Apple’s Back to School promotion is expected to launch this week in the US and Canada, and if you’re a student or educator planning to buy a new Mac or iPad, this is the deal worth waiting for. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman flagged the imminent launch, with the campaign expected to run through late September covering the full back-to-school shopping window.
The expected offers this year are more tangible than previous years. Instead of Apple Gift Cards, which is what 2023 and 2024 buyers received, the 2026 promotion is expected to include free AirPods or a free Apple Pencil with qualifying purchases, plus the option to upgrade to higher-end AirPods by paying the difference. AirPods Pro retail at $249 on their own, so the accessory value here is real money for anyone who was already planning to buy.
Eligible hardware covers the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. Entry-level models may be excluded. Eligibility extends to current college students, newly accepted students, university faculty and staff, and parents buying on behalf of an eligible student. Verification goes through UNiDAYS, so getting that set up before the promotion launches will save time.
The timing is particularly relevant this year because Apple raised prices on several Macs and iPads due to rising memory costs. The Back to School promotion effectively gives education buyers a way to recover some of that value through accessory bonuses rather than direct price cuts.
M Adnan Akram is the founder and lead writer at Phoonomo, covering mobile technology with a primary focus on Apple and the broader smartphone industry, alongside emerging developments in AI. He follows product launches, spec leaks, and industry trends closely to keep readers informed with timely updates.
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