Apple Launches 2020 Back to School Promotion: Free AirPods With Eligible Mac or iPad Purchase

[MacRumors]

Apple today launched its annual "Back to School" promotion in the United States and Canada. After five years of offering free Beats, Apple this year is offering free AirPods with the purchase of an eligible new Mac or iPad.

Qualifying students and educators can receive free second-generation AirPods with a wired charging case with the purchase of a new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, iPad Pro, or iPad Air. During the checkout process, it is also possible to upgrade to second-generation AirPods with a wireless charging case for $40 or to AirPods Pro for $90.

As usual, the standard iPad, iPad mini, Mac mini, and refurbished products are not eligible for the Back to School promotion.

The free AirPods are in addition to Apple's educational pricing, which allows students to save up to $200 off a Mac and up to $100 off an iPad Pro. The promotion runs until September 29, 2020 and is available through Apple's education store on the web, at Apple's retail stores where open, or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE.

For purchases made using Apple Card Monthly Installments, you will receive an instant credit of $159, which will be applied as a discount to your eligible iPad or Mac at the time of purchase. Then, the cost of the AirPods will be billed in six monthly installments. Apple provides more details in its full terms and conditions for the promotion.

The promotion does not appear to be live in Europe or other regions at this time.

Article Link: Apple Launches 2020 Back to School Promotion: Free AirPods With Eligible Mac or iPad Purchase

 

[Dowjohnny]

Finally no more beats

 

[newyorksole]

Very interesting. A free pair of Beats Studios was definitely a nice incentive, but AirPods being compact and convenient makes sense too.

 

[AppleTO]

This is nice. I would pay to upgrade to Pros if possible.

 

[44267547]

I’d take the AirPods over beats every single time. This is a nice alteration and another product in Apples ecosystem.

 

[ruka.snow]

Good to see the back to school promo is an Apple product again. Less crap for the landfill.

 

[lunarworks]

"Back to School". Hopeful concept.

Most colleges and universities around here are gonna be online-only for the fall semester, at the least.

 

[frou]

Pretty great. It's rare that a free gift is itself one of the most desired products in the market

 

[anshuvorty]

For the last four years, Apple had offered free Beats as part of its Back to School promotion.

Jon Prosser had a tweet about Apple's AirPods taking over the Beats brand some time ago...Hmmm....

Here is the tweet

 

[bchery21]

Oh, this is a pretty decent deal. When I got my MacBook Pro last year I tried selling the Beats headphones immediately (ended up giving them to my father in-law). I would of definitely kept the AirPods if this deal was around last year.

 

[Dave245]

Jon Prosser had a tweet about Apple's AirPods taking over the Beats brand some time ago...Hmmm....

Here is the tweet

This is interesting with Prosser saying that Apple is targeting WWDC, for the announcement of the over ear Apple branded Airpods Studio headphones.

 

[satchmo]

This is nice. I would pay to upgrade to Pros if possible.

I wonder if the upgrade cost would just be the normal difference in price.

 

[anshuvorty]

This is interesting with Prosser saying that Apple is targeting WWDC, for the announcement of the over ear Apple branded Airpods Studio headphones.

This has been known for a while, since this tweet, yes.

 

[Nabby]

I wonder if the upgrade cost would just be the normal difference in price.

If it's like years past the answer will be no, but YMMV.

 

[coumerelli]

Since I wear in-ear hearing aids I can't do ear buds. I was hopping for the Beats for that reason. :/

 

[satchmo]

If it's like years past the answer will be no, but YMMV.

What was it in past years? Was the cost much more (or less)?

 

[ignatius345]

Ugh, of course this is about to launch, along with zero percent Apple Card financing. I just bought a new Mac.

 

[dra3b]

I prefer the beats. I hope they include it as an option. Or at least if not now, then make it an option after theWWDC. I don't like in ear buds AT ALL.
[automerge]1592233355[/automerge]
And this is almost ONE WHOLE month earlier than they usually announce the back to school promo. Why is that? The Pandemic?

 

[J___o___h___n]

Will this be available in the UK store too?

 

[dra3b]

Also, as a value, Beats are WAY more expensive than the airpods. If you don't need any and you were planning to sell the gift to make the MacBook cheaper, then Beats is the better choice!!

 

[Appleman3546]

Why would they give away headphones that don’t stay in when you workout? I guess these kids cannot complain when it is given away for free, but they should allow a student to upgrade to the airpod pros (so that there is an option to have the headphones stay in while working out)

 

[ignatius345]

Good to see the back to school promo is an Apple product again. Less crap for the landfill.

AirPods are headed for landfill the moment the battery cycles out.

 

[rhyzome]

What if you already have Airpods?

Can you decline the gift and get a discount for the value if a pair of Airpods instead?

 

[mnsportsgeek]

I was able to afford my first mac when they gave away a free iPod for the back to school promotion that I turned around and sold on ebay for $200-$300 since I already had a mini. I think it brought my iBook G4 to $800.

Free iPods were the glory days of the back to school promo.

 

[PBG4 Dude]

I prefer the beats. I hope they include it as an option. Or at least if not now, then make it an option after theWWDC. I don't like in ear buds AT ALL.
[automerge]1592233355[/automerge]
And this is almost ONE WHOLE month earlier than they usually announce the back to school promo. Why is that? The Pandemic?

Some schools are starting their fall session earlier this year due to the spring session being messed up by quarantines.