Apple's annual back-to-school sale is back for 2022, offering discounts and promotions exclusively for students and educators on eligible purchases of Macs and iPads. Summer is quickly moving along and students will be returning to their classrooms in the coming months. An important part of getting ready to go back to school is picking out the device that will power a student's work, especially in a post-pandemic world that is built around emerging technologies. Students will need devices capable of note-taking, video calling, and more — depending on their field of study. Apple wants those devices to be Macs or iPads, and offers an annual back-to-school sale to make entering the company's ecosystem more affordable.
This year, students looking to purchase an Apple device for school have more options than ever. The iPad is a note-taking powerhouse when paired with the Apple Pencil, and has processing power comparable to thin-and-light laptops. Both the iPad Pro and iPad Air have configurations that feature the same M1 processor found in last year's MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops, and these devices will receive an improved multitasking experience in the fall with Stage Manager. For students who want a more traditional laptop experience, a redesigned MacBook Air and a familiar MacBook Pro will soon be available with the company's latest M2 chip.
Apple's education store offers discounts on select Macs and iPads year-round for students and educators, but there are added bonuses to shopping during the annual back-to-school sale. Typically, Macs are discounted by $100 and iPads by $50 for students and educators, but savings can vary based on the product and its configuration. AppleCare protection plans are also discounted by 20 percent on the company's education store, and there are small discounts for select accessories as well. During the annual back-to-school sale, students and educators typically receive free AirPods with an eligible purchase, but that's changed in 2022. Instead of getting a free pair of headphones, buyers will receive an Apple gift card that can be put towards other Apple devices, accessories, or services.
Apple Back-To-School: How To Buy & What You'll Get
Students and educators looking to purchase a new device will receive a $15o gift card with a purchase of a Mac and a $100 gift card with a purchase of an iPad. That's on top of the already impressive discounts that Apple offers with education pricing. The redesigned 14-inch MacBook Pro is $150 off with education pricing, and the larger 16-inch model is discounted by $200. Both the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the all-new MacBook Air are $100 off with Apple's education discount, meaning that buying an Apple Silicon laptop can cost as little as $1,099 for the MacBook Air. With a $150 gift card in tow, it's possible to get a MacBook for under a thousand dollars in value — but it's worth noting that the gift card can't be used on the initial purchase of a Mac or iPad. Both the iPad Air and iPad Pro are discounted by $50 and come with a $100 gift card during the sale period.
The switch from headphones to gift cards offers students and educators more flexibility when purchasing an Apple device. Since the gift card can be used on any Apple product or service, some solid pairings can be created during the sale period. For example, the iPad's $100 gift card can be used to add an Apple Pencil for virtually no extra cost. Students and educators can get creative on product pairings to save even more, like with an iPad and MacBook combination that can result in up to $250 in discounts and $250 in gift-card value. With the changes to Apple's education store earlier this year, the offers will be limited to verified students and educators. People with a valid student ID or a .edu email address from a participating college or university can access Apple's education store or visit an in-person location to get discounts and rewards.
Source: Apple