NZXT, which sells gaming PCs, components and peripherals, has a subscription program that charges a monthly fee to rent one of its gaming desktops. Subscribers don't own the computers and receive an upgraded rental system every two years.
NZXT's Flex program subscription prices range from $49 to $169 per month depending on the system's specifications, as you can see below:
NZXT
There are also one-time installation and shipping fees for the rentals, which total $50. NZXT says it will “likely” charge subscribers a separate fee if they return the rental without the original box and packaging (NZXT did not disclose how much).
The systems received are “new or like-new,” according to NZXT's website. Users may receive refurbished systems and should inspect their rental system for defects, as per the terms of Fragile's subscription agreement, which helps manage the subscription service.
NZXT says subscribers will receive 24/7 customer service with their subscription. The Irvine, California-headquartered company also says there are no cancellation fees and that subscribers will receive a pre-paid return shipping label with their rental system. As noted by The Verge, NZXT began promoting Flex back in February; it’s unclear how much interest it’s generated.
Under the subscription agreement, users may be charged the full retail value of the system if it is returned damaged or modified (even upgrades/repairs have limits) and monthly interest rates of 8 percent if they stop paying the monthly fee for more than 60 days.
Who is this for?
In an announcement Wednesday, NZXT said it wants to pitch Flex as a way to make PC gaming more accessible, and highlighted use cases where it believes PC rentals make sense.
In a shared statement, the CEO of esports team FlyQuest suggested that there is a place for rental PCs in esports, which often relies on expensive equipment provided through sponsorships. In a statement, Brian Anderson said: “New hardware is released regularly and having access to industry-leading products is essential to staying competitive. NZXT Flex gives us the confidence that we will always have access to the best builds, so we can create content and play at our highest level for our fans.”
The announcement also highlights an alleged customer who said the program allowed them to instantly get a gaming PC they couldn’t afford. The program also targets people who only need a high-end PC for a short period of time or who want easy biannual upgrades.
But for most people, renting PCs doesn’t make financial sense in the long run, as the monthly fees add up over time. For example, the cheapest plan costs $758 for the first year (including installation/shipping), which is more than several pre-built gaming PCs and DIY builds.
Subscribers don’t own the computer either. They can get an upgraded system after two years, but in that time they’ve spent $1,466 to $4,106 on hardware they don’t own. Meanwhile, $1,466 to $4,106 can get you a quality PC that you can own and that will still give you value after two years.
Flex also competes with PC rental programs from companies like Rent-A-Center and Aaron's, which let people rent to own. A few months ago, an NZXT representative confirmed via Reddit that Flex is not a rent-to-own program. The representative said that computer buyouts would be allowed, but that only a portion of the rental payments would apply toward the purchase.
For those looking for instant PC gaming gratification on a budget, there are also payment plans/financing, used systems, and cloud gaming options. These options all have drawbacks, but they do allow you to do math and play games with hardware you own.
Recently, more tech brands have shown interest in extracting subscription revenue from consumer gadgets that typically only generate one-time profits. HP, for example, has a printer rental program where you pay to use a printer you don’t own, which HP keeps track of. Logitech CEO Hanneke Faber also recently discussed interest in selling an “eternal mouse” that people would own, but which requires a subscription to receive ongoing software updates.
