Apple Upgrade Explained: How does it work for iPhone 18, foldable iPhone Duo? Is it available in India?
Apple announced during the launch event on 9 September that the Apple Upgrade leasing programme will be available for the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. But will it be available in India?
Apple on Wednesday announced that the Apple Upgrade, a leasing programme provided by Klarna and available in the US, will let eligible customers pay for the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in monthly instalments. Customers can choose 12 or 24-month plans, with payments starting at $34.99 per month for the 24-month option.
“At Apple, we put the customer at the centre of everything we do,” said Karen Rasmussen, Apple’s Vice President of the Apple Store online, “and we’re thrilled that Apple Upgrade offers our customers, both online and in-store, a more flexible way to pay for the products they love.”
How does Apple Upgrade work?
Apple launched Apple Upgrade in the US on 28 July. The Klarna-backed leasing programme covers iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac and iPad and is available online, in the Apple Store app, and at Apple retail stores.
Customers can choose 12- or 24-month leases for iPhone and Apple Watch, and 24- or 36-month leases for Mac and iPad. Leasing prices start at:
- $17.99 per month for iPhone,
- $11.99 per month for Apple Watch,
- $24.99 per month for Mac,
- and $11.99 per month for iPad
Enrolees can lower payments by trading in their current device through Apple Trade In. They also earn 3% Daily Cash back when paying with Apple Card.
At the end of the lease, customers may upgrade, buy outright or simply return the device and exit the programme. In the Klarna app, they can stay on top of all of their lease information, including their billing schedule and remaining payments.
Is Apple Upgrade available in India?
Currently, the services are only available in the US and not available in any other country, including India.
Apple launches on 9 September
Apple on Wednesday unveiled its latest generation of iPhones, including a widely anticipated foldable version called Duo.
The company's new CEO, John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on 1 September, introduced the latest lineup at the Steve Jobs Theatre.
After cycling through other updates to the iPhone, the Apple Watch and AirPods, along with artificial intelligence advances, Ternus told the audience that “actually there is one more thing," in a nod to the trademark phrase from Jobs that Jobs himself borrowed from the 1970s detective show Columbo.
Called iPhone Duo, the phone has the “largest display ever on an iPhone, yet fits into your pocket,” Ternus said.
On Wednesday, Apple also announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at its launch event. The 18 Pro and Pro Max come in deep black, silver, “glacier,” and burgundy, with colour-matched back glass. They also have a new A20 Pro chip and, purportedly, the longest battery life in an iPhone.
About the Author
Sanchari Ghosh is an Assistant Editor at Mint with over 12 years of experience in journalism, specialising in personal finance, DLT & DeFi, geopolitics and foreign policy, with a particular emphasis on how these areas intersect. <br> She writes extensively about how money works in everyday life—helping readers navigate personal finance decisions. <br> As AI reshapes investing behaviour, capital is increasingly flowing into decentralized ecosystems, redefining how assets are managed, traded, and valued. She focuses on explaining how money flows within frameworks like Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT), DeFi protocols, and crypto markets—while also exploring what the future of money could look like in a trustless, programmable financial world. <br> She also focuses on immigration-related issues, simplifying complex topics around visas, passports, overseas financial planning, and the many practical challenges Indians face while moving or living abroad. <br> Alongside personal finance, Sanchari has a strong understanding of international politics, contemporary and historical conflicts, and global state decisions. She closely tracks how geopolitical developments influence economies, markets, and individual financial choices, bringing together finance and global affairs in her reporting. <br> She began her career as a desk editor, which gave her a strong foundation in news writing. Over time, her interest naturally shifted toward personal finance. Before joining Mint in 2020, she worked DNA, The Times of India, Outlook Money, BloombergQuint, and ETMoney. At Mint, she got an opportunity to expand her coverage to include immigration and geopolitical developments while continuing to closely follow personal finance trends and market movements.As a journalist, she is committed to accuracy, intellectual rigour, and fairness. <br> She is an English Major and her work took her across cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Pune. Living independently from an early age gave her firsthand experience in managing life and money on her own. This practical exposure sparked her strong interest in personal finance. <br> Outside the newsroom, Sanchari is a sports enthusiast who regularly plays lawn tennis and squash. In her younger years, she was also a national-level badminton player.
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