Apple Upgrade Program Will Let You Lease an iPhone Without Sticker Shock

Apple is betting it can smooth the path to premium phones by essentially turning the iPhone into a subscription, allowing customers to upgrade annually while spreading the $1,000-plus sticker price across monthly payments that feel more manageable. The move signals a seismic shift in how the tech giant plans to capture revenue from its most loyal customers—prioritizing predictable monthly streams over big upfront sales, a strategy that could reshape the entire smartphone industry if competitors follow suit. Whether this solves the upgrade dilemma or traps consumers in an endless payment cycle will determine whether Apple has engineered genuine consumer relief or merely a more sophisticated way to extract more money over time.

CNET·Jul 28