Apple Launches 2015 Back to School Promotion, Offers Free Beats Solo2 Headphones With Mac Purchase

Apple today launched its annual Back to School promotion, offering a free pair of Beats Solo2 On-Ear headphones to qualifying students, parents of students and educators that purchase an eligible Mac, including the iMac, MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and Mac Pro. As usual, the Mac mini and refurbished Macs are excluded from the deal. iPhones and iPads are also absent from this year's promotion.

beatssolo2
Apple will apply an instant credit in the amount of $199.95 to cover the full cost of the Beats Solo 2 On-Ear headphones in gloss black, white, red, blue, gray or pink. Apple is also offering the option to upgrade to Beats Solo2 Wireless On-Ear Headphones in space gray, silver or gold for $100 extra, which is the remaining balance after the $199.95 credit is applied.

Apple's Back to School promotion offered up to a $100 Apple Store gift card with the purchase of a qualifying Mac, iPhone or iPad in past years, including the 2014 and 2013 promotions, but the iPhone and iPad are not included in this year's deal. Apple has outlined the full eligibility requirements for the program in its terms and conditions for the United States [PDF] and Canada [PDF] on its website.

Apple has traditionally launched its Back to School program during June or early July, with the second Tuesday of July being the target date for several years in a row, but this year's launch has come later in the month than expected. Apple has also moved away from offering free Apple Store or iTunes gift cards for the first time since offering a free iPod touch with a qualifying Mac in 2010 and prior.

Apple's Back to School promotion runs from today through September 18, 2015 at Apple Retail Stores, and between August 6, 2015 and September 18, 2015 on the Apple Online Store, in the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada. Apple has not yet officially announced the promotion in the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark or several other European countries that have offered the deal in previous years.

Juli Clover contributed to this report.

Update 9:30 AM Pacific: Apfelpage.de and iFun.de report that the same promotion will be offered in Germany starting August 6.

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Top Rated Comments

campingsk8er Avatar
133 months ago
Guys, its something that is free. Just because they have done something in the past doesn't mean they have to continue doing it now. Just be happy you are getting something, geez.
Score: 53 Votes (Like | Disagree)
GizmoDVD Avatar
133 months ago
So free crappy headphones?

Remember when we got gift cards? Or iPod Touches?
Score: 50 Votes (Like | Disagree)
groovyd Avatar
133 months ago
There was a recent review of these headphones by a prominent HeadFi reviewer (audiophile type geek) and the review was very favorable. Apparently the sound is actually quite good with this model.



http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/time-rethink-beats-solo2-excellent

http://www.innerfidelity.com/content/time-rethink-beats-solo2-excellent-measurements-page-2
Score: 33 Votes (Like | Disagree)
neuropsychguy Avatar
133 months ago
These are not "crappy" headphones, they just don't perform as well relative to their cost as some rival headphones. There are professional reviewers who argue that they sound quite good (and are a huge improvement over the Solo HDs). It's hard to complain when they are "free". Maybe this bundle is not as good (in the opinion of some) as the past iPod or gift card deals but it is a great bundle from a marketing perspective and a great bundle for many students.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macsrcool1234 Avatar
133 months ago
Gross. At least I can eBay them for money.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vmachiel Avatar
133 months ago
Man.. I miss the iTunes credit already.
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)