Apple Expands Education Discounts to Apple Watch Models and Rolls Out Unidays Verification in the U.S.

U.S. customers purchasing products online at discounted education rates. A new pop-up message on Apple’s education webstore directs students, parents, and teachers to verify their status via Unidays, a third-party verification service.

U.S. education customers after Apple briefly introduced it four years ago before removing the requirement. The company has already implemented the Unidays verification system in other countries including the UK, and Apple Insider reports that the service is now also being rolled out to Apple customers in Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Turkey, and Chile.

Eligible customers can use an email address, photo ID, or another valid document from an educational institute to verify their academic status through the Unidays app or website. This joins the existing verification requirements already in place when purchasing products at education rates in physical Apple stores.

Apple notes that customers can also complete the Unidays verification ahead of time to expedite in-store purchases.

U.S. was previously able to make discounted purchases via the virtual education store. Education discounts will save customers up to 10 percent off the usual price.

Another change to Apple’s education program is that Apple Watch models are now available at a discounted rate for the first time. The discounts apply to the Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch SE, and Apple Watch Ultra 3. The Verge reported that watch models like the Apple Watch Series 11 are also now available at discounted education rates for the first time.

The article was published on May 8, 2026 at 11:53 AM UTC.