Apple Upgrade is the future of phone ownership, and Google and Samsung need to follow suit

Earlier this week, Apple fundamentally shifted how it expects people to buy high-end tech. With the official launch of Apple Upgrade, its hardware-as-a-service model, Cupertino replaced its legacy iPhone Upgrade Program with a true-blue leasing option.

Leasing high-end silicon across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches for predictable monthly fees acknowledges a truth that most of us have felt over the last few years, and more so recently. Dropping well over $1,000 upfront for a depreciating asset like a smartphone is becoming harder to justify.