Apple Launches 2016 Back to School Promotion, Offers Free Beats With Mac, iPhone, or iPad Pro Purchase

[MacRumors]

Apple today launched its annual Back to School promotion in the U.S. and Canada, offering a free pair of Beats Solo2 Wireless Headphones to qualifying students, parents of students, educators, and select others that purchase an eligible Mac with education pricing, including the iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac Pro. As usual, the Mac mini and refurbished Macs are excluded from the deal.

Apple is also offering a free pair of Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones with the purchase of an eligible iPhone or iPad Pro with education pricing, including the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and both the 9.7-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro. Those who purchase a qualifying iPhone or iPad Pro can also upgrade to the Beats Solo2 Wireless Headphones for $100, or $110 in Canadian dollars.

Apple will apply an instant credit in the amount of $299.95 in the U.S., or $329.95 in Canadian dollars, to cover the full cost of the Beats Solo2 Wireless Headphones in Black, Blue, Red, White, Gold, Rose Gold, Silver, Space Gray, Blue Active, Red Active, or Yellow Active. Apple will similarly apply an instant credit of $199.95, or $219.95 in Canadian dollars, for the Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones in Red, Black, Black Sport, White Sport, Red Active, Yellow Active, or Blue Active.

Apple has outlined the full eligibility requirements for the program in its terms and conditions for the U.S. [PDF] and Canada [PDF] on its website.

Apple's Back to School promotion runs from today through September 5, 2016 at Apple retail and campus stores in the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada. The deal is also available on Apple's online store or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE. Apple has not yet officially announced the promotion in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, or other European countries where it is typically offered.

Article Link: Apple Launches 2016 Back to School Promotion, Offers Free Beats With Mac, iPhone, or iPad Pro Purchase

 

[samcraig]

Sure - they're going to have to refresh the line anyway if they change the headset jack on the new iPhone

 

[patseguin]

Back to school? Did school even end yet??

 

[Crosscreek]

Mac Mini discrimination!!!! no love

 

[japanime]

Back to School sales already? Didn't North American schools just start the summer break?

I guess Apple is the corporate equivalent of that one oddball kid who actually enjoys going to summer school.

 

[geenosr]

I bought a macbook air last year using the back to school special combined with the 0% interest Barclay credit card and it has been a great deal! I was hesitant about a pair of beats headphones, but I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the sound and the design. Now this year they are offering a wireless pair of solo 2 headphones which makes this deal even better. Maybe the promotion isn't as good to some customers because of the perceived value of the beats headphones, but it was worth it to me, and I am happy with my purchase.

 

[Schranke]

Is this not a little early compared to normal?
Schools just around stopping in Denmark.
But I guess they have to empty stock so there is room for the new models

 

[Afluffykitten]

How does this help students? Do you know what students don't have... MONEY. They need discounts, not free swag.

 

[nicovh]

Crappy headphones won't make up for the lack of a MacBook Pro update Apple...

 

[BeSweeet]

Will be lots of Beats popping up on eBay and Craigslist.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Is this not a little early compared to normal?
Schools just around stopping in Denmark.
But I guess they have to empty stock so there is room for the new models

No. Apple's back to school promo traditionally starts sometime around Memorial Day and ends around the time of its first fall refresh event.

 

[Patdt13]

How does this help students? Do you know what students don't have... MONEY. They need discounts, not free swag.

No student will complain about free beats headphones. I have a pair from last years promotion and I love them.

 

[Razeus]

This is too early. Apple is desperate for sales. I need to go ahead and sell this stock.

 

[Schranke]

No. Apple's back to school promo traditionally starts sometime around Memorial Day and ends around the time of its first fall refresh event.

Thank you for the clarification.
I do not normally participate in the back to school shopping so I just thought it would be later.

 

[ash150]

will apple wait until this offer is over to release the new MBP now?
when does the europe (UK) school promotion usually start?

 

[hawwkk55]

How does this help students? Do you know what students don't have... MONEY. They need discounts, not free swag.

These beats headphones are in addition to the already applied student discounts.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

How does this help students? Do you know what students don't have... MONEY. They need discounts, not free swag.

The free swag is on top of Apple's student discount. If you go to any U.S. campus they are chock full of MacBook variants. Students may not be rolling in $ but just about every student needs a laptop. Many prefer Macs so this is a bonus.

 

[Zirel]

How does this help students? Do you know what students don't have... MONEY. They need discounts, not free swag.

Apple has student discounts all year.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

Thank you for the clarification.
I do not normally participate in the back to school shopping so I just thought it would be later.

No, your original assumption was correct. Apple does jump ahead of the "back to school" game, probably because computers are expensive so they want to capture that money before it's spent on other items. Most stores will start their Back To School campaign mid-July.

 

[Maclver]

I just bought a Macbook two days ago... GRR LOL

 

[keysofanxiety]

How does this help students? Do you know what students don't have... MONEY. They need discounts, not free swag.

Higher Education students (in the UK, at least) get 15% off all Mac computers at any time, and free 3-year hardware warranty -- which is essentially AppleCare, but without the phone support. So they can save quite a lot of money. Easily £400-500 on RRP if they get a high-end portable.

I'm not sure if they get the free Beats headphones too, though they used to get free iPods, etc. So they may well still be doing that deal.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

This is too early. Apple is desperate for sales. I need to go ahead and sell this stock.

How is it too early or desperate if late May to June is when Apple has been launching this campaign for over a decade? Last year, when Angela Ahrendts was still getting settled in, Apple started it in July.

 

[Goaliegeek]

Interesting... On one hand, this will help clear stock of Macbook Pros and help with the case of a new Macbook Pro coming very soon, but this promo lasts until Sept, and is Apple really going to have 2 generations of Macbook Pros being sold during this promotion? If it ends in Sept, maybe we won't see a new Macbook Pro until October once the promo is over a-la the release of the unibody Macs in Late 2008... FIRE ANGELA blah blah blah

 

[Dydegu]

$999? Who would ever buy the non-retina MBP? What a joke. And the rMBP is pictured.

 

[SMIDG3T]

Crappy headphones won't make up for the lack of a MacBook Pro update Apple...

Just wait until WWDC...

 

[Dilster3k]

Beats headphones are so low in build quality, design and sound overall... I can't believe Apple is trying to shove these atrocities upon us, truly disappointing.