A monthly Apple iPhone subscription is still in the works. Rumors suggest that the new hardware subscription will soon be released in combination with services – Apple One.
The hardware subscription rumor that would allow customers to purchase iPhones and other Apple hardware products for a monthly fee has been circulating for some time, but has yet to become a reality. Although Apple had the opportunity to unveil such a service during the iPhone 14 event, it could still surface in the coming weeks, according to a report.
Apple One could include hardware
Apple is said to be “actively testing” the service, as Mark Gurman says in his newsletter "Power On" reports for Bloomberg. Gurman expects the service to launch "this year or next." Gurman writes:
The planned subscription was not announced or mentioned during the iPhone event to reduce complexity on launch day, as it would be a “completely new way to buy an iPhone.
With an event expected in October for the launch of the iPad and Mac, there's a good chance Apple will use that presentation as a venue to introduce a subscription. Apple already offers a number of direct ways for customers to purchase the latest flagships, including the iPhone Upgrade Program and installment plans. The subscription would be different, however, in that customers would pay not only for part of the hardware cost, but also for a range of services.
All-in-one subscription should be inevitable
According to Gurman, Apple One packages could, for example, include the hardware as part of the monthly cost and allow customers to use the most important Apple services immediately. It is also conceivable that Apple will offer AppleCare+ as part of the same overall package. Gurman's prediction that the subscription will launch in late 2022 or early 2023 is in line with similar statements he made in March. However, the rumors of an all-in-one subscription are already a few years old and are seen by analysts as inevitable for Apple. It is also suspected that a hardware subscription could be beneficial for investors as it would shift the focus from seasonal one-off sales to recurring sales. (Image: Apple)
