According to 9to5Mac, during today's town hall meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced to employees that they would get $500 off Macs and $250 iPads.
The new discount program starts in June 2012, and can only be used once every 3 years. Employees also need to have been working at Apple for at least 90 days. The discount is reportedly for both corporate and retail employees. The discount is said to exclude the Mac mini.
Apple employees presently are allowed a one-a-year 25% discount on Apple systems. One report even claims that this discount will remain in place alongside the new discounts.
In 2007, shortly after the original iPhone's launch, Apple had announced a similar perk for employees. At that time, Steve Jobs announced that all full time and part time Apple employees would receive an 8GB iPhone.
Sunday February 1, 2026 10:08 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Last year, Apple launched CarPlay Ultra, the long-awaited next-generation version of its CarPlay software system for vehicles. Nearly nine months later, CarPlay Ultra is still limited to Aston Martin's latest luxury vehicles, but that should change fairly soon.
In May 2025, Apple said many other vehicle brands planned to offer CarPlay Ultra, including Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis.
In his Powe...
Sunday February 1, 2026 12:31 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
The calendar has turned to February, and a new report indicates that Apple's next product launch is "imminent," in the form of new MacBook Pro models.
"All signs point to an imminent launch of next-generation MacBook Pros that retain the current form factor but deliver faster chips," Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said on Sunday. "I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated...
Sunday February 1, 2026 5:42 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips alongside macOS 26.3, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
"Apple's faster MacBook Pros are planned for the macOS 26.3 release cycle," wrote Gurman, in his Power On newsletter today.
"I'm told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from...
Tuesday February 3, 2026 7:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
We are still waiting for the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to come out, so the first iOS 26.4 beta is likely still at least a week or two away. Following beta testing, iOS 26.4 will likely be released to the general public in March or April.
Below, we have recapped known or rumored iOS 26.3 and iOS 26.4 features so far.
iOS 26.3
iPhone to Android Transfer Tool
iOS 26.3 makes it easier...
Saturday January 31, 2026 10:51 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple recently updated its online store with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro.
There used to be a handful of standard configurations available for each Mac, but now you must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis. In other words, ordering a new Mac now works much like ordering an...
Bad business idea. Sounds like a return to the bad old days of Apple in the 90's where there were a million different pricing points and special ways to get discounts (educational, business, yada yada yada).
Steve Jobs was right. Have a simple, single price point so that all customers are feeling like they have a similar consistent, and slick appearance.
Providing deep discounted products, even when provided to employees, only degrades the perception among consumers about the value of the product, which is one reason that Apple is capable of maintaining its high margins. Why should I pay full price for an item that is worth only half as much to the people selling it to me? That will be the perception.
For example: "Hey, my nephew worked for apple for one month and bought his iPad 3 for $250. Why the heck should I pay $600 to get one?" Good question.
Are you serious?
I don't think anyone in their right mind would begrudge paying for a product a member of staff is getting at a discount. :confused:
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Oh how generous. Such a big deal. Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Porsche pay each of their employers an annual bonus of several thousand Euros, depending on revenue.
Shame on Apple.
My goodness. MacRumour members are on top form today :rolleyes:
On the retail side, working for Apple sucks. You get crapped on a lot by customers and the innovation isn't there like it is at corporate. It's really no different than any other retail gig.
Side note, this discount is an *additional* $500 off every three years. They still get the 25% off once a year.
Oh how generous. Such a big deal. Audi, Volkswagen, Mercedes, and Porsche pay each of their employers an annual bonus of several thousand Euros, depending on revenue.
Shame on Apple.
You should try to rescue the exploited workers. I suggest carrying them out on your shoulder one-by-one, and bring the media.
According to 9to5Mac, during today's town hall meeting, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced to employees that they would get $500 off Macs and $250 iPads. 
