Get gift cards worth up to $150: Back-to-school season is fast approaching. If you’ve realized you need a new laptop or tablet, you’re in luck. Apple’s back-to-school promotion is now live in the US. This year, instead of free AirPods or accessories, Apple’s handing out something more flexible: a gift card of up to $150 to spend however you want at the Apple store.
If you buy a new MacBook Pro, you’ll get a $150 Apple gift card. Grab a MacBook Air, iPad Pro or iPad Air and you get $100. You can use the card towards accessories, App Store apps or subscriptions like Apple Music and iCloud Plus. The sale ends August 27 in the US and stacks on top of Apple’s standard education discount, which knocks up to 10% off most Macs and iPads.
Some things to note: Not every device qualifies for the gift card promo. There’s one exclusion that’s going to sting for a lot of students: the MacBook Neo doesn’t make the cut. The entry-level iPad, iPad mini and any desktop Mac are also sitting this one out. That’s rough, considering it’s arguably the most practical for a student budget and it just got more expensive too. To be clear, these devices still have a student discount; you just won’t get the gift card on top of it.
You can claim the offer through Apple’s online Education store or in person at Apple Store locations. Eligibility covers current and newly accepted higher-education students, faculty and staff at higher-education institutions, parents buying on behalf of an eligible student, employees of K-12 institutions, and a few other qualifying customers. You would need to verify through UNiDAYS to qualify.
With Apple’s price hikes this year, tied to AI-chip demand squeezing the supply chain, shoppers have all the more reason to take advantage of any deals. This price pressure is also pushing more people toward secondhand. Our 2026 back-to-school survey found that nearly half of US adults have considered buying a used device in the past year.
Just know that refurbished gear isn’t immune to the same price creep, which makes it even more important to compare offers before buying. If you’re feeling the pinch too, you’re not alone. More shoppers are buying less tech this back-to-school season as prices climb across the board.
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Alternatives you might like
If your goal is purely to save dollars, Apple’s gift card might not be the best move. Retailers like Amazon and Best Buy regularly offer promos on Macs and iPads that can beat what Apple’s offering, especially once you factor in that Apple’s gift card locks your savings into the ecosystem rather than putting cash back into your pocket. If you want to compare options, our list of the best deals on iPads and MacBooks are a great place to start.
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