On March 25, Bloomberg reported that Apple is preparing subscription services for iPhones and other hardware devices, the same experience as App membership subscriptions. The service is expected to launch in late 2022 or 2023, but it could also be canceled.
To put it bluntly, Apple's device subscription service is similar to a third-party rental service, and users can use Apple ID to pay a monthly subscription fee to obtain the right to use the device. However, it is important to know that equipment leasing is different from installment payments, and the report points out that the "rent" for a single month is not calculated by dividing the price of the equipment by 12 or 24, but is an undetermined expense.
It is worth mentioning that Apple is also discussing allowing subscription users to change the latest device when the new iPhone is launched, that is, users can not only rent the iPhone, but also replace the latest model in the process of renting.
Apple's device subscription system service is more similar to the domestic rental platform, which has a variety of machines, not only can rent mobile phones, computers, even cameras, game consoles and other products, can be found on the platform. Take the latest iPhone 13 series, for example, the rent ranges from 10 yuan to 35 yuan a day, and the recently launched Cangling green color scheme is not absent.
However, most of the machines on these platforms are rented from 365 days, and the custom lease period has almost become a decoration. In the process of renting a machine, users can choose to buy out at any time, or send it after renting, but the price of the latter is more expensive, and there is not much difference between counting down and buying a new one in 24 interest-free installments. Small partners with higher credit scores can also enjoy deposit-free discounts.
In Xiao Lei's impression, these rental platforms have existed for a long time, and there are not many models to choose from in the past few years, and now almost every brand and every new machine basically has a lot of choices. After successfully renting, the platform sends the device to the user in the form of mail, but when it is returned, it may have to go to the designated outlet, or send it back at your own postage, and the experience is not very good.
Xiao Lei believes that Apple's equipment rental service is paid monthly, which means that consumers can choose how long to rent. For small partners who frequently change their mobile phones, or just want to use a period of time to "touch the party" will be a good choice, so that not only can save a lot of money to buy a new machine, Apple can also collect rent from it to get income, better than playing for a few days on the "no reason to refund" is better.