The Apple Back to School Sale is now live, running from June 17 through September 30. As an annual tradition, this promotion brings exclusive savings for students, educators, and their families—but each year comes with its own unique offers. For 2025, Apple is sweetening the deal with a choice of premium accessories worth up to $179, or direct discounts of up to $179 on select high-end accessories, when you purchase an eligible iPad, MacBook, or iMac through the Apple Education Store.
Apple Back to School Sale: Up to $179 in Free Accessories
Get up to $179 in Apple accessories—including a pair of AirPods—when you buy an eligible iPad, MacBook, or iMac with an Education discount.
[See it at Apple Store]
The Apple Education Store is available to current students, parents of enrolled students, teachers, and staff at qualifying educational institutions. It typically offers automatic savings of up to 10% off standard Apple pricing. During the Back to School promotion, these discounts stack with the accessory offer, making it one of the most valuable times of the year to buy Apple gear—especially if you’ve been eyeing a new device and accessories.
Please note: Not all iPad models qualify for this promotion. Below are the full details.
Buy an iPad Air or iPad Pro, Choose One of the Following:
- Apple Pencil Pro – Yours for free (a $119 value)
- AirPods 4 – Yours for free (a $129 value)
- AirPods Pro 2 – Just $129 (save $129)
- Magic Keyboard for iPad Air 11-inch – $130 (save $119)
- Magic Keyboard for iPad Air 13-inch – $180 (save $119)
- Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 11-inch – $160 (save $119)
- Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro 13-inch – $210 (save $119)
Buy a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro, Choose One of the Following:
- AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation – Yours for free (a $179 value)
- AirPods Pro 2 – Just $70 (save $179)
- Magic Mouse – Save up to $99
- Magic Trackpad – Save up to $149
- Magic Keyboard with Touch ID and Numpad – Save up to $199
Buy an iMac, Choose One of the Following:
- AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation – Yours for free (a $179 value)
- AirPods Pro 2 – Just $70 (save $179)
Why the Apple Back to School Sale Is One of the Best Deals of the Year
If you're eligible for the Education Store and prefer buying directly from Apple, this is arguably the best time to make your purchase. The savings rival those seen during Black Friday, though unlike Black Friday, this sale is limited to education customers. While the Education discount alone gives you up to 10% off select devices, the real value lies in the bundled accessory credit—essentially giving you a free or deeply discounted add-on you were likely to buy anyway.
Even if you opt for a higher-tier accessory that requires a small additional payment, the savings still outperform most retail deals. For example, upgrading to AirPods Pro 2 with an iPad purchase costs just $120 extra. Compare that to the best Amazon Prime Day 2025 deal, where the same model was offered at $129—making Apple’s offer the better value.
Are iPhones Included in the Back to School Sale?
No. The Apple Education Store does not offer discounts or promotional gifts for iPhone purchases, and 2025 is no exception. iPhone deals are typically found through carrier promotions, trade-in offers, or seasonal sales later in the year. The best time to buy an iPhone usually falls in the fall, around the time of the next model launch.
Which iPad Should You Buy?
Apple offers four main iPad models: the base iPad, iPad Air, iPad Pro, and iPad mini. Each serves a different purpose.
- The standard iPad is the most affordable and ideal for casual use, reading, and light productivity.
- The iPad Air steps things up with an M-series chip (M3 in 2025), offering desktop-class performance. Paired with a keyboard and Apple Pencil, it transforms into a laptop-like device—perfect for students and mobile professionals.
- The iPad Pro delivers top-tier performance, advanced display technology, and enhanced AI capabilities, making it ideal for creatives and power users.
- The iPad mini remains the go-to for portability without sacrificing performance.
For most users, the iPad Air strikes the best balance between price and power. For a full comparison, check out our iPad buying guide or explore available generations to see which older models are still on sale.
Which MacBook Should You Buy?
Apple’s MacBooks continue to set the standard for premium laptops. With industry-leading performance, sleek design, and seamless integration across the Apple ecosystem, they’re a smart investment—especially if you already use an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch.
- The MacBook Air is Apple’s most popular laptop, offering excellent battery life, portability, and enough power for everyday tasks, schoolwork, and even light creative work.
- The MacBook Pro is built for professionals who need maximum performance for video editing, coding, 3D rendering, and other demanding workflows.
If you're unsure which model fits your needs, our MacBook buying guide can help you decide. In short: go with the Air for versatility and value, or upgrade to the Pro for serious computing power.
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