As summer approaches, Apple is gearing up for its annual Back to School promotion for students and teachers in the United States and Canada. According to backend code discovered by MacRumors, the Cupertino company has already activated preparations for the yearly offer, which typically launches in mid-June and runs through the end of September. Over the past five years, the launch has occurred between 8 and 10 days after the WWDC keynote, and with the 2026 edition set for June 8, the sale is likely to begin the week of June 15.
The Back to School promotion provides a free accessory or gift card up to a certain value when purchasing a Mac or iPad with the education discount. Last year, eligible students could choose from AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, Apple Pencil Pro, and other accessories worth up to $199. This year's details have not yet been officialized, but the timeline suggests students should wait before making a purchase. Apple has also strengthened eligibility verification: starting this year, UNiDAYS verification is mandatory in the U.S. and Canada, requiring an institutional email address, a student or staff photo ID, or another valid academic document.
Unmissable Deals on the M5 MacBook Air
In parallel, Amazon has launched an incredible offer on nearly all models of the M5 MacBook Air, with a $199 discount bringing prices to all-time lows. The base 13-inch model with 512GB storage starts at $899.99 (saving $199 off the original $1,099 price). Configurations with 16GB/1TB at $1,099.99 and 24GB/1TB at $1,299.99 are also available, both with the same discount. For the 15-inch model, the price starts at $1,099.99 for the 512GB version, while the top-tier 24GB/1TB model costs $1,499.99. Deliveries are expected in early June and discounts apply to all colors. For those who are not in a hurry, waiting for Apple's Back to School promotion might be even more advantageous, offering a free accessory instead of a mere price cut. The combination of the education discount and the seasonal offer could make purchasing a MacBook Air even more cost-effective.
Public Betas for iOS 26.6 and macOS Tahoe 26.6
On the software front, Apple today released the first public betas of iOS 26.6, iPadOS 26.6, macOS Tahoe 26.6, watchOS 26.6, and tvOS 26.6, two days after seeding them to developers. Those enrolled in the public beta program can download the updates directly from the Settings app on each device. iOS 26.6 introduces a feature that notifies users when they have blocked too many contacts, though the limit is in the thousands, so few will ever see it. No other major new features have been discovered: Apple appears focused on bug fixes and security improvements. With WWDC just 11 days away, the version 26 software cycle is coming to an end, making way for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27. For a preview of the more radical changes, check out our article on iOS 27 and the new era of Siri.
This is a particularly interesting moment for the Apple ecosystem. On one hand, Amazon is pushing discounts to clear M5 models ahead of the next product cycle; on the other, Apple is preparing its traditional education offer that rewards student loyalty. Anyone needing a new MacBook Air for college would do well to evaluate both options: an immediate purchase on Amazon with a net discount, or waiting for the Back to School promotion to get a valuable accessory. The choice depends on personal needs, but one thing is certain: 2026 is proving to be an exceptional year for buying Apple hardware at advantageous prices.
For deeper insight into location data security threats, a hot topic in privacy debates, read our piece on US Soldiers Tracked via Location Data. And to stay up to date with gaming and new Intel chips, don't miss Gaming in 2026.
External source: MacRumors for all original details.
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