Update 5/2/25: Deal is back and valid through 5/31/25
Contents
The Offer
Direct Link to offer (shows in the Ultimate Rewards login)
- Chase released today a new redemption option of Ultimate Rewards points to get Apple merchandise through the Chase portal with bonus value of up to 50% more on the points.
The bonus is broken down as follows:
- Sapphire Reserve: 50% bonus
- Sapphire Preferred: 25% bonus
- INK Preferred/Plus: 25% bonus
- Freedom cards and the no-fee Sapphire card: 10% bonus (20% on Airpods)
- Ink Cash/Unlimited: 10% bonus (20% on Airpods)
Instead of each point being worth 1 cent, it can now worth up to 1.5 cents. For example, if you buy a $600 Apple Watch through the Ultimate Rewards portal, it would typically cost 60,000 Ultimate Rewards points, but it’ll now cost just 40,000 points for Sapphire Reserve cardholders.
Our Verdict
For most people, using the Pay Yourself Back feature will make more sense to get the same 1.5%/1.25% value assuming you have enough dining/Airbnb spend to use up your points on. But overall it’s still nice to have an additional option and could be useful for someone with an Apple purchase to make. It also could be a little bonus for Freedom cardholders to bump up their earnings by 10%.
Deal History:
- Update 10/26/24: Deal is back and valid until 11/30/2024.
- Update 7/10/24: Back again until 7/31. Not everyone is seeing 50%, some are seeing lower 35%.
- Update 5/2/24: Available again. Hat tip to reader K.M.
- Update 11/1/23: Deal is back through 11/30/2023. It’s a bit more interesting now that PYB only offers a max of 1.25%.
- Update 10/15/22: Deal is back and valid through 12/31/22.
- Update 5/3/22: Deal is back through May 31, 2022. They increased the Freedom tier from 5% bonus to 10% bonus (updated below).
- Update 11/1/21: Deal is back and valid 11/01/2021 – 11/30/2021
Maybe I’m late on this realization, but there’s no way to customize products (e.g. additional RAM on Macs)? Seems I can only select the bog-standard offerings, which seems silly. Let me burn my points!
Edit: Interesting. Looks like you can on Macbooks, just not the Mac Studio. I guess it depends on what Chase has enabled.
been looking to switch from samsung to iPhone for a while now, this seems like the cheapest way no?
yea but most of Apple’s stuff is on sale now but not on the chase website. For example MacBook Air is $849 at retail—Amazon/Best Buy/Costco—but $999 on Chase shop. iPad Pro $1099 at Costco, $1299 on Chase shop.
The part about using PYB for most people being a better option is outdated, FYI. CSR is only 1.25, not 1.5. And it’s not longer dining and Air B&B (Sadly! Wish it was!), but rather grocery and gas.
Those were the days — cashing out at 1.5 on the CSR using AirBnB book/cancel.
Dang I just used my points on a new iPhone like 2 weeks ago. Anyone think they’d match my redemption rate if I asked?
Anyone ever have any issues with purchases of a MacBook through the Chase portal? It is an authorized dealer, not Apple direct.
Do you need to cover the whole purchase with points? Can you use 1 point and pay the rest with CC and still get discount?
Currently have the CSP, and the AF is coming due June 1st. Thoughts on how and whether I might be able to product change to the CSR, redeem at 1.5 for a new macbook, then PC to a no AF card before any fees come due?
Its possible
Wouldn’t they have to pay up the fee difference for CSR when upgrading?
Care to elaborate? Is upgrading then downgrading in a short window allowable without picking up the annual fee?
Fantastic way to get M4 MacBook— which released 5 days ago — for 33% off!
I’ve had CSR since release day (2016), but downgraded to CSP. CSP->CSR product change instantly reflected in account to get 50% bonus (though they say 3 days)
e.g: Retail price: $3.2K MBP m4 max for $2560 (w/ CSP) or ~$2140 (w/ CSR) pre-tax cash value — (214K points for latter).
Even after fee, come out ahead! (CSR = $250 annual fee after $300 travel credit, with all the other “perks” being junk or redundant with other cards)
Any accessory for M4 MacBook?
I didn’t purchase any beyond Apple Care (3 yr), which is also 33% off, which was highly recommended given the screen is apparently fragile on the MBP given tight tolerances.
Felt like a waste to put UR points towards accessories as they’re often on sale.
It’s rather too late. I ordered one without any accessory or Apple Care before reading your posting. Is there any way to add Apple Care at this stage? Thanks anyway.
Hopefully, CSR extended warranty applies to this purchase. If so, would the warranty cover accidental damage to the screen and cover?
you can still cancel if it’s not shipped yet by calling the Chase Apple Order # 1855-245-0470. They may be able to add it on the call by modifying the order (although not sure about this).
You have the option to add protection within 60 days of activation directly from Apple too (albeit at the full price w/o the 20-30% discount).
Card warranty terms virtually never cover “accidental” anything and it’ll have to be some type of device defect and usually after manufacturer warranty expires, which will be extremely unlikely. AC+ is pretty much catch-all and 3 yrs.
Keep in mind you’re paying via points, so I am 99% that it will not be eligible for card benefits
Michael
Curious though when you did the upgrade. You don’t get the repeat bonus right you only did it for the discount 33% offer on csr?
yeah, no bonus –I’ve downgraded b/w it and CSP and have not gotten bonus on CSP either