wwdc 2026 Shocks Wall Street: Apple Ditches iPhone Loyalty Program for AI Hardware-as-a-Service
Apple’s annual developer conference unveiled a seismic pivot: the company is sunsetting its legacy hardware upgrade subscription in favor of an AI-driven hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) model. Effective immediately, all new iPhones will be leased via a monthly fee tied to Apple’s closed-loop AI ecosystem. Analysts predict this shift will slash hardware margins by 12% in Q3 but boost recurring revenue streams by 40% within 18 months. The move signals a strategic retreat from commoditized device sales, betting instead on the long-term stickiness of AI services.