Don't buy your next iPhone, rent it
Apple could soon offer hardware subscriptions to keep users equipped with the latest iPhone
Apple is reportedly currently working on a subscription service for various hardware devices, starting with the iPhone, according to Bloomberg. The idea would be for users to "lease" a device for a given time, with the promise of an upgrade with each new generation. This could also concern other products, such as the iPad or even some Mac computers.
This service would be similar to the kind of long-term leasing that is already common in the automotive sector, for example. But in the cell phone industry, it would be a disruptive move, especially coming from Apple.
For users, the subscription process could be as simple as for any other Apple service, thanks to their unique Apple ID. On the one hand, Apple could gain users and, on the other hand, consumers would no longer have to pay out a large amount of money upfront to acquire the latest iPhone. It remains to be seen whether such a service would be financially advantageous for consumers in the long run, even with the guarantee of having a continuously updated model.
As yet, the initiative has not been confirmed by Apple, and Bloomberg has not mentioned any potential pricing. However, it seems that this project might not be launched before 2023, and would only be available in the United States.