Apple Launches 2018 Back to School Promotion: Free Beats With Select Mac or iPad Pro Models - MacRumors
Skip to Content

Apple Launches 2018 Back to School Promotion: Free Beats With Select Mac or iPad Pro Models

Apple today launched its annual Back to School promotion in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, and unlike in previous years, the promotion has also gone live simultaneously in many European and Asian countries.

apple 2018 back to school
For a limited time, qualifying higher-education students, parents purchasing on behalf of higher-education students, and faculty and staff at both higher-education and K-12 institutions can receive a free or discounted pair of Beats headphones with the purchase of an eligible Mac or iPad Pro.

Apple is offering the choice of free BeatsX, Solo3 Wireless, or Powerbeats3 Wireless headphones with the purchase of any new MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, iMac, iMac Pro, or Mac Pro. As usual, the Mac mini is excluded.

Apple is also offering free BeatsX or Powerbeats3 Wireless with the purchase of any new 10.5-inch or 12.9-inch iPad Pro, with the option to pay $100 USD or equivalent extra for Solo3 Wireless headphones. Like last year, Apple's sixth-generation iPad and iPad mini 4 models do not qualify for the offer.

The promotion runs until September 25, 2018, and is available through Apple's online store, retail stores, and authorized campus stores, or by calling 1-800-MY-APPLE. Read the terms and conditions for complete details.

Participating countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East include Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates.

In select countries, student verification via UNiDAYS is required.

Popular Stories

MacBook Pro Low Angle Wide Lens

Apple to Launch 'MacBook Ultra' With These Six New Features

Friday April 24, 2026 10:32 am PDT by
While the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro were just updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last month, bigger changes are reportedly around the corner. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the higher-end MacBook Pro models will be receiving a major redesign by early 2027, and he said that Apple might use "MacBook Ultra" branding for them. If so, the MacBook Ultra would likely be a...
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

This Is What the iPhone 18 Pro Looks Like

Saturday April 25, 2026 10:00 am PDT by
A recent leak provides our best look yet at the design of Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models. Leaker Sonny Dickson recently shared images of the first iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone dummy models. The images largely conform with rumors about the designs of the three devices and provide the first real visual confirmation of how they will look. ...
app store monthly sub commitment

Apple Introduces App Store Monthly Subscriptions With 12-Month Commitment

Monday April 27, 2026 12:52 pm PDT by
Apple today announced the launch of a new subscription option for App Store developers: monthly subscriptions with a 12-month commitment. The new option allows developers to offer subscribers discounted pricing typically associated with an annual subscription but paid on a monthly basis to keep payments more affordable. This new payment option allows you to offer subscribers more affordable...

Top Rated Comments

102 months ago
Bleh. Just offer AirPods. Who wants that beats garbage?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
EugW Avatar
102 months ago
probably the same people who want 3 grand Touch Bar garbage
Someone who wants to get money back on their purchase. The Beats Solo headphones are more valuable.
I'm not a big fan of Beats, but I must say the Beats Solo3 Wireless are pretty decent. Yeah, they're expensive, but if you're getting them for free, why complain?

Probably to get rid of old inventory to make room for new models coming in hopefully soon.
New models are included in the promotion.
Score: 6 Votes (Like | Disagree)
pgharavi Avatar
102 months ago
Does anyone know when will this promotion end?
Yeah, I want to know too. I want to get a new iPad Pro in September when they are announced but I've a feeling this will be over by then.
September 25th.

https://www.apple.com/promo/pdf/EN_US_BTS_070518.pdf
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
102 months ago
New MBPs = School Promotion. Like Clockwork, Apple's timing is impeccable this time around.
I was hoping to use in to buy an updated iMac, though :(
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TMRJIJ Avatar
102 months ago
New MBPs = School Promotion. Like Clockwork, Apple's timing is impeccable this time around.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
TimUSCA Avatar
102 months ago
Bleh. Just offer AirPods. Who wants that beats garbage?
I'm consistently amazed by the negative attitudes from people on the internet regarding FREE items. Beats are overpriced at retail, but they are NOT garbage. Especially for free...
[doublepost=1531412111][/doublepost]
How nice of Apple to literally just give away ~$15 headphones with a $1000+ purchase, that's... laughable at best. :D
Oh look, someone else who has obviously never used them. Your estimation of $15 is the only laughable part of this. The W1 chip alone is worth more than that.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)