Leasing an iPhone from apple

Apparently it is US only, because it requires activating with a US carrier.

UPDATE: I asked Apple Intelligence and this was the answer:

No, the Apple Upgrade leasing program is currently available only in the United States.

Apple has not announced plans to expand the service to other countries.

If you have a business, Apple typically has leasing arrangements through multiple companies that you may qualify for.

This link will allow you to pick South Africa in the drop down.

Apple at Work - Apple (ZA)

Many Apple Authorized Resellers also have access to leading programs.

https://www.istore.co.za/business

Apple is not really in the leasing business hardly at all.

You should contact the cellular carriers in your market to ask them about lease options.

Grant Bennet-Alder wrote:

Apple is not really in the leasing business hardly at all.

Well, Apple isn’t directly, but they have recently announced a leasing partnership with a 3rd party: https://www.apple.com/shop/apple-upgrade

Thats for that reminder.

I now recall seeing a blurb on that program, but It really did not make sense for me, so It did not 'stick' in my memory.

It never sounded like a strong world-wide program the way IBM used to lease (heart-stoppingly expensive) mainframe computers. Those IBM lease programs solved a real Business problem -- that a business had to pay all the money now, but can't expense it this year and must depreciate that cost over a multi-year useful life. Even if the total cost was much more, it did not whack the balance sheet and could made great sense for everyone.

Aside: One thing the discussions about AI Data Center buildout (and business capital expenditures in general) seem to be missing is that current "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" rules expanded the ability to expense a lot more capital goods immediately, not depreciate.

That relaxation is a strong stimulus to the economy, but distorts the real picture.