- Apple is no longer planning to launch its long-rumored iPhone hardware subscription service.
- Apple was initially supposed to launch its hardware subscription service by the end of 2022, but the project faced several setbacks due to software bugs, regulatory concerns, and other issues.
- This year, Apple also discontinued its Apple Pay Later program.
Apple was reportedly developing a program that allowed users to own an iPhone through a subscription model, similar to a subscription to an app. The idea was pretty simple. The customer would pay a monthly fee and get a new iPhone each year. This could change the way people buy a flagship iPhone. However, a recent report by Mark Gurman mentions that Apple is no longer planning to launch its long-rumored iPhone hardware subscription service.
The rumors first surfaced a few years ago, and Apple was initially supposed to launch its hardware subscription service by the end of 2022. The tech titan was planning to build a completely in-house subscription model, rather than collaborating with any third-party banking institutions. However, the plan was then pushed to 2023 and beyond. The project faced several setbacks due to software bugs, regulatory concerns, and other issues. Now, the team that was working on the hardware subscription model has shifted to other projects.
The iPhone hardware subscription model would allow people to own an iPhone, even without having sufficient funds for an upfront payment. After all, it’s easier to grab an expensive iPhone model on a monthly payment basis. Also, Apple was hoping to sell more iPhones with the subscription model and multiply its revenue. After all, the iPhone is the biggest moneymaker for Apple, which drives more than half of the company’s total revenue. For years, Apple has been trying hard to come up with another smash hit, but it hasn’t found any product as profitable as the iPhone.
The Cupertino tech giant already offers the iPhone Upgrade Program which spreads the cost of a device over a 12- or 24-month period. However, the planned subscription service would allow for an ongoing monthly fee for the subscription period.
This move to scrap the hardware subscription service project came the same year as Apple discontinued its Apple Pay Later program, which allowed customers to finance their Apple Pay purchase in four equal payments across six weeks without any additional fees or interest. In fact, the latest iOS 18 added support for third-party Apple Pay financing from partners like Klarna and Affirm.
Kanika has been a loyal iPhone user since 2014 and loves everything Apple. With a Master’s in Computer Applications, passion for technology, and over five years of experience in writing, she landed at Beebom as an Apple Ecosystem Writer. She specializes in writing How To’s, troubleshooting guides, App features, and roundups for Apple users to help them make the best use of their gadgets. When not writing, she loves to try out new recipes and enjoy some family time.
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- Apple and Google have officially confirmed their team-up for the next-gen Siri AI.
- The Cupertino Giant will be using Google’s Gemini for a more personalized Siri model as well as Apple Intelligence features.
- We can expect the next-gen Siri to come out with iOS 26.4, sometime in March or April.
Apple has officially confirmed joining forces with Google to use its Gemini AI model to power the next-generation Siri. It will offer a more personalized experience and will be coming out with the iOS 26.4 update. Apple also plans to leverage Gemini’s capabilities for other Apple Intelligence features as well, later down the line.
The Next-Gen Siri will be powered by Google’s Gemini AI
Apple officially confirmed that it will be partnering with Google in a statement to CNBC . Here’s what it stated, “After careful evaluation, we determined that Google’s technology provides the most capable foundation for Apple Foundation Models, and we’re excited about the innovative new experiences it will unlock for our users.”
Later, Google also shared a post on X confirming the tie-up, “Apple and Google have entered into a multi-year collaboration under which the next generation of Apple Foundation Models will be based on Google’s Gemini models and cloud technology. These models will help power future Apple Intelligence features, including a more personalized Siri coming this year.”
Image Credit: X/@NewsFromGoogle
Both statements clearly mention that the Cupertino Giant will be using Gemini to power its assistant Siri. This was already rumored, as Apple’s attempts to acquire Perplexity went nowhere. With Gemini, Siri will get a major AI update . It will be able to handle more nuanced conversations and provide better results. Something long-time Apple users have been asking for years.
The next-gen Siri will arrive with the iOS 26.4 update, which will launch sometime in March or April. And it is only going to be available for Apple Intelligence-supported devices .
Something else worth noting is how Google’s statement mentions that Gemini will power Apple Intelligence features. This leads us to believe that Apple could use Gemini’s multi-modal capabilities for its Writings tools , Image Playground , and Message summaries, too.
Elon Musk Not Happy With Apple and Google Tie Up
xAI CEO Elon Musk also responded to Google’s announcement post on X, sharing his thoughts on the matter by saying, “This seems like an unreasonable concentration of power for Google, given that they also have Android and Chrome.” Though we don’t expect either Apple or Google to respond to Elon, we will update the situation as it progresses.
It is worth noting that xAI is the company behind Grok, which is in hot water currently due to its inappropriate image generation fiasco , and has been getting backlash from multiple news outlets, X users, and even government authorities.
With over 4 year of experience under the belt, I cover all facets of consumer tech, from smartphones to other consumer electronics, our favorite social media apps, as well as the growing realm of AI and LLMs. As an Apps and AI writer app Beebom, I provide my expertise in all these areas, weaving stories that help you get familiar with the tech around you. But you will find me playing NYT daily puzzles in my free time.
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