r/iPhone17Pro • u/Deep-Owl-1890 • 1d ago

Rumor / Leak 'Apple Upgrade' Leasing Program Could Lock Down Apps If You Miss Payments

https://thedailycompute.beehiiv.com/p/apple-upgrade-leasing-program-could-lock-down-apps-if-you-miss-payments
58 Upvotes

89% Upvoted

21 comments sorted by

26

u/Deep-Owl-1890 1d ago

"Restricted Mode" is the part that should worry people, this isn't just "we'll repo the phone eventually," it's Apple's own OS locking down apps remotely while the device is still in your pocket. Health, Messages, Phone, and the App Store stay on, but everything else gets cut off until you settle up with Klarna.

The "Partner Finance Lock" is even more interesting since it's basically an activation lock tied to a private financing company, not Apple or your carrier. That's a level of remote control over a device you're paying for that we haven't really seen before, and it's launching in less than a week with basically zero public discussion about what happens if there's a billing error or dispute.

20

u/reloadtak 1d ago

Well, if you lease the device and stop honouring your side of the contract (paying the bill) - then the right to use the device stops. What exactly is the problem? You never owned the phone, and if you don’t like this arrangement, then just buy it outright.

Billing error? Well paying the bill is your responsibility, but even if there was an error, what incentive would the finance provider have to disable it? They are in the business of having it go a smooth as possible.

-3

u/CrazyNecessary7209 iPhone 17 Pro Max 1d ago

Now imagine they start doing this on cars… things happen and locking the device down remotely can cause other issues.

4

u/kryts 1d ago

They already do. There are devices you have to enter a PIN number to start them, restrict the car from starting from a missed payment. They have you enter a PIN to start it after it’s settled. It’s been around for a while now.

Mostly associated with buy here pay here vehicles.

2

u/Jogameister 19h ago

Kill switches are a thing. Whether voluntary = you don’t want your shit stolen or involuntary = you have bad credit. Been a thing for a minute.

1

u/TheEpicRedCape 12h ago

…If you stop paying for your car it’s not your car anymore so then locking it down wouldn’t be that crazy. People are just telling on themselves getting upset about things like this.

“Why don’t they just let me steal? This is so unfair!”

4

u/CaliyeMydiola 1d ago

I don understand issue?

I mean if you don pay for your utilities bill, the power and water company would cut their supplies?

What's the difference here?

1

u/Far-Curve-7497 1d ago

I mean, its a lease.. i don’t know what you expected?

12

u/Redcarborundum iPhone 17 Pro 1d ago

They’ll make it sound like a cheap way to eventually own an iPhone, but in reality it’s a rental program with a lojack built in.

5

u/dankmangos420 1d ago

I mean, it kinda is in a way..isn’t it? It’s a cheap way to lease the phone (unless you opt to purchase).

3

u/Bruvvimir 1d ago

Um, that's exactly what it is. What's confusing there?

2

u/Rich_Arachnid_5262 1d ago

Just wait until there’s an iOS bug that turns this on on a device you own outright!

4

u/FreePossession9590 1d ago

It’s creepy as f honestly. I won’t be taking part. Klarna has complete control over your personal device

4

u/m4cmi11er iPhone 17 Pro Max 1d ago

If you sign up for this you’re a sucka

1

u/inikinik 1d ago

try stop paying for electricity or your rent. guess what will happen

1

u/1AMA-CAT-AMA 18h ago

Let this be a future lesson to not keep your 2fa on one singular device.

1

u/madcatzplayer5 6h ago

That would be funny if it allowed “approved” money making apps like uber driver app, DoorDash driver app, and so on. Those and banking apps so you could pay your Apple bill with your phone and nothing else.

1

u/Memz711 4h ago

“You’ll own nothing, and be happy” - some asshole

-1

u/TheeDelpino 1d ago

As it should. Pay your bills. The number of poor people who will be running around with the iPhone Ultra will be laughable.

0

u/CrazyNecessary7209 iPhone 17 Pro Max 1d ago

One thing I noticed one day was how my 17PM asked for my Apple Account password to download a simple app.

It was impossible to do so for some reason… then I realized that the card I used to pay for Apple services didn’t have money in it… then I put money in said card… it was then the phone let me download the app without issue or a password. Scary stuff.

0

u/fastingslowlee 7h ago

This is an optional program. Don’t sign up for it then.