Apple and Klarna are partnering on a new "Apple Upgrade" leasing program set to launch in the U.S. on Tuesday, July 28, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
The program will allow you to finance most iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models, with a 24-month term for iPhones and Apple Watches and a 36-month term for iPads and Macs. Customers will be able to pay off the device early during the term, upgrade early to a newer device, or keep or return the existing device after the term.
The report said some lower-priced devices, including the Apple Watch SE, the entry-level iPad, the iPhone 16, and the MacBook Neo, will not be eligible.
Klarna is a popular "buy now, pay later" service, similar to Affirm. Apple Upgrade will require a soft credit check, and additional fees may apply in some cases.
Apple plans to stop accepting new iPhone Upgrade Program sign-ups once the new Apple Upgrade program launches, the report added. Unlike the iPhone Upgrade Program, however, Apple Upgrade will apparently not include AppleCare+ coverage.
Apple plans to advertise the program as a way to have lower monthly payments compared to current financing programs, according to the report, so it sounds like Apple Upgrade will be a rebranded, all-in-one program that replaces the iPhone Upgrade Program and some other standard financing options that the company has offered.
