriam (Red Rock Mysteries) might say) will rest on how good Siri AI actually is. God bless, and Tech Talk To You Later!!
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