Seems like the school year just ended, but it’s already time to start planning ahead for next fall. Apple on Tuesday kicked off its annual Back to School promotion, offering incentives for picking up its devices for the upcoming school year.
As in the past, Apple is offering gift cards for the Apple Store along with the purchase of Macs, iPads, and iPhones. Qualifying products include the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, and Mac Pro; the iPad Air, iPad with Retina display, iPad mini, and iPad mini with Retina display; and the iPhone 5s, iPhone 5c, and iPhone 4s. (You’ll also be able to snag some modest education discounts on the Macs and iPads—no such luck with the iPhone.)
Buying a Mac will get you a $100 Apple Store gift card, while an iPad or iPhone will net you a $50 card—so you can pick up that Thunderbolt cable you’ve wanted and even have $10 left over.
In order to be eligible, you’ll have to make your purchase through the U.S. Apple Online Store for Education Individuals, or from one of the U.S.’s brick-and-mortar Apple Stores. You’ll also need to be qualified to actually buy from the education store, and picking up a iPhone for $0 on a carrier contract or installment plan won’t net you a gift card.
If you need some time to think it over, don’t fret: The discounts run from July 1 through September 9.
Author: Dan Moren, Contributor
Dan has been writing about all things Apple since 2006, when he first started contributing to the MacUser blog. A former Macworld senior editor, he's now a freelance tech journalist, a prolific podcaster, and the author of several books; his latest is the supernatural detective novel All Souls Lost.