Buy a MacBook or iPad for school, get a free pair of AirPods – here’s how

Back-to-school season is approaching, whether you want to admit it or not. For those starting college this fall, a good computer and noise-canceling headphones are the most excellent tools. Luckily, Apple has a convenient sale where you can get the best of both worlds, but without paying full price.

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Now through September 30, Apple is offering a deal just in time: you can get a free pair of AirPods or any eligible accessory of your choice when you purchase an iPad, MacBook, or iMac. Qualified purchasers are eligible for this offer, which Apple details as students, parents of higher education students, employees of public or private K-12 institutions, faculty and staff of higher education institutions, serving school board members, and select PTA/PTO executives. Read the full eligibility terms at Apple.

With this offer, there are quite a few items to pick from that are free with purchase. If you choose to grab the iPad, you have the choice of a free Apple Pencil Pro, AirPods 4, AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (extra $50 fee), AirPods Pro 2 (additional $120 fee), or a Magic Keyboard compatible with the iPad size you chose. The iPad would be just as great a choice as a MacBook or iMac, as their new software updates make them act more like a desktop. 

Also: These 6 gadgets are the college essentials you’ll actually reach for

You can also purchase a MacBook and have the option of AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, AirPods Pro 2 (an extra $70 fee), a Magic Mouse, a Magic Trackpad, or a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID for free. I used a MacBook Air throughout college, which was worth the purchase.

Lastly, if you choose an iMac as your weapon, your freebie can be either AirPods 4 with ANC, or AirPods Pro 2 (extra $70 fee)

All three options above would be great tools for your academic career. Apple’s desktop and iPad software has many productivity options and runs smoothly. I remember when I had to repair my college MacBook Air for the first time and used an old HP while it was in the shop. After those three days, it made me appreciate the speed, convenience, and feel of my MacBook. My younger sibling is attending college in the fall, and I encouraged them to purchase one.

Also: The iPad I recommend to most users is only $299 right now

I paired my computer with my second-gen AirPods at the time, which helped me lock in more during library study sessions. Otherwise, an iPad, especially with its modern software upgrades, would be useful for most students. If you are in a field of study that requires lots of drawing, note-taking, and annotating, an iPad makes those things feel less like a chore.

The iMac is the grandfather of all these devices. I recommend this to those taking more online classes, as it would be tough to lug your desktop to your lecture. However, it’s still a powerful computer with lots of benefits. If you know you’ll be bouncing from class to class, something portable like the iPad or MacBook would better suit your needs. 

Apple’s back-to-school deal, where you can get a free accessory of your choosing with a device purchase, you can become the academic weapon you’ve always wanted to be. 

Looking for the next best product? Get expert reviews and editor favorites with ZDNET Recommends.

How I rated this deal 

Apple’s back-to-school deals are not a surprise to many people, as they’ve been an annual offer for a while. However, this deal has a few stipulations besides paying slightly extra fees for the more expensive accessories. You also have to spend money on a new and costly device. Because of this, we gave this offer a 4/5 Editor’s Deal rating. A free product is free; if I were a student, parent, or teacher, I would hop on this deal. 

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