Apple Extends 2026 Back to School Promotion Until September 24

[MacRumors]

Apple today extended its 2026 Back to School Promotion until September 24, which means it will last almost a month longer than planned. The extension is applicable in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and multiple countries in Asia.

The Back to School promotion offers a free item or gift card when students or educators purchase an eligible Mac or iPad model, plus an educational discount.

In the United States, Canada, Mexico, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand, Apple is offering a gift card with purchase. In the U.S., that includes a $150 gift card when purchasing a MacBook Pro or a $100 gift card when purchasing a MacBook Air, iPad Pro, or iPad Air.

In China, Singapore, and Vietnam, customers can get a pack of four AirTags with the purchase of select devices, while customers in India can get a pack of four AirTags, AirPods 4, or Apple Pencil Pro depending on the device bought.

The MacBook Neo, iPad mini, entry-level iPad, desktop Macs, and iPhones are excluded from the promotion. UNiDAYS verification is required to make a purchase.

Apple previously planned to end its Back to School promotion on August 27.

Article Link: Apple Extends 2026 Back to School Promotion Until September 24

 

[sw1tcher]

Apple today extended its 2026 Back to School Promotion until September 24, which means it will last almost a month longer than planned.

Apple previously planned to end its Back to School promotion on August 27.

Seems kind of unusual. I wonder if Apple's seeing a lack of demand due to recent price increases and/or longer lead times for delivery.

 

[svish]

Surprised to see this. Would have been great if the iMac and Mac mini were also a part of the sale/promotion. But this is the worst back to school promotion in years.

 

[I_love_money]

Seems kind of unusual. I wonder if Apple's seeing a lack of demand due to recent price increases.

They sure are since everybody bought before the price increases.

 

[I_love_money]

Surprised to see this. Would have been great if the iMac and Mac mini were also a part of the sale/promotion. But this is the worst back to school promotion in years.

Probably ever.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Seems kind of unusual. I wonder if Apple's seeing a lack of demand due to recent price increases and/or longer lead times for delivery.

I'm guessing back to school sales are way down ever since Apple put a restriction on only "higher education" students are eligible. College only. No more high school kids and no more people buying from Education Store who weren't in Education. So Education Store sales are probably way down.

EDIT: And, Apple restricted the Neo (the definition of a Macbook-for-school) from the Back to School program. That doesn't help.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

It's been so popular with our customers, that we decided to extend it year round. There's always people going back to school, right?

I'm Thankful year round also, but I don't get Black Friday all year! 😀

 

[ThomasJL]

So Tim Cook raises prices, and then gives discounted prices that are significantly more expensive than the prices before he raised them.

That man’s corporate greed is insatiable.

 

[DocMultimedia]

Guess sales weren’t going so well.

 

[tsa1]

Remember Yall these sales are for random people who aren’t chronically online searching deals. A grandma goes in to buy a laptop for her grandson or something. She’s unaware of the ram shortage or price hikes etc.

I’ve literally never purchased anything during the back to school sale. Much cheaper to wait for the 3rd party sales. I got my MBP16 for $1600 off at Costco. Apple could never.

 

[JPack]

This essentially confirms the price increase for iPhone will be significant.

Demand for MacBook Air is high with lead times measured in weeks, so it’s not about demand. The BTS offer this year is lackluster because demand for Mac and iPad is already high.

So why would Apple extend this BTS offer all the way to late September? This would end after the iPhone 18 Pro/Max launch and availability. This allows customers to buy other Apple products and use the gift card on high priced iPhone.

 

[anthony13]

But ends before the rumored studio/imac/base m6 MacBook update.

 

[JPack]

Seems kind of unusual. I wonder if Apple's seeing a lack of demand due to recent price increases and/or longer lead times for delivery.

Demand is already high, even before this BTS offer. Look at current MacBook Air lead times.

If it was about low offer uptake, Apple would bump up the value of the gift card or expand the eligible products. Apple did neither but rather lengthened the offer to after the launch and availability of iPhone 18 Pro/Max. Apple has never done this before. This suggests the program is intended to help iPhone sales.

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

Demand is already high, even before this BTS offer. Look at current MacBook Air lead times.

If it was about low offer uptake, Apple would bump up the value of the gift card or expand the eligible products. Apple did neither but rather lengthened the offer to after the launch and availability of iPhone 18 Pro/Max. Apple has never done this before. This suggests the program is intended to help iPhone sales.

Is demand high or is supply low (with normal or low demand)? Opposite of each other but both will have lengthy lead times.

 

[pigeonguy]

Weird that they’ve started excluding desktops these past few years.

 

[JPack]

Is demand high or is supply low (with normal or low demand)? Opposite of each other but both will have lengthy lead times.

Probably both. Neo has spurred interest with some people cross-shopping into MBA.

 

[yoheywut]

I wish I snagged a M5 1TB Air on Amazon for $1149 a few months ago. It's now $1549. Absolute wild $400 (35%) increase essentially overnight. No wonder the "sale" was extended. I'm sure sales fell off a cliff.

 

[OldNewMBP]

...Still nothing useful to get for me.

 

[rgwebb]

I'm assuming they're having trouble moving units either due to supply constraints or demand. I'm leaning towards demand-side issues because prices up and the fundamentals of the economy are out of whack. Consumer spending ends up being a canary in the coal mine for recessions, right?