Klarna announced it will power Apple Upgrade, a new hardware leasing program offered by Apple in the United States (Klarna Press). Customers can lease eligible iPhone, Mac, iPad, and Apple Watch with 12- and 24-month leasing options for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24- and 36-month leasing options for Mac and iPad (Klarna Press). At lease end, customers can upgrade to the latest model, purchase their device, or return it.
For commerce practitioners, this partnership represents a significant expansion of flexible payment models beyond traditional buy-now-pay-later into hardware-as-a-service territory. The seamless checkout experience integrated across Apple Retail online, in-store, and the Apple Store app positions Klarna as a critical infrastructure provider for Apple's direct-to-consumer hardware monetization strategy. Customers can manage their lease payments through the Klarna app, creating touchpoints for cross-selling and retention throughout the lease lifecycle.
The program is now available on the Apple Store online, in the Apple Store app, and at Apple Store locations in the United States (Klarna Press).