蘋果公司推出名為「Apple Upgrade」的全新硬體租賃服務，與金融公司Klarna合作，讓使用者能以按月付費的方式租用iPhone、iPad、Mac或Apple Watch。這項服務提供無鎖版手機與舊換新折扣，使用者可在一年或兩年後換取新機，進一步強化了蘋果生態系的訂閱制願景。（關鍵數字： two years）

儘管每月租金看似不貴，但使用者並未真正擁有該設備，且必須在租期結束時將設備以初始狀態歸還，否則可能面臨額外收費。維修倡議者認為，這種商業模式將消費者從擁有者轉變為承租人，不僅削弱了消費者的自主權，也讓蘋果得以在二手市場中實現利潤最大化。

專家警告，這類租賃或先買後付的模式反映了更廣泛的負擔能力危機，雖然能暫時緩解物價上漲帶來的經濟壓力，但長期下來可能引發更大的財務問題。對於追求性價比的消費者而言，購買二手翻新機、盡可能延長使用壽命，並在汰換時轉手賣出，依然是更為明智的選擇。

Apple has launched "Apple Upgrade," a new hardware leasing service in partnership with the financial company Klarna, allowing users to rent devices like iPhones, iPads, Macs, or Apple Watches for a monthly fee. This service offers unlocked phones and trade-in options, letting customers swap for new hardware after one or two years, further solidifying Apple's vision of a subscription-based ecosystem.

Although the monthly payments may seem affordable, users do not actually own the devices and must return them in their initial condition at the end of the term to avoid extra wear-and-tear fees. Repair advocates argue that this business model shifts consumers from owners to renters, stripping away their agency while allowing Apple to maximize its profits in the secondary market.

Experts warn that such leasing or buy-now, pay-later schemes reflect a broader affordability crisis, temporarily easing the financial strain of rising prices but potentially leading to larger debt issues over time. For consumers seeking the best value, buying refurbished devices, using them for as long as possible, and reselling them remains a wiser financial choice.