Or maybe next year. Or maybe never.
From "Apple Is Working on a Hardware Subscription Service for iPhones" posted Thursday on the Bloomberg:
Apple Inc. is working on a subscription service for the iPhone and other hardware products, a move that could make
device ownership similar to paying a monthly app fee, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
The service would be Apple’s biggest push yet into automatically recurring sales, allowing users to subscribe to hardware for the first time -- rather than just digital services. But the project is still in development, said the people, who asked not to identified because the initiative hasn’t been announced...
Apple has been working on the subscription program for several months, but the project was recently put on the back burner in an effort to launch a “buy now, pay later” service more quickly. Nonetheless, the subscription service is still expected to launch at the end of 2022, but could be delayed into 2023 or end up getting canceled, the people said...
In 2015, the company launched the iPhone Upgrade Program, financed through Citizens One Personal Loans, that let users spread the cost of an iPhone over 24 months and upgrade to a new model every 12 months. It also lets Apple Card users divide the cost of an iPhone or Apple Watch over 24 months or an iPad or Mac over 12 months.
My take: Seems like a no-brainer. I fell off the iPhone Upgrade Program when I switched carriers a few years back. I'm ready to climb back on.
Maybe a hardware subscription would do this?
Until then I’ll just buy a new one “whenever.” It’s no more hassle than the update program.
The proposed rumor for an Apple hardware/services subscription model is appealing, but I do not know if it is a deal breaker for many folk. The monthly dollar subscription needs to be competitive and not just pro-rating the cost of the hardware-services on monthly terms commensurate with the same amount if purchased.
Apple hardware is premium build and lasts for years giving continuing service. I held my iPhone X for four solid years of service and easily could have gone an additional year. I notice no degradation in performance during the 3rd and 4th years. In many ways I could have held off with the 13 and waited for the iPhone 14 arrival, thus getting five full years of service from my iPhone X. That would have meant three full years or 36 months of NO monthly payments. So, for me a subscription needs to be less than the pro-rated monthly charge of the device over time if purchased, tantamount to the existing 24 month upgrade program which essentially is paying full price of the phone. Otherwise, just buy the phone and after 24 months keep it for an additional 36 months of no payments, using those accumulated funds to pay for other subscription services. It will be interesting to see how many folk bite for a hardware/services subscription. I do not believe many of my friends would bite; but I will inquire.