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Apple's 2024 Back to School Sale Launches, Up to $150 Gift Card With Mac or iPad

Super tempted to upgrade my iPad Air gen 3 to the gen 6, but I just don’t see the real need since either way I’d bring my MacBook too.
 
Also just launched in Thailand.
But we get Apple Pencil Pro for iPad Air , iPad Pro. And get an Airpods with every Mac instead.

Thankfully I just bought M4 iPad last Saturday, so I just called Apple Support, and now they will send me an Apple Pencil Pro free-of-charge without having to return the iPad.
 
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dynamojoe said:
Kinda bummed the big iPad Pro doesn't get a bigger gift card, but I was waiting for this one and I'm pulling the trigger.

Other savings tips: If you have a stockpile of points in Chase Ultimate Rewards, Apple gift cards are 10% off this month. Also check if your area has any tax benefits. Here in Florida there's a sales tax holiday in late July: https://floridarevenue.com/backtoschool/ . Computers and tablets up to $1500 are tax-free.
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This is great information. Not relevant to me but thank you for posting and helping others save some money.
 
AppleUser2 said:
No card with the $349 iPad (not surprised) so I don't have to wait to get one now.
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You didn't have to wait to get one before, as it's not part of the promo.

But with this deal, for $100 more than the basic, you can get the Air: double the storage, nicer screen, and a better processor. Just putting that out there...

www.apple.com

iPad - Compare Models

Compare resolution, size, weight, performance, battery life, and storage of iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini models.
www.apple.com
 
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Amv1719 said:
I had purchased the iPad Pro for my son on Monday not realizing the imminent promo but I chatted today with support and they submitted a request to the order management team to issue the $100 gift card via email within 7 days. Fairly simple.
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Hey, you said you chatted with support. Do you mean via phone, text, or email? I need to do the same thing.
 
I just bought my iPad Pro on the 16th, but chatting with support they told me I would have to return and rebuy.

I ended up ordering a silver 256 and will return my black 512 and use the gift card on a pencil. Overall I end up saving about $400.
 
I would be doing this if I hadn't tried out the 11 inch M4 for two weeks. I have the 11 inch 2018 Pro and wouldn't even know which one I was picking up. Weight difference is negligible. Battery is a lot better obviously. The blacks are inkier. Picture quality is the same. They feel almost identical. The 2018 has aged so well. Not worth buying for $899 and getting $100 gift card (anyone can claim edu discount) + getting only $235 for my Pro towards the M4.

Forgot to mention that the M4's speakers are a lot worse. So tinny sounding.
 
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bookcase said:
I can't believe people are complaining about getting a gift card with purchase, on top of education discounts.
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In my opinion, those who are complaining are like me. I am already way embedded into the Apple ecosystem. I am not complaining about getting a gift card. I just wish that I could apply the gift card to the purchase because I am already knee-deep in accessories. I don't need the gift card just to get something different, AND because RAM and storage add ons are so expensive in relation to the market, it would be nice to use that gift card toward the purchase that I want to make. Last year's promotion allowed you the option of financing via Apple Card at a lower price OR getting a gift card. Not a bad trade. Also, just to suggest that people should have no issue with a gift card when the products are at a discount is a little lame considering the given higher prices for Apple products. Why begrudge someone trying to get the most for their money, as the regular education discount is aimed at particular users with perhaps limited resources?
 
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dynamojoe said:
Well this is silly. I've been gathering Apple gift cards forever (and traded in my iPad for credit a few months ago) and I just found out that if you have a big apple account balance, you have to call to place your order. You get a nebulous "Your payment authorization failed" error through the apple store. Online chat was helpful but couldn't process the order either and told me to call 1-800-MY-APPLE. I'm not sure why they'd make it harder to use the balance.
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Theft and fraud is why they make you wait. Gift cards are also a common way to launder money.
 
Been waiting for this sale to come around for my sister -- just ordered a MBA 13in/M3/8GB/1TB version for her

Had discounted Apple GCs saved to my Apple Account balance ($1800) over the past few yrs and no problem paying in full with that -- 1st time buying a Mac and 1st time using the edu discount (have an iPhone linked to my Apple account)

$1499 retail price -- $1379 edu price w/ free $150 GC

$1456 total paid with account balance and getting $150 GC back -- basically $1229+tax = $1306 shipped

I'm going to wait until winter for the MBP w/ M4pro to buy for myself
 
kaycrystal626 said:
Every year, the promotion is getting smaller and smaller.
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🤔

It's been the same $150 Apple gift card on Mac purchases and $100 on iPad purchases for the prior 2 years. Before that it was free 2nd gen AirPods with wired charging case. At the time, Apple priced them at $159.00 (before dropping them to $129.00 in Oct. 2021) though one could constantly find them on sale for $119.00, $109.00 and even $99.00, so I'd say the promo hasn't really changed in 5 years.

2024: $150 Apple gift card on Macs, $100 gift card on iPads
2023: $150 Apple gift card on Macs, $100 gift card on iPads
2022: $150 Apple gift card on Macs, $100 gift card on iPads
2021: free 2nd gen AirPods with wired charing case (MSRP $159.00) on Macs and iPads
2020: free 2nd gen AirPods with wired charing case (MSRP $159.00) on Macs and iPads
 
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sw1tcher said:
🤔

It's been the same $150 Apple gift card on Mac purchases and $100 on iPad purchases for the prior 2 years. Before that it was free 2nd gen AirPods with wired charging case. At the time, Apple priced them at $159.00 (before dropping them to $129.00 in Oct. 2021) though one could constantly find them on sale for $119.00, $109.00 and even $99.00, so I'd say the promo hasn't really changed in 5 years.

2024: $150 Apple gift card on Macs, $100 gift card on iPads
2023: $150 Apple gift card on Macs, $100 gift card on iPads
2022: $150 Apple gift card on Macs, $100 gift card on iPads
2021: free 2nd gen AirPods with wired charing case (MSRP $159.00) on Macs and iPads
2020: free 2nd gen AirPods with wired charing case (MSRP $159.00) on Macs and iPads
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The baseline iPad Pros are more expensive this year, so that $100 gift card is in essence a smaller promotion.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
I would wait if the 2018 is still doing what you need it to do. It's basically over for M2 now and M3 will likely fade fast too.

I doubt this promotion existing will delay ANY launches of other M4 Macs if Apple wants to launch them. Black Friday comes not long after traditional Fall launches and that neither seems to speed Apple launches up to have a much time ahead of it as possible, nor slow Apple launches down to get on the other side of that sale.

My opinion is to buy when you NEED a new Mac. In your case, that's when the 2018 fails or when key software on it falls behind with no remedy to keep up. I happen to be typing this message on a 2012 MBpro... without feeling meaningfully left behind in any key apps. There's always the hack to get to install new macOS versions beyond when Apple cuts Macs off.

But even without it, one can generally squeeze towards about 10 years out of a Mac before they must replace it... barring any personal use change that demands more RAM or more Storage... which, in the case of Intel Macs, can often be addressed on the fly, as needed... unlike Silicon where, if someone is buying in 2024 with 10 years in mind, they need to be buying specs they think they may need in 2034. If your 2018 is the late 2018 model, your upgrade maximums are 64GB or RAM and 2TB SSD. While you can get more internal storage at a VERY STEEP Apple premium in a Mac Mini Pro today, the MAX RAM you can buy- also at a steep premium- is 32GB, EIGHT years AFTER producing your existing Mac Mini.
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I’m in the exact same boat. My daily driver is a base model 13” MBP from 2017 that’s been to hell and back, replaced the battery once in 2021, gets kernel panics once or twice a week, had to repair the startup disk twice this year.

I’ve narrowed down that a desktop, probably Mac mini, is the best option for me, I’d ideally love to stick out for M4 but I’m worried that my MBP won’t make it that long.
 
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Finally!

Just ordered my MBP M3 Pro.

I was going to use the gift card for Apple Care + but I heard some people were having issues doing that and still getting the discount on AC+ so I'll probably save the GC for a future purchase of AirPod Pros or something.
 
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