Apple Developing Hardware Subscription Service for iPhones and Other Devices

Thursday March 24, 2022 10:18 am PDT by Juli Clover

Apple is developing a hardware subscription service that would allow customers to "subscribe" and receive an iPhone or other Apple device as part of their subscription, similar to the way current Apple subscriptions like iCloud work, reports Bloomberg.

iphone 13 pro max display bleen
Customers would be able to pay a monthly subscription fee and gain access to a device for the subscription period. This would be ideal for customers who do not have the funds to buy an expensive ‌iPhone‌, iPad, or Mac up front, but who can afford a monthly price for the device, plus it would bring in more revenue for Apple.

Apple is said to be aiming to make the process of buying an ‌iPhone‌ or an ‌iPad‌ "on par" with purchasing ‌iCloud‌ storage or paying for an Apple Music subscription, with customers able to subscribe to hardware with their Apple ID and App Store account.

Compared to the ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program, it would differ because Apple would charge a yet-to-be-determined monthly fee rather than splitting the cost of a device across a 12 or 24 month period. It would also cover other products while the ‌iPhone‌ Upgrade Program is limited to the ‌iPhone‌.

It is possible that Apple will allow subscription users to swap out their devices for updated models when refreshed products are released, and Apple has had discussions internally about tying the subscription program to Apple One bundles and AppleCare support plans.

Customers would be able to purchase a hardware subscription on their devices, through the ‌App Store‌, through the company's website, or at an Apple online store.

According to Bloomberg, the service will be Apple's "biggest push yet" into recurring sales, but the project is still in development and little is known about it at this time. Apple has been working on it for months, but it was pushed back to allow Apple to focus on a separate "buy now, pay later" service that is designed to allow customers to pay for Apple Pay purchases in installments over time.

Apple is working to implement hardware subscriptions by the end of 2022, but it could be delayed into 2023 or canceled entirely should Apple decide to go in a different direction.

Tag: Bloomberg

Top Rated Comments

andrewxgx

20 months ago

you'll own nothing and you'll be happy

Score: 125 Votes (Like | Disagree)

fwmireault

This would be ideal for customers who do not have the funds to buy an expensive iPhone, iPad, or Mac up front, but who can afford a monthly price for the device

People who don't have the funds to buy this device in the first place should not subscribe to that kind of services. There's no way the would be cheaper on the long run, and you can't resell the device afterwards

Score: 59 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Dan Holmstock

man, I logged in to just say the same thing! Everything is being set up to be taken from you. Think "community standards".

Score: 54 Votes (Like | Disagree)

now i see it

Adobe Creative Cloud is a big hit.

Not.

Score: 38 Votes (Like | Disagree)

vipergts2207

Seriously, this whole concept of owning nothing and making payments on everything you “own” in perpetuity is nuts. I’ll keep my mortgage and my paid-for car thank you. Same goes for my electronics. I’m not a Rent-a-Center customer and don’t intend to be a customer for this either.

Score: 37 Votes (Like | Disagree)