Rental, leasing and device-as-a-service are sold as if they were the same thing. They are not. The difference is who owns the Mac at the end, what your auditors will make you show, and what you are paying for besides the device. Read the contract, not the brochure.
The three, side by side
| Rental | Finance lease or EMI | Device-as-a-service | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who owns the Mac during the term | The rental company | The lender, or you from day one | The provider |
| At the end | Renew, upgrade or return | You own it | Usually return or refresh |
| What you pay for | The device, for the term | The device, financed | The device plus services, bundled |
| GST | On each month's rent | On the purchase, or on lease rentals | On each month's charge |
| On the balance sheet | Depends on your accounting standard | Usually yes | Depends on the contract |
Rental
You pay a monthly rent for the use of the Mac and give it back at the end, or renew. The rental company owns it, insures it or not, and carries the resale risk. Rent is invoiced monthly with GST, which a registered business claims as input tax credit.
Finance lease or EMI
A finance lease or an EMI is a purchase paid in instalments. At the end you own the Mac, and in the meantime it behaves like an asset you bought: it is depreciated, and the financing shows as a liability. It is cheaper than renting over the life of the device, and you carry the resale value and the disposal.
Device-as-a-service
Device-as-a-service bundles the device with services: support, device management, a refresh every few years. It can be a rental, a lease or something in between, so the label tells you little. Ask what is in the bundle, what each part costs, and whether you can drop a service you already run in-house.
The accounting question
Whether a rental sits on your balance sheet depends on your accounting standard, not on what the contract is called. Companies on Ind AS 116 generally recognise leases on the balance sheet, with exemptions for short-term leases and leases of low-value assets; companies on AS 19 expense operating lease rentals. Ask your auditors which applies to a fleet of Macs before you sign.
What we offer
Adalwin Rentals is a rental: new, sealed Macs and iPads for 12, 24 or 36 months, at 4.5% of Apple India MRP a month on 36 months, plus GST. Enrolment in your Apple Business Manager, delivery and collection anywhere in India are part of it. At the end you renew, move to current models or hand them back. If you would rather own the Macs, we sell them too, at a corporate price below MRP, and our rent-or-buy calculator shows which route costs less for your numbers.
Tell us which route you are weighing and we will quote it, or both side by side: rentals.adalwin.com/quote.
Questions
What is the difference between renting and leasing a laptop?
In a rental you pay for the use of the device and return it at the end; the rental company owns it. In a finance lease or EMI you are buying it in instalments and own it at the end.
What is device-as-a-service?
A bundle of a device with services such as support, device management and periodic refresh. It can be structured as a rental or a lease, so read what the bundle contains and what each part costs.
Is a laptop rental on the balance sheet?
It depends on your accounting standard. Companies on Ind AS 116 generally recognise leases, with exemptions for short-term leases and low-value assets; companies on AS 19 expense operating lease rentals. Ask your auditors.
12+ years in corporate procurement, gifting, and IT supply-chain in India. Leads an authorised Apple DPP Partner and Logitech Enterprise Partner serving 110+ enterprises. About Sameer K Singh →
