Are you a Mac person? Well if so, the Apple Military discount, provided by the tech giant that brings you every “i” product under the sun, is for you. The Apple military discount is valid for active duty, National Guard and Reserve personnel, and veterans.
This discount is different from its education pricing and healthcare-related discounts because of the limit on the number of products that can be purchased and the fact that the deal extends to household members. Discounted pricing includes iPhones, watches, accessories, and computers. It does not apply to most software.
What Makes the Apple Military Discount Unique?
If you are a Mac person, this discount is just icing on the cake. The Apple military discount can be accessed either online at the Apple Military Discount website or by visiting and ordering from a US retail store. Like other phone-device companies, this discount makes purchasing new devices more financially accessible for members of the military community.
What is the Discount?
The discount is 10% off regularly priced items. Apple’s military discount program to servicemembers and immediate family is intended for personal use only.
Eligible members can purchase or “sponsor” up to three of the following:
- Computer systems
- iPad devices
- Unlocked iPhones
- Apple watches
- Apple TV
- AirPods
- AppleCare+ or AppleCare protection Plans
Additionally, servicemembers can purchase up to 10 of the following:
- Apple accessories, including Beats products
- Apple Watch accessories, including bands and chargers
- Third-party accessories
- Apple-certified refurbished products
- Designed by Apple in California books
How to Get the Military Discount
To get the military discount, you’ll need to have an account verified with ID.me.
ID.me offers secure identity proofing, group affiliation, and authentication verification services for government and businesses across several industries. Once you’re verified, you’ll never need to re-authenticate your identity anywhere that ID.me is integrated.
Creating an ID.me account is quick and straightforward. You may be able to verify your military service directly through the ID.me database connection, however, you may be required to upload an image of your military or veteran ID. Once your identity is authenticated, you’re all set.
How Does the Apple Military Discount Compare?
Apple is known for having high-quality products with prices to match. Most vendors aren’t allowed to offer too many discounts off Apple’s stated prices, so the 10% discount is generous, especially for newly released items. However, for some older Apple products, you may be able to find better deals available at other vendors or when you shop at an authorized reseller. For that reason, the discount might not be the best price out there. So it’s a good idea to explore other pricing options at different companies including Best Buy, Target, and Amazon.
It’s also important to note that Apple isn’t the only device company that offers military discounts. Depending on what you’re shopping for, there might be better discounts available – especially if you’re not only interested in using Apple products.
For example, Motorola offers a 10% discount off their devices, which might end up costing less than an Apple product. Similarly, Samsung also offers a 10% discount.
If you’re in the market for computers and tablets, Hewlett Packard offers a very generous 35% discount for military members. The Microsoft military discount provides a savings of 10% off PCs, PC gaming, Office 365, and other products.
Lenovo offers 10% off all their products and provides free shipping and APO/FPO/DPO shipping options. Newegg gives military customers Newegg Premier free for one year, which opens up discounts on specific products, along with free returns, no restocking fees, expedited shipping, and 50% off shipping to APO/FPO/DPO addresses.
Which Makes More Sense?
It’s hard to say which makes more sense since that will largely depend on the product that you want to purchase. If you’re looking to buy a newly released edition of an iPhone or Apple Watch, you may find the best deals directly through the Apple website. Similarly, if you’re in the market for a refurbished device, then Apple’s resale choices might be the best value for your money. That said, it’s worth shopping around, especially if you don’t need the newest release.
But if you’re just in the market for any new laptop or computer, or if you’re not partial to the Apple brand and their product line, it might be worthwhile to explore some of the other tech discounts available to members of the military community.
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