New 'Apple Upgrade' Program Might Be a Talking Point Today. What to Know.

Apple's earnings report comes days after the company launched Apple Upgrade in the U.S.—a program that BofA Securities says could improve affordability for consumers and help the company wrestle some control from wireless carriers. As part of Apple Upgrade, customers now have one- or two-year leasing options for iPhones and Apple Watches, and two- or three-year options for Macs and iPads. Apple has long offered trade-ins and financing plans, but "the new structure packages those familiar mechanics into a broader platform spanning major hardware categories," wrote Wamsi Mohan, an analyst at BofA.