Developers Start Receiving $500 Credits for Returning DTK Mac Minis

Apple last week sent out emails to developers who are in possession of a Developer Transition Kit, providing instructions on returning the test machines. Developers have now started mailing in their DTKs, with Apple rewarding the promised $500 USD credit once the DTK has been received.

mac mini developer transition kit photo feature

In appreciation of your participation in the Universal App Quick Start program and to help with your continued development of Universal apps, we'd like to provide you with a one-time-use promo code for $500 toward the purchase of a new M1 Mac or other Apple products ordered through the Apple Store Online.

Developers are receiving the equivalent of $500 USD regardless of country, so those in Canada are receiving C$ 636, while those in Europe will receive 412 euros. In some cases, the amount being paid out by Apple does not match the cost that developers paid to participate in the program as some countries were required to pay more than $500 USD.


The Developer Transition Kits were offered to developers ahead of the release of the M1 Macs to allow them to begin developing apps for Apple silicon chips. The DTKs are Mac minis with an A12Z chip, 16GB RAM, a 512GB SSD, two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and an HDMI 2.0 port. The A12Z chip in the DTK was first developed for the 2020 iPad Pro models.

Apple has asked developers to return their DTKs by March 31, 2021 in order to get the $500 credit, which can be used toward the purchase of any Apple product.

Apple originally planned to give developers a $200 credit, but later upped that amount to $500 after developers complained about low credit amounts and the technical issues that were experienced during the testing process.

While DTKs must now be sent back, developers will continue to have access to a private discussion forum and technical support from Apple for further app development.

Popular Stories

iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature

iPhone 17 Lineup Specs Detail Display Upgrade and New High-End Model

Monday July 22, 2024 4:33 am PDT by
Key details about the overall specifications of the iPhone 17 lineup have been shared by the leaker known as "Ice Universe," clarifying several important aspects of next year's devices. Reports in recent months have converged in agreement that Apple will discontinue the "Plus" iPhone model in 2025 while introducing an all-new iPhone 17 "Slim" model as an even more high-end option sitting...
Generic iPhone 17 Feature With Full Width Dynamic Island

Kuo: Ultra-Thin iPhone 17 to Feature A19 Chip, Single Rear Camera, Semi-Titanium Frame, and More

Wednesday July 24, 2024 9:06 am PDT by
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo today shared alleged specifications for a new ultra-thin iPhone 17 model rumored to launch next year. Kuo expects the device to be equipped with a 6.6-inch display with a current-size Dynamic Island, a standard A19 chip rather than an A19 Pro chip, a single rear camera, and an Apple-designed 5G chip. He also expects the device to have a...
iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...
iPhone 17 Plus Feature Purple

iPhone 17 Rumored to Feature Mechanical Aperture

Tuesday July 23, 2024 9:32 am PDT by
Apple is planning to release at least one iPhone 17 model next year with mechanical aperture, according to a report published today by The Information. The mechanical system would allow users to adjust the size of the iPhone 17's aperture, which refers to the opening of the camera lens through which light enters. All existing iPhone camera lenses have fixed apertures, but some Android...

Top Rated Comments

4jasontv Avatar
44 months ago

Isn't this a given? Why is the $500 credit getting this much attention
Because Karen and her friends were upset about the lease they signed.
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)
zachz Avatar
44 months ago
Isn't this a given? Why is the $500 credit getting this much attention
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
opiapr Avatar
44 months ago
In some cases, the amount being paid out by Apple does not match the cost that developers
paid to participate in the program as some countries were required to pay more than $500 USD


They weren't entitled to anything. They did not put down a refundable deposit they paid for access to the DTK without any refund. Apple offered them $200 and then raises it to $500 as a nice gesture. People should understand what contracts they enter into and abide by them. Stop whining afterwards.

I believe real developers understand this. But a lot of people got this DTK with the intention of getting freebie from Apple and those are the ones whining.
Score: 8 Votes (Like | Disagree)
code-m Avatar
44 months ago

Why is this news ?‍♂️
Seems drawn out to me tbh. It’s a contract and condition between Apple and the developer not sure why regular folks here need to be kept in the loop or every development that has no bearing on anything related to them.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
LFC2020 Avatar
44 months ago
Why is this news ?‍♂️
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
code-m Avatar
44 months ago

It was not part of the original contract they signed. With that, they paid $500, no credit, and had to return the device at end of the early access lease period.
Except the contact was for a year, Apple changed it and ended it early to me if Apple is going to take something then it should give something. In the original case it was $200 which was a lowball offer considering these things, developers made it public and Apple reconsidered and everyone (almost) is happy. Some developers have reported issues with the DTK with little to no support from Apple (cannot confirm).

There is another thing in many business’ called appreciation and sometimes that is a little token, the belated Steve Jobs understood this while Tim Cooks seems to have lost touch. Without developers a platform will faultier.

Rather than piss on the developers or Apple, understand a mutual understanding and agreement can be reached.
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)