Back to school Apple deals 2025: save big on iPads, MacBooks and more

Child holding iPad with image on screen and Tom's Guide Price drop deal badge in top right corner
(Image credit: Future / Apple)

The summer holiday fun is almost setting once again, and in no time at all, it'll be the start of the 2025 school year. Cramming in the last bits of sunshine and relaxation can be particularly stressful, especially if you've got a list of looming school supplies to shop for. Some of the most pressing items to purchase first are the big-ticket ones, like laptops and tablets.

Some of the most popular laptops and tablets are Apple's own MacBooks and iPads, with a range of tech specs, colourways and education requirements to consider before purchasing. So, whether you're heading back to school or university and you're keen on getting yourself (or your child) one of these coveted products, we've got you covered.

More often than not, you'll be hard-pressed to come across a discount at Apple Direct, but there are plenty of back-to-school bargains to be had on Apple AU's Education site. You can save on MacBooks, iPads, headphones and more with education pricing if you're eligible during Apple's limited-time education savings offer.

If you make a qualifying purchase during the sales period from January 8, 2025, to March 13, 2025, you can score a free pair of AirPods 4 or Apple Pencil or a discount towards AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Max headphones.

And if you can't save big at the retailer, don't fret — we've rounded up our top picks of the best back-to-school Apple products at other retailers, like Amazon and JB Hi-Fi, that are available now.

Best education discounts from Apple

Note that to be eligible for Apple AU’s education pricing, you need to be:

  • a full-time or part-time student aged 18 or over with a current student ID card;
  • a parent purchasing on behalf of their child who attends an Apple-approved institution;
  • a lecturer, teacher or staff member at an Apple-approved education establishment (such as a university or school).
2024 Apple Macbook Pro 14-inch (M4, 1TB SSD)
Free AirPods 4 with purchase
2024 Apple Macbook Pro 14-inch (M4, 1TB SSD): was AU$2,799 now AU$2,649 at Apple Australia

Save AU$150
The price of Apple’s latest 14-inch MacBook Pro has been slashed by AU$150, making it a powerful option for students and parents alike. With 1TB of storage space and 16GB of unified memory, this laptop is great for work or studying on the go. What's even more notable is that this is the first Macbook Pro to come with Apple Intelligence built into its OS, which could come in handy for writing assignments, editing photos and more.

If you’re looking for a larger display, or more robust processing power from the M4 Pro chip, this 16-inch MacBook Pro for AU$3,699 (down from AU$3,999) may be right up your alley.

With Apple's current promotion, you can score a free pair of Apple AirPods 4 with this purchase. Otherwise, you can purchase AirPods Pro 2 for AU$100 or AirPods Max for AU$600. All you need to do is add the offer to your cart before checkout.

2024 Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 512GB SSD)
Free AirPods 4 with purchase
2024 Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 512GB SSD): was AU$2,099 now AU$1,949 at Apple Australia

Save AU$150
In our best student laptops guide, this 13-inch M3-powered MacBook Air takes the top spot. It delivers a fantastic performance, a vibrant display and more than 15 hours of battery life on a singular charge. It’s super lightweight at just 1.24kg, making it easy to carry around between classes and commuting.

Much like the Pro mentioned above, if you’re in the market for a wider display, the 15-inch MacBook Air has received an education discount too, for a respectable AU$2,049 (down from AU$2,199).

With Apple's current promotion, you can score a free pair of Apple AirPods 4 with this purchase. Otherwise, you can purchase AirPods Pro 2 for AU$100 or AirPods Max for AU$600. All you need to do is add the offer to your cart before checkout.

2024 Apple iMac (M4, 512GB SSD)
Free AirPods 4 with purchase
2024 Apple iMac (M4, 512GB SSD): was AU$2,699 now AU$2,549 at Apple Australia

Save AU$150
If you’re doing most of your studying at home, and would prefer a desktop than a portable laptop, this iMac deal is worth considering. Boasting the latest M4 chip, this iMac has more oomph under the hood than its predecessor. Its 24-inch 4.5K Retina display combined with the new processor makes it the perfect machine for students who need a computer for creative design work or video editing.

Available in fun colourways, complete with a matching keyboard and mouse, or you can switch to a Magic Trackpad for an extra AU$60.

With Apple's current promotion, you can score a free pair of Apple AirPods 4 with this purchase. Otherwise, you can purchase AirPods Pro 2 for AU$100 or AirPods Max for AU$600. All you need to do is add the offer to your cart before checkout.

2024 Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (Wi-Fi, M4, 512GB)
Free Apple Pencil with purchase
2024 Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (Wi-Fi, M4, 512GB): was AU$1,699 now AU$1,529 at Apple Australia

Save AU$170
This flagship iPad Pro isn't cheap, but it has a decent AU$170 education discount. With an 11-inch screen, an all-new M4 processor and a sizable 512GB of storage, this one can be a powerful (and super compact) laptop replacement if you add a keyboard cover. Plus, this model now comes packed with Apple Intelligence features and has been touted as the thinnest iPad yet. Available in Space Grey and Silver colourways.

With Apple's current promotion, you can score a free Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil USB-C with this purchase. All you need to do is select your choice and the offer to your cart before checkout.

2024 Apple iPad Air 11-inch (Wi-Fi, M2, 128GB)
Free Apple Pencil with purchase
2024 Apple iPad Air 11-inch (Wi-Fi, M2, 128GB): was AU$999 now AU$919 at Apple Australia

Save AU$80
Looking for a cheaper, budget-friendly iPad that still features Apple Intelligence? The iPad Air comes with a hearty M2 processor and makes a great starter iPad. The Air model comes in four vibrant colourways, and can easily be paired with a keyboard case to make it the ultimate study companion.

With Apple's current promotion, you can score a free Apple Pencil Pro or Apple Pencil USB-C with this purchase. All you need to do is select your choice and the offer to your cart before checkout.

Best deals from other retailers

2024 Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 512GB SSD)
2024 Apple MacBook Air 13-inch (M3, 512GB SSD): was AU$2,099 now AU$1,877 at The Good Guys

Save AU$222
Score a modest discount on the 512GB 13-inch MacBook Air at The Good Guys. Rated highly here at Tom's Guide as a great option for students, this nice saving is well worth it, especially if you need more storage space.

Compared to the education discount for the same model above, you'll save an additional AU$72. That said, you do miss out on free AirPods 4 with this deal.

2024 Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3, 256GB SSD)
2024 Apple MacBook Air 15-inch (M3, 256GB SSD): was AU$2,199 now AU$1,925.80 at Amazon

Save AU$273
Not the deepest discount on the latest 15-inch MacBook Air, but anything over 10% is worth considering when it comes to coveted Apple products.

Amazon's price is AU$123 cheaper than Apple's education discount, but you won't be so lucky to nab a free pair of AirPods with this one. Though, no matter where you decide to purchase it from, this laptop is an absolute powerhouse for all things studying, writing and editing, making it a no-brainer for students.

2022 Apple iPad 10.9-inch (Wi-Fi, A14 Bionic, 256GB SSD, Yellow)
2022 Apple iPad 10.9-inch (Wi-Fi, A14 Bionic, 256GB SSD, Yellow): was AU$999 now AU$747 at The Good Guys

Save AU$152
This Good Guys deal knocks AU$152 off this 10th-generation iPad. If you’re keen to snap up a budget iPad or a cheap laptop replacement, there's no better time than the present. While JB's offer doesn't come with a free pair of AirPods 4, it does come with a comparable saving that you could use to buy a pair anyway.

You can also snag this iPad for AU$749 at JB Hi-Fi, but for AU$2 off, The Good Guys' offer is pretty solid. Also available in blue, silver and pink under the same listing.

Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen, USB-C case)
Apple AirPods Pro (2nd gen, USB-C case): was AU$399 now AU$348 at Amazon

Save AU$51
Definitely not the cheapest price we've seen these buds come down to, but the AirPods Pros pack a punch. With seamless connectivity between Apple devices, brilliant ANC and solid bass, they are undoubtedly one of the best Apple accessories.

That said, we weren't thrilled with the lacklustre call quality in our review, but we still gave these in-ears 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Apple AirPods Max (Space Grey)
Apple AirPods Max (Space Grey): was AU$899 now AU$789 at MobileCiti Online

Save AU$110
While these popular cans aren't discounted through Apple's education pricing, they do have a stellar discount of AU$299 when paired with an eligible Mac purchase. However, if you're in the market for a solid discount on the headphones alone, this one from Mobileciti knocks AU$110 off RRP.

The AirPods Max offers a seamless connection to any Apple device but also provides an awesome listening experience through Spatial Audio. While we’re big fans of them here at Tom’s Guide, we’re even bigger fans of this discounted price, making it an essential purchase this school year.

Best Back to School Accessories

Amazon Basics Laptop Sleeve
Amazon Basics Laptop Sleeve: was AU$19.50 now AU$15.90 at Amazon

Save AU$3.60
Protect your laptop with this uber-affordable laptop sleeve from Amazon. With multiple colourways and sizes to choose from, the sleeve is lightweight and compact with a top zipper. It's not the most protective or supportive case, but it will at least get you or your child ready for school.

Logitech Slim Folio iPad Keyboard Case
Logitech Slim Folio iPad Keyboard Case: was AU$159.95 now AU$129 at Mwave

Save AU$30
This Logitech Folio case hasn't received a deep discount, but even a modest saving on it is better than nothing, especially if you want to bolster a new iPad. Compact, lightweight and compatible with 10th-gen iPads, this case will keep your iPad snug while adding keyboard capability into your tablet workflow.

Anker 8-in-1 USB-C Hub
Anker 8-in-1 USB-C Hub: was AU$89.99 now AU$76.49 at Amazon

Save AU$13.50
Sometimes it pays to have a dongle like this, especially if you're constantly misplacing your charging cords or need to connect multiple devices to your laptop. This Anker hub has 8 ports, including USB-A, USB-C and HDMI, and is stacked with 100W for quick charging.

Logitech Wireless Combo Keyboard and Mouse MK220
Logitech Wireless Combo Keyboard and Mouse MK220: was AU$54.95 now AU$28 at Amazon

Save AU$26.95
Typically, Apple's wireless Magic Keyboard can set you back a not-so-nice AU$279, making it a slightly more expensive option compared to some of the best wireless keyboards.

What's notable about this Logitech one, in particular, is that you can connect to your laptop up to 10 metres away and it's 36% smaller than standard keyboards, making it a compact option with all numerical keys. What's even better is that it's discounted by a nice 49% — and comes with a wireless mouse too. What a win.

Lucy Scotting
Staff Writer

Lucy Scotting is a digital content writer for Tom’s Guide in Australia, primarily covering NBN and internet-related news. Lucy started her career writing for HR and staffing industry publications, with articles covering emerging tech, business and finance. In her spare time, Lucy can be found watching sci-fi movies, working on her dystopian fiction novel or hanging out with her dog, Fletcher.