FAQs
Does Apple offer student discounts?
Students aged 16+, parents of students, and people working in education can get exclusive access to discounts and promotions over at the Apple Education site. Discounts are usually offered upfront via the Apple Education store but there are also occasionally bundle deals to consider - usually around the back-to-school period in early September. Generally speaking, you're going to be able to get a discount of anywhere between $100 to $200 off the latest MacBooks depending on the model, and $50 off iPads.
Does Apple offer military discount?
In addition to student discounts, Apple also offers discounts to those affiliated with the military. Both active serving members and veterans can get a 10% sitewide discount on the Apple store right now. To be eligible, you'll need to verify your identity using the ID.me service.
Does Apple do trade ins?
Yep! Apple has a really expansive trade-in program that can be used to get discounts on everything from the latest MacBooks to Apple Watches. You can trade in both Apple devices and third-party electronics to get significant discounts in the form of Apple store credit or Apple gift cards.
Trading in can be particularly effective when upgrading to new Apple products as, generally speaking, even fairly old Apple products can fetch really decent trade-in values. As of writing, the maximum credit on offer is up to $1,200 for computers, $540 for smartphones, $445 for tablets, and $160 for smartwatches.
What Apple products do we recommend?
Quite a few. We're constantly testing the latest tech here at TechRadar and Apple products are always some of our favorites.
First up, those on the hunt for a premium laptop should absolutely check out the Apple MacBook Air M2 and Apple MacBook Air M1 models. Both are stunningly good ultrabooks for both productivity and casual use with excellent displays, great build quality, and almost unbeatable battery life. In the case of the older M1 model, it's also surprisingly affordable.
The iPhone 14 is a great choice for most users looking for a smartphone with the latest features, although the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max take the top spot for overall best phones on the market right now. These stunning flagships offer heaps of power and an incredible camera, although those looking to save a bit of cash will be well served with the standard model.
For tablets, we'd single out the latest iPad 10.2 (2021) as the best buy for most users right now - although the iPad Pro 12.9 (2022) is our current overall favorite. In the case of the former, it's quite simply a great value slate that still carries plenty of power, a decent display, and the quality design that Apple products are known for.
Finally, for smartwatches, the current two best choices are the latest flagship Apple Watch 8 and the more budget-orientated Apple Watch SE 2. Of the two, the SE is definitely the better value buy and a device that can handle basic fitness, sleep, and lifestyle apps without breaking the bank. The Apple Watch 8 is the device you'll want to go for if you want the latest features like crash detection and temperature sensors, however.
Apple hints and tips
📆 Wait until big retail events
Outright discounts are rare, but the official Apple Store does sometimes offer seasonal promotions around big retail events like Black Friday. While we would hesitate to call these Black Friday deals, you can sometimes get Apple Store gift cards with eligible purchases - which can be handy for when you want to buy more Apple tech down the line. If you're nearing November it's probably a good idea to wait it out and see what crops up on Black Friday at the official Apple Store.
👩🏫 Shop back to school
This tip follows from the one above. If you're a student and it's nearing the traditional back-to-school period of late August / early September then it's worth checking out the Apple Educational website for special seasonal offerings. In recent years we've seen not only upfront discounts (usually offered all year round), but gift cards and options for bundle savings - particularly handy if you're looking to get both a new laptop and tablet. Again, it's likely worth waiting to see what crops up if you're nearing this time on the calendar.
💻 Shop refurbished products
A classic way to save on premium Apple products, the official Apple Refurbished store (opens in new tab) is a treasure trove of discounts if you're not bothered about getting the latest and greatest. All products sold via the official program are certified by Apple itself, guaranteed under warranty, and repaired using official first-party components so you're always sure to get a decent product even though it's second-hand.
🏬 Check out third-party retailers
Remember that it's not only Apple itself that stocks a range of the brand's products. You'll also find plenty of the latest MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches, and much more at leading electronics retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, or Walmart. These retailers can often be much more willing to offer discounts on Apple products than the official store so it can often pay dividends to shop around, compare, and find the best prices.
How to use Apple promo codes
Apple doesn't have a traditional coupon code field like most retailers at checkout. Instead, you can usually get your discounts via upfront savings or proving your eligibility for exclusive discounts like the military and student discounts.
There is, however an option to redeem a gift card - which is how you'll get your discount if you're redeeming a card from a trade-in or the like. To use this feature, simply navigate to the very last stage of checkout where you input your payment details and find the "Apply an Apple Gift Card". Simply paste your gift card code into this field and click apply to get your discount.
