Apple could turn the iPhone into a recurring subscription service as soon as this fall

Apple is working on a way to turn the iPhone into a recurring subscription service that could launch as soon as this year, according to Bloomberg News.

Apple could turn the iPhone into a recurring subscription service as soon as this fall. Image: Apple's iPhone 14 Pro design according to multiple leaks (Image: CONCEPTSIPHONE)
Apple’s iPhone 14 Pro design according to multiple leaks (Image: CONCEPTSIPHONE)

Samuel Axon for Ars Technica:

The new offering would fit neatly into Apple’s ongoing efforts to emphasize recurring subscription revenue.

Apple already offers the Prime-like Apple One subscription service that includes (depending on the specific package) Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Fitness+, and so on. And there’s a program called the iPhone Upgrade Program that allows customers to pay a monthly fee for ongoing iPhone upgrades and a warranty.

We don’t know any details yet about how this new service would differ from that. But we could see it being a combination of the two… If the report is true, we might hear more when new flagship iPhones are announced this fall.

MacDailyNews Take: Of course, an iPhone – and/or iPad, Mac, etc. – subscription service would be an optional way to get the hardware, in addition to the usual product sales, outright and subsidized.

$99 per month gets you an iPhone and every Apple service. Presented like that, it’d be insanely irresistible. And every “new to iPhone” customer will immediately and irrevocably be steeped in Apple’s Hotel California ecosystem… We bet if Apple offered iPhones along with services bundled into one monthly fee – offer tick boxes for Apple TV+, Apple News+, Apple Arcade, Apple Music, iCloud Storage, etc. – they’d have a winning sales strategy (Apple Prime) on their hands!MacDailyNews, September 11, 2019

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23 Comments

  1. I don’t understand the articles about this.

    The iPhone is already offered as a subscription service with the iPhone upgrade program, which has been a thing for like 5 years already. This is nothing new.

    I could see them changing the business model a little, like you don’t get the option to keep the phone once you stop paying or something, which is hard to imagine them doing.

    If anything, they may just expand the upgrade program to other devices like iPad, Apple Watch, Macs, etc.

    Every blog website seems to just be blindly running with this rumor without applying any logic or facts while reporting on it.

  2. I for one will never obtain another iPhone if Apple were to make iPhones subscription only. If it’s optional, I’m fine with Apple doing it. I’ll keep buying them.

    I and my extended family use iPhones exclusively. Some in the family replace their iPhone every year getting the latest and greatest models. Some in the family keep their iPhones for as long as 5+ years before replacing them. In talking to the majority of the members all prefer the purchase model; none prefer a subscription model no matter what comes with it.

  3. Yeah, Like I’m going to pay $100 a month instead of buying it for $1100

    No one is that stupid… oh, wait. If libturds will buy a Supreme Court nominee saying she can’t define “woman” they will buy anything

    Bet most libturds won’t even understand that. Lololol

    1. It costs considerably more than $1100 for an iPhone, especially a Pro model, and every Apple service for a year.

      Apple would make the hardware + services subscription price a deal vs. buying an iPhone and subscribing via Apple One.

      1. Unfortunately, given the 320 libturd genders, it was not an idiot question, and there was nothing smart about her answer, but you just proved my point. Lubturds are stupid enough to “buy” her answer. Thanks!!!!!!!!

        1. Those who challenge the intelligence of questions often reveal that they don’t have the answers.

          Extra special kudos to Hal, who reminds us all that going through life as a mean bitter cheap bastard is a downward spiral. First it starts with inability to keep current with technology, then turds (his universal term of endearment) like him transfer all blame to one leader or another. Then they air their nonsensical biases against successful people like Cook or Jackson, both of whom operate at a level well beyond the petty little stuff that Hal obsesses about.

          Thank you, dear Hal, so much for weaving all your hate on unrelated issues to a discussion that is pure speculation on future Apple pricing and payment offerings. It is so wonderful to know that you care so deeply about… something. Whenever you come up with something that doesn’t trigger your absurd rage, be sure to share it. Lovely, thanks for your time. Off to Parler and Trump Social now.

        2. Sure you do.

          Your bottomless negativity is ruining your life, and pissing off everyone else. It’s not even political. Everyone hates rage filled dickheads who think they know everything. You however display no intelligence whatsoever, and even less empathy. Don’t kid yourself, Hal. Conservatives are sick of you too.

        3. Reality, Libturds need constant reminders of their stupidity because their memories are bad too.

          They forget that dementia Joe was in Congress for 47 years and never did anything of value.

          They forget the proof of dementia Joe’ racism

          They forget all the corruption of dementia Joe and Hunter

          They forget all the incredibly stupid things said by dementia Joe and they forget all his lies.

          They forget dementia Joe has dementia.

          My work is a public service. So glad to hear it pisses libturds off. That makes my day!

        4. Bravo Reality! Well said.

          Notice how Hair Trigger Hal immediately goes flailing away at random off topic stuff when anyone talks sense to him. Thank goodness bitter dinosaurs like him are a dying breed in the prosperous civilized parts of the world. He thinks he’s relevant by hanging out in echo chambers, when everyone with a brain has written off the misinformed arrogant asshole.

        5. Yes, intelligent, able to think for themselves Americans are a dying breed. That’s because the stupid breed faster and the country has been overrun and infested with idiots

          The amazing thing is that you can vote for a lying, corrupt, racist dementia patient and think you are smart. That level of stupidity is off the charts.

        6. Biden Chose Harris as his first VP because of the color of her skin and sex – not qualifications. Libturds were fine with that.

          She is a disaster and Libturds are fine with that.

          Biden has stated that he chose the Supreme Court nominee also based on the color of her skin and sex – not qualifications. Libturds were fine with that.

          That kind of stupidity is destroying the country.

          Recap of Women’s History Month:
          -A biological male is winning in women’s swim competitions
          -A biological male is being named “Women of the Year”
          -The Supreme Court’s 1’st black woman nominated in unable to define “woman.”
          Libturds were fine with all that.

          And Libturds think they are the smart ones!!!!!!!!! LOLOLOLOL

          Is it really so hard to see why Americans despise Libturds?

        7. Add this to the list of racism and stupidity that Libturds are fine with:

          Biden blocked the first Black woman from the Supreme Court

          “As a senator, Biden warned President George W. Bush that if he nominated the first Black woman to serve on the Supreme Court, he would filibuster and kill her nomination.”

          So much for libturd memories!

  4. Hi. That package offering would suck for me considering I only listen to music and I don’t play games. I would download rentals on my account that way I can view it through Apple TV or phone or my iPad. My choice not pay bulk rate for services I don’t need…

  5. This comment is not about the subscription service for iPhone… But that often reused speculative render of next iPhone is impossible. The cameras cannot be flush with back surface because the camera components overlap internally with edge-to-edge screen. If it was possible for current camera “bump” to be smaller, it would be already. It would not be growing as camera system becomes more complex. The next iPhone Pro is rumored to have even fancier cameras, possibly going to 48MP. The bump will be even bigger, not magically disappear.

    The only current iPhone that can have no camera bump is iPhone SE, because it does NOT have an edge-to-edge screen. The single camera is placed to NOT overlap internally with display component and has more room for focal length. But even there, the camera lens extends slightly from back surface.

  6. End of Apple Magic and Innovation!
    Utility company business model!

    I have an acute nostalgia for Steve Job days.
    Hope I do not have to say this to Apple one day: “Unsubscribe”

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