Apple’s new Apple Upgrade leasing program has launched exclusively in the United States, but there are several reasons to believe the service could eventually expand to other countries.
The new program, announced this week, gives US customers a new way to lease eligible iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch models through monthly payments, with the service provided in partnership with Klarna. Customers can choose from different lease terms depending on the device before upgrading, purchasing, or returning it at the end of the agreement.
While Apple has not announced plans to bring Apple Upgrade to additional markets, the company’s recent rollout of AppleCare One suggests it is increasingly willing to expand new customer services beyond the United States. After debuting in the US last year, AppleCare One has now launched in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Australia, broadening the availability of Apple’s multi-device protection subscription.
History also offers another clue. When Apple introduced the iPhone Upgrade Program in 2015, it was initially available only in the United States before later expanding to countries including the United Kingdom. Apple could choose to follow a similar strategy with Apple Upgrade, gradually introducing the service to additional markets over time.
One factor that could make an international expansion easier is Apple’s partnership with Klarna. Unlike Apple Card, which relies on US-specific banking partners, Klarna already operates in dozens of countries around the world, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and much of Europe. That existing infrastructure could simplify the rollout of Apple Upgrade without Apple needing to establish entirely new financing arrangements in every market.
If Apple does decide to expand the service, countries with an established Apple Retail presence and existing financing options, such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia, could be among the first to receive it.
However, there is no guarantee Apple Upgrade will become a global service. Apple Card, which launched in the United States in 2019, remains unavailable outside the country despite years of speculation about an international rollout.
For now, Apple Upgrade remains exclusive to US customers, and Apple has not commented on whether it intends to launch the service elsewhere.