Apple back-to-school: Best deals and what to expect in the UK

Apple rarely offers direct discounts, so what is the Apple back-to-school sale and can we benefit from it in the UK?

Back to school 2021 What to expect
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Georgia-Rose Johnson
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Unfortunately Apple rarely offers significant markdowns on its products, but in the US Apple customers benefit from an annual back-to-school sale, which is often one of the best times to buy everything from MacBooks to AirPods and more.

What's in this guide?

Does the Apple back-to-school sale happen in the UK?

Sadly there aren’t any back-to-school discounts offered on Apple’s UK website right now. But don’t worry! The sales haven’t started quite yet in the USA either.

When is the Apple back-to-school sale?

Last year Apple launched its back-to-school sale on June 15 and it ran until October 12, so there was plenty of time to snap up the good deals.

Will Apple have a back-to-school sale this year?

Hopefully! In oprevioud years the sale has started anywhere from the middle of June until late July so there’s still time for Apple to announce the deals.

How do I shop the Apple sale?

To be eligible for Apple’s education pricing and back-to-school discounts, you need to fall into one of these categories:

  • Primary and secondary teachers, staff and administrators
  • Homeschool teachers
  • Higher education students, teachers and staff, parents of students

If you’re eligible, head to Apple’s Education Store online or your local Apple Store to shop the sale.

What kind of deals to expect

Apple has a history of running similar deals year-to-year, which typically include freebies and other perks when you buy select MacBooks and iPads. Last year, it offered a pair of AirPods with select Mac and iPad purchases. You could also save up to £200 on an iPad and get 20% off AppleCare.

Some of the top deals offered in the US last year included:

  • £200 savings on the Apple iMacPro
  • £70 savings on the Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro
  • £50 savings on the Apple MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro
  • £30 savings on the Apple iMac and iPad Pro
  • £5 savings on the Apple Pencil
  • Free Beats wireless headphones with purchase of select laptops and iPads
  • 20% off AppleCare+
  • Extended six-month free trial of Apple Music for students, and reduced subscription cost after trial

Best Apple deals right now

Carphone WarehouseCarphone Warehouse

iPhone 11 for just £36 per month

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Very.co.ukVery.co.uk

Up to £120 off selected iPhones

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Very.co.ukVery.co.uk

iPad Mini from £399

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LittlewoodsLittlewoods

Up to £170 off Apple MacBook Air Laptops

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Ways to save even more

Finding a discount on Apple products takes some research, patience and a little bit of luck. Fortunately, we’ve found some solid ways to save if you missed or don’t qualify for the back-to-school sale:

  • Shop the Education Store year-round. If you qualify for the Apple education discount, you can still snag deals on select products long after this yearly sale is over.
  • Buy last year’s models. Brand-new releases of MacBooks, iPads and iPhones carry a hefty price tag. But if you can stick it out a few more months or settle for last year’s model, you could potentially save hundreds.

Other tech deals

Don’t qualify for Apple education pricing, but still want a deal? Try these top retailers that are known for offering authentic Apple products at a discount:

  • Very runs Apple sales events throughout the year that often coincide with Apple’s own back-to-school sale.
  • Amazon often has similar or even better markdowns on MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches and more.
  • Currys usually offers small deals on iPhones and accessories like AirPods, smart keyboards, charging cables, Beats headphones and more.

    • Bottom line

    Bag up back-to-school bargains on the latest Apple products and earn freebies too — when you shop Apple’s yearly sale for students and educators.

Top Apple deals online

Carphone Warehouse
Deal

iPhone 11 for just £36 per month

Get your hands on the latest Apple technology and get a brand new iPhone 11 at Carphone Warehouse! T&Cs apply.
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Very.co.uk
Code

Up to £120 off selected iPhones

Verified 2 days ago
Order your brand new iPhone XR, XS, 7, 8 and others right now from Very and save up to £120 off your new phone! T&Cs apply.
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Very.co.uk
Deal

iPad Mini from £399

Verified 2 days ago
Shop the iPad Mini (2019) from Very with prices starting at just £399! T&Cs apply.
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Littlewoods
Deal

Up to £170 off Apple MacBook Air Laptops

Verified 2 days ago
Shop Apple MacBook Air laptops from Littlewoods and get up to £170 off the RRP! Shop now. T&Cs apply
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Littlewoods
Deal

Up to £140 off iPhones!

Verified 2 days ago
Shop Littlewoods' great offers and get up to £140 off iPhones including iPhone XR and iPhone 7! T&Cs apply.
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John Lewis & Partners
Deal

Save up to £450 off Apple MacBook laptops

Treat yourself to a brand new MacBook from John Lewis and get Apple TV+ for free for a year, plus save up to £450 off when you trade in your old Macbook. T&Cs apply.
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GoGroopie
Deal

Shop Apple products at GoGroopie!

Apple iMac, iPads, Macbooks, Apple Watches... discover a whole range of Apple products in great prices from GoGroopie now! T&Cs apply.
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Case-Mate
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iPhone cases

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Buymobiles.net
Deal

Free wireless charging pad with iPhone 8

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Ao.com
Deal

Apple iPad from £393

If you're looking for a new Apple iPad shop the range at ao.com today for prices starting from as little as £393! T&Cs apply.
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