The ‘trap’ in the Apple Upgrade plan isn’t about money

I’m not subscribed to The Atlantic, so I can only refer to this article by Damon Beres — The New iPhone Underclass — Apple’s rental program is a trap — via the parts that John Gruber quoted for his commentary. In his criticism, Beres points out that: The Klarna plan — “Apple Upgrade,” which replaces the iPhone Upgrade Program — is truly, legally, a lease. This is confusing! And it’s confusing in part because this is not how Klarna, a well-known buy-now, pay-later service, typically operates: When you use Klarna for clothing from Shein or lip kits at Sephora or an Xbox at GameStop, you’re paying back a loan, exactly as you were in the original iPhone Upgrade Program. Same if you use Klarna to buy a Samsung Galaxy phone. But with Apple Upgrade, you are renting: The Mac or Apple Watch is not yours until the final payment is made. Gruber remarks: I don’t think this is confusing at all. Apple Upgrade is the primary brand for this program, not Klarna. Klarna is really only mentioned in the…