Given that buy now, pay later (BNPL) payment models are popular in the Middle East, Apple’s recent US leasing program has sparked rumors that it would launch a comparable product there. This week, the company introduced Apple Upgrade, a US leasing scheme that lets consumers rent iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches for monthly payments instead of buying them altogether.
In the US, the move replaces Apple’s long-standing “iPhone Upgrade Program” and other internal financing options, indicating a larger trend toward recurring payments and subscription-style hardware ownership.
The Gulf’s quickly increasing BNPL market might make the region a prime choice if Apple decides to expand the program globally, despite the fact that the company has not made any announcements about doing so. That may seem like a minor differential, but it has already revolutionized a number of industries, including software, streaming, and automobiles. It’s now showing up in consumer electronics.
There is more to the program than just phones. While Macs and iPads can be leased for 24 or 36 months, iPhones and Apple Watches can be leased for 12 or 24 months. An iPhone costs $17.99 per month, an Apple Watch costs $11.99, a Mac costs $24.99, and an iPad costs $11.99. To lower those costs, existing equipment can be exchanged.
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