Apple plans to start its U.S. iPhone leasing program on a confirmed start day through the Apple Upgrade Program. The service partners with a third-party financier for bill scheduling. It targets buyers amid elevated device costs after Apple bumped Mac prices in past months. Users may pick monthly payments instead of buying up front. Leased iPhones can be disabled remotely if terms fall apart. Apple includes associated toggles in iOS code. Some shoppers want to know how leasing shifts versus buying outright. Critics raise that remote disablement locks users out if payments slip. Supporters claim leasing softens first bill and streams next-device moves. The plan ties into Apple's hardware cycle as iPhone MSRPs inch higher device by device. Savvy buyers will check terms before locking in.