Apple Upgrade leasing programme to debut in the US on July 28
Apple is preparing to introduce a new device leasing programme, called Apple Upgrade, in the United States on July 28, 2026, gradually replacing its long-running iPhone Upgrade Program for new enrolments. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, writing in his Power On newsletter, the programme will cover most current iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch models in Apple's hardware lineup, with 24-month terms for iPhones and Apple Watches and 36-month agreements for iPads and Macs. Several lower-priced products, including the iPhone 16, Apple Watch SE, entry-level iPad and MacBook Neo, are not expected to qualify, and business and education purchases may also be excluded. At the end of the lease, customers will reportedly be able to return the device, upgrade to a newer model or pay a fee to keep it. Apple is said to stop accepting new enrolments for the iPhone Upgrade Program on the same day, though existing members will be allowed to continue on their current plans for the time being.
The new programme will be backed by Klarna Group Plc rather than Citizens Bank, the financier behind the existing programme, and will not bundle AppleCare+ into the monthly payments, making it a simpler leasing service for customers who prefer to upgrade devices regularly. Customers will need to purchase AppleCare+ separately for additional coverage. Reports from Mac Observer and Gadgets 360 note that Apple plans to market the offering with lower monthly payments than its existing financing options.
AppleCare One launches in the UK with broader theft and loss coverage
Separately, 9to5Mac reported that AppleCare One is rolling out in the United Kingdom, offering a single monthly payment to cover three or more Apple products. The plan costs £16.99 per month for three devices, with additional devices available for £4.99 per month each, and is positioned as cheaper than purchasing individual AppleCare+ plans for each product. Apple is also expanding AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss protection in the UK beyond iPhone to cover iPad and Apple Watch. Existing AppleCare+ enrollees can transition seamlessly to AppleCare One, with Apple automatically cancelling the previous plan and refunding any unused portion, and trade-in upgrades will transfer coverage between devices automatically.
Under the new structure, AppleCare+ with Theft and Loss provides unlimited accidental damage claims and up to two theft or loss claims per year, while AppleCare One caps total claims across all devices at three per year. Existing devices must be no more than four years old at the point of enrolment, or one year for headphones, and must be registered to the customer's Apple account.
Apple pushes OLED suppliers on iPhone 18 Pro Max pricing
Apple is also pressuring Samsung Display and LG Display to lower OLED panel prices for the iPhone 18 Pro Max by roughly 20 percent compared with the panels used in the iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to a Mac Observer report citing The Elec. Apple has proposed paying about $70 per panel, with suppliers indicating they could deliver at an average price of around $66.50. The lower target comes even as suppliers prepare to use Samsung Display's new M16 OLED material set, which is intended to improve brightness efficiency, panel lifespan and colour performance, requiring manufacturers to adjust production processes and stabilise yields before reaching full output. Samsung Display is expected to supply 46 million panels for the iPhone 18 lineup and LG Display around 41 million units, most of which will support the Pro and Pro Max models. Apple plans to launch the iPhone 18 Pro models in September, alongside its first foldable iPhone, with analysts expecting higher starting prices as memory and storage costs continue to rise.
AI smart glasses targeted for mid-2027 developer debut
Looking further out, Bloomberg reporting carried by the Indian Express indicates Apple is "currently aiming" to debut AI-powered smart glasses at its developer conference in June 2027, with a retail launch possibly following in time for that year's holiday shopping season. The glasses would feature a camera, microphone and speakers in a design similar to Meta's Ray-Ban smart glasses. Apple's smart glasses division has undergone several internal changes, and earlier reports of a 2026 release appear to have slipped due to privacy-related concerns, though the company has not publicly confirmed the new timeline.
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