Apple Upgrade: 20 Things to Know Before Leasing an iPhone, iPad, or Mac

[whitby]

Leasing is always a nightmare when you return the leased device/product. Whether or not you are going onto a new phone, you will be hit for charges related to any damage, major or minor, they find with your phone, in this case. What makes this a non starter for me, is that it is tied to opening or having an account with one of the major carriers at the time of the commencement of the lease.

Overall this is an attempt by Apple to cover their increased purchase costs and hopefully get people top buy into what are becoming extremely expensive devices. I remember when breaking the $1000 barrier was considered cataclysmic for phone sales and now we are breezily talking about $2000 and above. Inflation is one thing but this is utter nonsense.

The best I can say is that it is at least one more option that be used to acquire one of these, now, exceedingly expensive devices. I have a 17 Pro Max and I am opting out at this point since the costs no longer justify the function. But at least I have the option, which I consider to be better than nothing.

 

[polaris20]

That is correct. Well it’s still the device cost and the end of the day. You are just making sure you pay off the rest. The statement and comments from others indicate that “balloon payment” you mention is an add on cost but it’s not. If you want a 10k Mac Studio and buy it at the end it will end up at 10k spent. No extras.

So since that's the case, I don't really view this as much of a problem, at least as it applies to Macs anyway. I think it's more than a little silly to lease a Watch, but whatever floats someone's boat.

 

[Ethosik]

So since that's the case, I don't really view this as much of a problem, at least as it applies to Macs anyway. I think it's more than a little silly to lease a Watch, but whatever floats someone's boat.

Yeah I don’t think it makes sense for those devices. But as I mentioned I like to do this on $6,000+ purchases since I can just invest that amount and make more from it. Especially if I do the three year leasing.

 

[Ethrem]

Leasing is always a nightmare when you return the leased device/product. Whether or not you are going onto a new phone, you will be hit for charges related to any damage, major or minor, they find with your phone, in this case. What makes this a non starter for me, is that it is tied to opening or having an account with one of the major carriers at the time of the commencement of the lease.

Overall this is an attempt by Apple to cover their increased purchase costs and hopefully get people top buy into what are becoming extremely expensive devices. I remember when breaking the $1000 barrier was considered cataclysmic for phone sales and now we are breezily talking about $2000 and above. Inflation is one thing but this is utter nonsense.

The best I can say is that it is at least one more option that be used to acquire one of these, now, exceedingly expensive devices. I have a 17 Pro Max and I am opting out at this point since the costs no longer justify the function. But at least I have the option, which I consider to be better than nothing.

They are very aware of the fact that the prices are getting hard to justify too which is why they won't add 120hz to the e model and may chop it from the base model this year too so that people who scroll websites and social media will still have to pony up for the Pro models if they want smooth scrolling.

 

[Ethrem]

Leasing is always a nightmare when you return the leased device/product. Whether or not you are going onto a new phone, you will be hit for charges related to any damage, major or minor, they find with your phone, in this case.

Yeah but you can always avoid that by just buying out the device at the end of the lease and then turning around and trading in with Apple directly to start a new lease if you think you will be subject to these fees. It's slightly more work and obviously you end up paying MSRP in the end but it is an option and Apple trade in value will usually be high enough to offset that payment at the end anyway unless they decide to drastically reduce trade in values.

What makes this a non starter for me, is that it is tied to opening or having an account with one of the major carriers at the time of the commencement of the lease.

So far it looks like the T-Mobile loophole that's existed for iUP for years (even before ACMI) and also for ACMI since they started requiring carrier activation works for the e, Air, and Pros. You just select T-Mobile, which skips the carrier connection at checkout, and then when you get the device and it prompts you to connect it just skip out of that and then when it prompts you to get a verification code, just say you didn't get it, do that three times and it won't bug you again.

They could change that, of course (in fact the verification code is a new part of the process), but it seems unlikely since it makes the majority think you have to have a carrier, which placates them, while letting Apple get more profit from those who know about it.

You're out of luck if you want a base model though as those force connection at checkout to verify you're eligible to have the $30 fee for not having a carrier removed.

 

[polaris20]

Yeah I don’t think it makes sense for those devices. But as I mentioned I like to do this on $6,000+ purchases since I can just invest that amount and make more from it. Especially if I do the three year leasing.

You know what's wild is that I was just checking out how much an iPad Air would be on a lease (more curiosity than intent to do it) and they still let you get engraved stuff. That seems a bit odd, for a lease.

 

[Ethrem]

You know what's wild is that I was just checking out how much an iPad Air would be on a lease (more curiosity than intent to do it) and they still let you get engraved stuff. That seems a bit odd, for a lease.

I thought for sure that was an oversight on launch day and they would have fixed it by now but I guess not.

 

[HylianKnight]

You can still do the Apple Card Installments, which sounds like I will continue to use that instead.

The difference, as I understand it, is you pay the phone off in full. I’m a foolish nerd who still likes to have a new phone every year.

 

[HylianKnight]

Just like I won't ever lease a car, I will never lease an iPhone. There's too much fine print. The discontinuation of the iPhone Upgrade Program will just change my buying habits: I'll simply keep my phone longer. This new program will work for some, but I think it's dangerous for people who only see the low monthly and don't understand the risks.

The iPhone upgrade program was effectively a lease until and unless you pay off the full amount.

 

[Ethrem]

The difference, as I understand it, is you pay the phone off in full. I’m a foolish nerd who still likes to have a new phone every year.

Unless Apple dramatically cuts trade in values you would probably still come out ahead trading in at a year on ACMI anyway.

It is certainly possible that they cut trade in value though to try to stave off some of the price increases.