Apple's rumored leasing program could restrict apps, lock down iPhones if you miss payments

[p51d007]

Locked down software, locked down iPhone store so this doesn't surprise me one bit.
Apple has always had a walled garden. They are just adding to it.

 

[BuckarooBonzaii]

Lease is just what it is. People who do this better read the contract from top to bottom. I'm sure other companies are watching this closely and usually a success leads to following the trend.

 

[pnntmp]

There are some people, like me, who use an Apple app to help them manage their diabetes. If I were to "subscribe" to lease my Apple device, I would be faced with the possibility of losing access to an app that I depend on.

Not, of course, that I would ever do this. Fortunately, I can afford to buy the only Apple device I own when it comes time for me to buy a new one.

I'm sure diabetes predates Apple, so there are certainly ways to deal with it that does not involve your iPhone.
Oops, it's not your iPhone actually, because you do not own it until it's paid in full.

 

[hwertz]

Does anyone buy a phone outright? Normally people just get a carrier contract that includes the phone

Well, in the US that went away quiiiite a while ago. You'll find, most carriers here no longer have a contract (since there's nothing to keep you on the hook for), and the phone is financed seperately. (Essentially they didn't lower the monthly price while having that monthly price no longer include a phone.)

Sometimes the phone is still discounted just a bit, sometimes it's really not. At a Costco a while back, AT&T was listing phones for a 3 year payoff for $1 a month less than other carrier's 2 year payoff price. (So if you fail at math you think "Hey $1 a month less", while actually making 12 extra pyaments at whatever a month, paying several hundred more for that phone.)

Side note -- Verizon used to do the "new every 2" because back in the 2G and 3G days they actually were having high enough improvements in over-the-air efficiency from one generation to the next (sometimes close to 50%), they ran the numbers and upgrading everyone's phone every 18 months (you could usually upgrade a bit early) was actually costing them less than them having to install more cell site capacity because people held on to older, less efficient phones. More recently, those large model-over-model improvements are not really a thing, and they found people who use heavier amounts of data also tend to upgrade their phone more frequently anyway.

 

[wiyosaya]

It’s more showing you that it’s cheaper to get a contract with the phone. PAYG is generally the most expensive “deal”. Or maybe you’re ripped off so much in Canada that it doesn’t really matter. C$25 for 20GB is mental.

Or maybe they just haven’t looked. Typically just wait for a sale period and get a contract then, typically it’s significantly cheaper

You do realize that even if the "contract" is giving you a phone for what you think is "free," that the carrier is still charging you for whatever phone it is that comes with the contract. Carriers are still paying for the phone, and even if the cost of the phone is hidden in the contract that the carriers is still charging you for the phone. Carriers are not going to give you a phone for free, especially if its a high-value phone.
Here's an article that explains it - https://clark.com/cell-phones/free-cell-phone-offer-warning/
No matter what country you are in, I bet its no different.

 

[LordVile95]

You do realize that even if the "contract" is giving you a phone for what you think is "free," that the carrier is still charging you for whatever phone it is that comes with the contract. Carriers are still paying for the phone, and even if the cost of the phone is hidden in the contract that the carriers is still charging you for the phone. Carriers are not going to give you a phone for free, especially if its a high-value phone.
Here's an article that explains it - https://clark.com/cell-phones/free-cell-phone-offer-warning/
No matter what country you are in, I bet its no different.

But you’re buying the phone anyway so what difference does it make? You’re just paying for it over time with a cheaper plan from the carrier.

Don’t know what it’s like where you are but the payment is shown when pricing out the contract that you are paying x for the phone and x for the plan.

 

[gderreck]

I agree on the 1000 dollar phone. But what about the 6000 dollar Mac Studio. Is there a line?