Apple Upgrade: a leasing programme for Apple’s latest products

As memory chip prices for smartphones and PCs soar, Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce Apple Upgrade in the United States. The scheme would be a leasing programme, similar to car leasing, designed to let its fans use the company’s newest products.

Apple products are already among the most expensive on the market. Prices are also rising because of the shortage of memory chips, including RAM and storage. Apple products were already subject to a round of price increases in June. Although the iPhone was not affected, it is highly likely that the next Apple smartphones, due in September, will cost more. In response, the company is said to have devised a new system called “Apple Upgrade”, which could make its products more accessible.

According to a Bloomberg report (The Verge), Apple is expected to unveil its new “Apple Upgrade” programme on 28 July. The scheme would replace the “iPhone Upgrade” programme, allowing customers to lease the company’s most expensive products, including iPhones, Macs and iPads. Apple is reportedly partnering with deferred-payment specialist Klarna to develop the programme.

The programme would operate in a similar way to vehicle leasing. Customers would have options to move to a newer model sooner, keep their device, or return it.

Apple Upgrade: a response to the smartphone and PC crisis

For now, this information should be treated cautiously, as it does not come from an official source. Nevertheless, the programme could help Apple respond more effectively to the crisis affecting smartphones and PCs in its domestic market.

The memory chip shortage is being driven by the construction of new data centres for artificial intelligence. As these data centres require large quantities of memory chips, the race for AI has created an imbalance between supply and demand, affecting many sectors.

In 2025, Apple appeared to have avoided rising component costs. This year, however, the company said that price increases are now unavoidable.