As it always does, in the run up to the holidays Apple has extended its return window. With some exceptions, buyers now have until early January 2027 to change their minds. From now until Christmas Day, most items can be returned until a date in early January.
For this year, Apple has announced that the return date is January 8, 2027. It has also detailed what is excluded from that: Apple Gift Cards, Apple developer membership and other products, installed software or upgrades from the App Store, and most importantly, i Phones or cellular i Pads bought locked to a particular carrier. Wireless carriers have different service-cancellation policies, and returning the device may not automatically cancel or reset the wireless account; customers are responsible for their wireless service agreement.
Apple's returns policy only applies to items bought from either a retail Apple Store or its online store; for online orders, the date the product is received determines eligibility. Apple has added back in its rejection of gift cards which it omitted in 2025. The terms and conditions still include references to opened software, though Apple sold no apps in boxes for decades.
These terms apply to US customers, although there are very similar ones for international buyers, with additional steps for customers in Puerto Rico.
Source: AppleInsider · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing