Apple Prepping Interest-Free Hardware Payment Plans
Apple will try to sidestep the economic impact of the pandemic by offering customers an easier way to buy its expensive products, according to a recent report.
Is there a catch? Well, sure. You’ll need to have good credit. And you will need to get an Apple Card, Apple’s credit card.
But assuming you qualify, you’ll soon be able to purchase Macs, iPads, HomePods, AirPods, and other Apple hardware using the Apple Card and pay for the purchases over several months with no interest. This isn’t all that unusual, honestly: Even the Barclay-based predecessor to the Apple Card still provides this perk. But to date, Apple Card users primarily benefitted from their Apple purchases by receiving store credit.
News of this plan comes via Mark Gurman, Bloomberg’s reliable Apple rumor monger. He says that Apple will offer the no-interest plans for some products for 12 months, while others will be just for 6 months. Apple already offers this deal, over 24 months, for Apple Card-based iPhone purchases.
This is a smart move. Currently, there’s no good reason to own an Apple Card, since the only decent perks are those Apple credits, which just help you buy more Apple products. And with Apple hardware taking a big hit because of the Coronavirus, this could trigger some sales to customers who might otherwise have held off until things calmed down.
It’s unclear when this payment plan will be formally launched.