Apple has launched its Back to School promotion, offering Apple gift cards instead of direct discounts. The deal runs through August 27, 2026 and is limited to qualified education purchasers.

Gift card amounts are $150 for MacBook Pro, $100 for MacBook Air, iPad Pro, and iPad Air. No desktop Macs are included, and the promotion started a month later than usual.

Third-party resellers provide better value with direct price cuts on more devices, no education requirement, and longer availability. For example, M5 MacBook Air models start at $1,239, and iPad Pro models see up to $300 off.

These reseller deals carry the same warranties but expire quickly, so buyers should act fast.