(Image credit: Getty / NurPhoto) Following unprecedented price hikes on the Mac and iPad, Apple is now working on a leasing program to alleviate customers during the AI rush. According to a new Bloomberg report, the program is called "Apple Upgrade" and will allow you to lease a midrange or high-end device for up to 36 months, at the end of which you can choose to keep it. Apple is purportedly partnering with Klarna on the service. Apple Upgrade will reportedly be a subscription service with monthly payments spanning across 24 months for iPhone and Apple Watch, or 36 months for Mac and iPad, including the Pro models. According to the report, Entry-level hardware like the MacBook Neo is not included in this program. Education or business discounts are also excluded; Apple is explicitly targeting regular consumers who've been affected by the ongoing component crisis. According to Mark Gurman, customers will be subject to a soft credit check and only be approved for the program after passing it.…