Apple Extends U.S. Back to School Sale for Two Weeks, Excludes New iPad Air

Following the debut of the new Apple Watch Series 6, the refreshed iPad Air, and the low-cost eighth-generation iPad, Apple has extended its Back to School sale in the United States, with the promotion now ending on October 12 instead of September 29.

apple back to school 2020
In addition to extending the dates of the sale, Apple has also updated its Terms and Conditions [PDF] to exclude the new ‌iPad Air‌ from the promotion. Customers who purchase one of the new $599 ‌iPad Air‌ models (which are not available for sale yet) will not be eligible to get free AirPods.

Prior to today's update, both the iPad Pro and the ‌iPad Air‌ were eligible products that customers could purchase to take advantage of the free AirPods promotion.

The Back to School Sale in the United States initially launched on June 15, and it provides a $159 credit toward the purchase of AirPods, AirPods Pro, or AirPods with Wireless Charging case for those who purchase a MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, ‌iMac‌ Pro, or ‌iPad Pro‌.

Apple launched Back to School promotions in Europe, Asia, Mexico, and the Middle East in July and the new ‌iPad Air‌ exclusion may also apply in other countries that previously allowed free AirPods with the purchase of an ‌iPad Air‌.

Apple has not provided an exact date for when the new ‌iPad Air‌ models will become available for purchase, but they're expected to be available next month. Given that Apple specifically excluded the ‌iPad Air‌ from the Back to School sale but also extended it for two weeks, we could see the ‌iPad Air‌ become available before October 12.

Related Roundup: iPad Air
Buyer's Guide: iPad Air (Caution)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

Apple iPhone 16e Feature

Apple Announces iPhone 16e With A18 Chip and Apple Intelligence, Pricing Starts at $599

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:02 am PST by
Apple today introduced the iPhone 16e, its newest entry-level smartphone. The device succeeds the third-generation iPhone SE, which has now been discontinued. The iPhone 16e features a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, up from a 4.7-inch LCD on the iPhone SE. The display has a notch for Face ID, and this means that Apple no longer sells any iPhones with a Touch ID fingerprint button, marking the ...
iphone 17 pro asherdipps

iPhone 17 Pro Models Rumored to Feature Aluminum Frame Instead of Titanium Frame

Tuesday February 18, 2025 12:02 pm PST by
Over the years, Apple has switched from an aluminum frame to a stainless steel frame to a titanium frame for its highest-end iPhones. And now, it has been rumored that Apple will go back to using aluminum for three out of four iPhone 17 models. In an investor note with research firm GF Securities, obtained by MacRumors this week, Apple supply chain analyst Jeff Pu said the iPhone 17, iPhone...
apple launch feb 2025 alt

Here Are the New Apple Products We're Still Expecting This Spring

Thursday February 20, 2025 5:06 am PST by
Now that Apple has announced its new more affordable iPhone 16e, our thoughts turn to what else we are expecting from the company this spring. There are three product categories that we are definitely expecting to get upgraded before spring has ended. Keep reading to learn what they are. If we're lucky, Apple might make a surprise announcement about a completely new product category. M4...
Generic iOS 18

Here's When Apple Will Release iOS 18.4

Wednesday February 19, 2025 11:38 am PST by
Following the launch of the iPhone 16e, Apple updated its iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia pages to give a narrower timeline on when the next updates are set to launch. All three pages now state that new Apple Intelligence features and languages will launch in early April, an update from the more broader April timeframe that Apple provided before. The next major point updates will be iOS ...
apple launch feb 2025

Tim Cook Teases an 'Apple Launch' Next Wednesday

Thursday February 13, 2025 8:07 am PST by
In a social media post today, Apple CEO Tim Cook teased an upcoming "launch" of some kind scheduled for Wednesday, February 19. "Get ready to meet the newest member of the family," he said, with an #AppleLaunch hashtag. The post includes a short video with an animated Apple logo inside a circle. Cook did not provide an exact time for the launch, or share any other specific details, so...
apple c1

Apple Unveils 'C1' as First Custom Cellular Modem

Wednesday February 19, 2025 8:08 am PST by
Apple today announced its first custom cellular modem with the name "C1," debuting in the all-new iPhone 16e. The new modem contributes to the iPhone 16e's power efficiency, giving it the longest battery life of any iPhone with a 6.1-inch display, such as the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16. Expanding the benefits of Apple silicon, C1 is the first modem designed by Apple and the most...
Apple Northbrook

Apple Store Permanently Closing at Struggling Mall in Chicago Area

Tuesday February 18, 2025 8:46 pm PST by
Apple is permanently closing its retail store at the Northbrook Court shopping mall in the Chicago area. The company confirmed the upcoming closure today in a statement, but it has yet to provide a closing date for the location. Apple Northbrook opened in 2005, and the store moved to a larger space in the mall in 2017. Apple confirmed that affected employees will continue to work for the...

Top Rated Comments

arvinsim Avatar
58 months ago

I have an iPad Pro 10.5 with gen 1 pencil and keyboard.

Someone, please, sell me on why I need a new iPad Air or iPad Pro.

I need a real push, cause how it feels right now this is a side step for me. (Trade in is $240, accessories not included.)

95% of my use is reading, 4% writing, 1% sidecar.
If your current hardware meets your needs, then don't buy anything new.

Get off the rampant consumerism bandwagon.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)
JPSaltzman Avatar
58 months ago
Back to ... what?!
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CarlJ Avatar
58 months ago

Back to ... what?!
Just because they’re not going to sit in physical classrooms, doesn’t mean kids aren’t in school - they’re just doing it online from home in most places. Which makes a new iPad or Mac even more helpful.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
BeatCrazy Avatar
58 months ago

Honestly, I don't think the new Ipad pro should be purchased without an update to it.
If the price delta is small (after selling off AirPods or if you were going to purchase regardless), the Pro still has nice features including more RAM, double the base storage, better GPU, better sound and Promotion. Those 5 things right there are easily worth the $100 premium to me. This assumes you can get $100 for reselling AirPods, which shouldn't be hard at all.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Freida Avatar
58 months ago
Really? Don't buy anything. What you have is perfect for your needs. Its just lust taking over.

I have Air 2 and only now its start to show its age so I'll upgrade but your case, you can easily wait another year or 2.



I have an iPad Pro 10.5 with gen 1 pencil and keyboard.

Someone, please, sell me on why I need a new iPad Air or iPad Pro.

I need a real push, cause how it feels right now this is a side step for me. (Trade in is $240, accessories not included.)

95% of my use is reading, 4% writing, 1% sidecar.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
invisibleshoes Avatar
58 months ago
If I get the iPad Pro 11" with educational pricing and sell off the AirPods, I think the price will almost be the same as iPad Air 4. Is this correct or is my math/pricing way off?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)