Your next iPhone could be a rental

A survey reveals that the number of iPhone users who swap their phones within 2 years of purchase is increasing. Should they rent instead?

The recent survey, which focused on iPhone buyer behavior, revealed two types of Apple smartphone buyers. While some iPhone owners tend to stick with their devices for years, others change them every year or two.

While it might seem like the market norm, the increase in consumers who change their smartphones every few years suggests an emerging trend: hardware rental.

With the emerging subscription trend, does that mean we’re shifting away from owning things?

Two kinds of iPhone owners

Each time a new smartphone is released, it boasts increased durability, better battery life, and higher-quality components.

Over the last six years, the average age of retired iPhones has increased by about 50%, according to the CIRP consumer survey.

However, it also notes that the percentage of people replacing their current iPhones with new ones is increasing.

The data from 2026 March shows that 39% of people own their devices for 3 or more years, up 2% from 2024.

Meanwhile, users who have had their iPhones for 2 years or more have decreased from 35% to 28%, and those who have had their phones for less than 2 years has increased from 28% to 33% during the same period.

One of the main reasons consumers decide to change their smartphones is that their phone lacks or no longer supports certain functionalities. However, this is not the case with relatively new devices.

The shift may be related to how consumers get their new devices, often paying for them via monthly payments, turning them into renters rather than buyers.

Renting vs buying a smartphone

In Indonesia, renting a smartphone has already become a thing.

A 19-year-old student shared that she rents a smartphone by the hour to take high-quality photos or scan documents, since her old phone isn’t as capable.

The woman shared that it’s much cheaper for her to rent it than buy it, since she can save the money she would spend on the phone towards her education, reports CNA Insider.

She spends $86 per year or $8.60 per day to rent a premium smartphone for about 10 days.

While the math shows that buying a smartphone would be cheaper, costing only $1.30 per day, the woman stated that renting a phone works for her because she only needs certain features occasionally.

It’s been reported that the global mobile phone rental market was already valued at almost $5 billion in 2025 and is expected to reach more than $10 billion in 2034.

More Americans are shifting towards renting a smartphone, according to a survey by Allstate Protection Plans (via BetaNews).

The reasons for shifting towards buying rather than owning a device were that consumers wouldn’t need to pay large sums of money at once, allowing them to change their devices more frequently, and also get add-ons such as insurance or repair services.

In the US, there are already companies that offer smartphone rental. Such shops provide Android and iOS devices for a day, a week, or a month. They also include unlimited services for texting, calling, or browsing.

The price of such services starts from $6 to $100, depending on the device and rental terms.

Subscription culture aimed at hardware

Another reason consumers may want to shift to smartphone rental is the overall increase in hardware prices due to the memory shortage caused by the AI boom and rising tariffs.

Nevertheless, it can’t be said that renting hardware is a totally new concept. Apple has been known for its iPhone Upgrade Program, which allows consumers to renew their smartphone every year by entering into a 24-month contract in which they make monthly payments for the device.

The company has also been working on its iPhone subscription program since 2022. The program would allow customers to pay for the phone every month via their Apple account, similarly to how they download apps or subscribe to services. They would also be able to renew their phones every year, according to Bloomberg. However, the company hasn’t released this plan yet.

It seems the affordability debate resurfaces every time a new smartphone comes out.

After Apple introduced its latest smartphones last year, a woman took to the internet to share how she was able to afford the iPhone 17 Max Pro, but still uses public transportation every day.

Her story sparked an online debate about whether having a premium smartphone is really necessary when you can’t afford other necessities.

Choosing to rent instead of buy could also seem more normal these days, as more consumers note that even after buying a piece of hardware, we don’t actually own it, since it doesn’t work without certain features locked behind a subscription.

Recently, a woman shared that she couldn’t use her HP printer because it was locked due to unpaid subscription fees.

It isn’t only printers that can’t be accessed after simply buying them. Smart rings, such as Oura, require a subscription to unlock certain metrics, while car companies also advertise features already installed in the car that can’t be used without a monthly fee.

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