Damn boi. Apple is legit now pretty much full-on vertically integrated.
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Apple Planning Interest-Free Apple Card Payment Plans for Macs, AirPods, iPads and More
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Nope you're wrong.
First, as I said, you can easily audit the API behind the ID recognition vendor (IDEMIA). You can instantly see if they return race and gender. You can't crawl into a banker's head and truthfully determine if they are actually considering race.
The fact is that the law, ECOA, says you can't discriminate against race, sex, national origin, etc. So if you do not consider race or sex in your algorithm it's fine.
Now if one race has higher or lower income, and you discriminate based on income, that is totally legal.
Same thing in education or hiring. You can say the person has to have x level of education, despite the fact that educational attainment varies by race. And indeed employers show that their race/sex distribution matches the general population with the same level of education.
What you're proposing is affirmative action which is a different matter.
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While I think this is great, it’s very dangerous for most people. When you start having to finance $2000 purchases, you are going down a slippery slope.
Put $100 into savings each month for two years to buy something for $2400
OR
Buy something for $2400 on impulse immediately and pay it off every month until it's paid off interest free.
While both methods will drain your money equally, the impulse buy, get-now/pay later scheme (interest free loan) suits sellers better because everyone knows it's hard to have the discipline to save money every month for two years.
Interest free loans promote over spending. No doubt about it
OR
Buy something for $2400 on impulse immediately and pay it off every month until it's paid off interest free.
While both methods will drain your money equally, the impulse buy, get-now/pay later scheme (interest free loan) suits sellers better because everyone knows it's hard to have the discipline to save money every month for two years.
Interest free loans promote over spending. No doubt about it
As with all things, when used responsibly credit can be advantageous.
I have easily financed some $15,000 or more in Apple products on my Barclayacrd over the years (multiple iMacs, iPads, iPhones, accessories, MacBook Pros, etc.), all of it at 18 or 24 months SAC. Every single item I bought I had the cash on hand in my bank account, but rather then blow that all at once, I was able to keep it in the bank and earn interest (even if a pittance) and having that money available meant I paid well over the monthly minimums to ensure I paid off each loan two months before it was due (so there could be no issues with deferred interest).
Barclays was effectively letting me use their money for free for a time (yes, there is the annual fee, but you can negotiate that - especially if you have a long and all-positive history with them, which I do). Why wouldn't I do that if it was comfortably within my means to do so?
I have easily financed some $15,000 or more in Apple products on my Barclayacrd over the years (multiple iMacs, iPads, iPhones, accessories, MacBook Pros, etc.), all of it at 18 or 24 months SAC. Every single item I bought I had the cash on hand in my bank account, but rather then blow that all at once, I was able to keep it in the bank and earn interest (even if a pittance) and having that money available meant I paid well over the monthly minimums to ensure I paid off each loan two months before it was due (so there could be no issues with deferred interest).
Barclays was effectively letting me use their money for free for a time (yes, there is the annual fee, but you can negotiate that - especially if you have a long and all-positive history with them, which I do). Why wouldn't I do that if it was comfortably within my means to do so?
I don't see why the promotion of consumer debt for what is, for most people, a discretionary purchase, should be regarded as a good thing.
Americans in particular are saddled with high levels of credit card debt - The constant keeping up with the Joneses is not good for anyone except big corporations bottom line...
Tried to apply for this card and got turned down with a 813 credit score and 100% perfect payment history. Makes sense.
I approve of this! The carriers in my country are retarded and want 50€ for a payment plan that includes 10GB data and unlimited calls. You add another 50€ for the phone and you pay 100€/month for 24 months. Of course, you pay like 600€ in cash for the phone in advance. I just wish Apple Card was available here, using Visa Gold and it’s worth dog poo.
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Why? It’s not your problem. I can pay cash for one now, but why? I rather keep the cash and use interest free to pay it off.
Is your credit locked? Mine is and I would get turned down. I wound need to see what credit agency they use and unlock that one before I apply.
Wow! And at least a halfway decent income?
I ask because my credit score is the same (exactly the same actually) and I may apply for this at some point.
Yes very good income. And none of my cards are above 10% usage. I'm a bit at a loss lol.
People can't participate in the modern economy without a computer or phone.
When you look at debt service payments as a percentage of household income, Americans are far better than many other countries. The percent of household income going to pay for debt is the lowest it has been since at least 1980.
You may also have looked at fake news which looks at "credit card" debt. In many foreign countries, consumer borrowing occurs via checking account overdraft facilities and installment purchase plans.
Household debt
Household debt is defined as all liabilities of households (including non-profit institutions serving households) that require payments of interest or principal by households to the creditors at a fixed dates in the future.
Household Debt Service Payments as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income
Graph and download economic data for Household Debt Service Payments as a Percent of Disposable Personal Income (TDSP) from Q1 1980 to Q2 2025 about disposable, payments, personal income, debt, percent, households, personal, income, services, and USA.
fred.stlouisfed.org
Feeling guilty is not justified by facts.
I don’t see what’s good about products becoming subscriptions. It might be good for Apple but it’s definitely bad for customers.
Nor for your neighbor across the North sea, I would instantly buy a new Mac (Mini) if I had to pay zero interest for
12/24 months, my Macs are old.😳
Why don't we ever get deals like this on the other (this) side of the big pond.😡
Are you saying that Apple won't finance your purchase if you are buying just a pencil or have you found a corner case (i.e. excuse) to rebuff a generally correct statement?
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You are looking too deep. It's just a reflection of the fact that we are living in a zero (and even negative) interest rates times (thanks FED). This financing costs Apple nothing because they can (and do) sell bonds at close to 0% interest rates.
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What? How is this different than Best Buy doing this? Pay now, or pay later. Sadly, you actually need a credit card these days. Try renting a car or even reserving a hotel room these days without one. Besides, I lose my credit card, I make a call and all is ok. I lose the cash for my grocery shopping, I’m screwed. The reward points pay for hotel rooms for road trips.So those who don't need credit and pay in full at time of purchase are subsidising those who do. Thanks Apple.
Hardly considering your devices continue to work when they’re paid off. Not like a subscription at all unless you consider a mortgage and car payment a subscription as well, at which point ‘subscription’ loses all relevant meaning.
Apple plans to debut interest-free payment plan options for customers who purchase iPads, AirPods, Macs, and more using Apple Card, allowing them to pay for purchases over several months.
According to Bloomberg, Apple will roll out the Apple Card feature in the coming weeks, with customers given up to 12 months to pay for their products before interest is due.
The 12 month plan will be available for iPads, Macs, the Apple Pencil, iPad keyboards, and the Pro Display XDR, while six month payment plans will be offered for AirPods, Apple TV, and HomePod.
Customers will be able to make payments through the Wallet app, with charges added each month to their Apple Card bills.
Apple rolled out a 24-month interest free iPhone installment plan for Apple Card users back in December, which lets customers purchase an iPhone with the Apple Card and pay over the course of 24 months.
The new device payment plans will work in the same way. Customers will get three percent Daily Cash back for their purchases, and the plans will be compatible with Apple's educational discounts.
During Apple's most recent earnings call, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Apple was planning to provide payment plan options for devices other than the iPhone. "As you know, we launched the payment plan earlier on Apple Card for iPhone," he said. "We're working on that for other products and you'll see something on that shortly."
Apple's upcoming payment plans are meant to boost sales of Apple devices by allowing customers to pay for their items over time, as well as bolster Apple Card signups.
Article Link: Apple Planning Interest-Free Apple Card Payment Plans for Macs, AirPods, iPads and More
i initially misread this headline as apple introducing an interface for the apple card on the Mac, and while this is certainly good, they better get on that and allow me to manage the apple card on the Mac already. Ridiculous
Only the CPUs of Macs and the cellular chips of iPhones and iPads remain to prevent (near) complete vertical integration.
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I would also like to control Apple TVs from macOS.
I just wanted the titanium card so I can use it as a weapon in this crazy world 😂
12 months on a Mac isn’t that great.
Definitely better 0% intro and/or welcome bonus rewards than this and 3% cash back out there, and we already know there are better long term cash back/reward cards available too.
I did the soft application last week so I would have the offer saved in my wallet during WWDC just in case, but this may push me away.
Definitely better 0% intro and/or welcome bonus rewards than this and 3% cash back out there, and we already know there are better long term cash back/reward cards available too.
I did the soft application last week so I would have the offer saved in my wallet during WWDC just in case, but this may push me away.