Apple Card Sign Up Promo Could Net New Customers a "Free Pair" of AirPods Pro 3

Apple is preparing one of its most aggressive Apple Card sign up incentives to date, with new customers effectively able to walk out of an Apple Store with a free pair of AirPods Pro 3, according to a new report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The promotion is expected to launch in U.S. Apple retail stores as soon as next week. Customers approved for a new Apple Card who then purchase AirPods Pro 3 would receive $249 in Daily Cash back, matching the full retail price of the earbuds.

Gurman shared the news on social media, saying that if a customer signs up for a new card and buys AirPods Pro 3, they will get $249 cash back. Apple has not officially announced the promotion, so the exact terms and conditions are not yet known.

How the offer works

Apple Card cash back is issued as Daily Cash, which means the $249 would post to the cardholder's Apple Cash account on the same day the purchase is made. From there, the funds can be transferred to a bank account or moved into the Apple Card Savings account.

Gurman's report indicates the offer will be available in retail stores only, and it is not yet clear whether Apple will extend the same promotion to online buyers.

A notable shift in strategy

Apple Card sign up bonuses have historically been modest. Most existing promotions have relied on referrals from current cardholders and have topped out at around $75 to $100 in Daily Cash. The new offer would be among the largest public Apple Card incentives since the card launched in 2019.

The card carries no annual fee, no foreign transaction fees, and no late fees. It offers 3% Daily Cash on purchases made directly with Apple and select partners, 2% back on Apple Pay purchases, and 1% back when using the physical titanium card.

Coming amid a banking transition

The promotion arrives as Apple Card is in the middle of a multi year transition from Goldman Sachs to Chase, which was confirmed earlier this year as the card's incoming issuer. The full transition is expected to take roughly two years.

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