Source: AppleInsider News
Apple's new lease-to-buy model for iPhones and Macs mirrors automotive financing structures—predictable cash flows and higher lifetime revenue per customer—but shifts the math unfavorably for consumers who would have kept devices longer or bought them outright. The program locks customers into 24-month commitments with built-in obsolescence incentives, converting what was occasionally a major purchase decision into a recurring subscription-like expense. This benefits Apple's services ambitions and installed base predictability. Most buyers pay more for hardware than they would have under traditional purchase models.