Apple may be planning a major Apple Card sign-up offer with free AirPods Pro 3
Apple is reportedly preparing one of its biggest Apple Card promotions yet, and it could be a tempting deal for anyone planning to buy new AirPods. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple may soon offer a sign-up incentive that effectively gives new Apple Card customers a free pair of AirPods Pro 3 through a $249 cash-back bonus.
The reported offer is expected to be available in eligible Apple retail stores as early as next week. Under the promotion, customers who apply for and receive a new Apple Card, then purchase AirPods Pro 3, would receive $249 in cash back. Since that is expected to match the retail price of the earbuds, the deal would essentially make the AirPods Pro 3 free for qualifying customers.
If accurate, this would be one of Apple’s most aggressive Apple Card sign-up bonuses to date. The company has offered smaller incentives in the past, but a promotion tied to one of its most popular accessories could help attract a much larger wave of new applicants.
The Apple Card first launched in 2019 through a partnership with Mastercard and Goldman Sachs. It was designed to work closely with Apple Pay and the Wallet app, giving users a simple way to track spending, manage payments, and earn Daily Cash rewards.
The card currently offers unlimited 2 percent cash back on purchases made with Apple Pay. It also offers unlimited 3 percent cash back on purchases from Apple and selected partner merchants. Other benefits include no foreign transaction fees, no late fees, no returned payment fees, and 0 percent financing options on eligible Apple products.
Despite those consumer-friendly perks, the Apple Card has reportedly been a costly product for Goldman Sachs. Cash-back rewards, higher-than-expected delinquency rates, and regulatory requirements reportedly placed pressure on the bank’s consumer lending business. Apple is now expected to move the Apple Card partnership to JPMorgan, though that transition is not expected to be completed until early 2028.
In the meantime, Apple appears focused on increasing Apple Card adoption. A promotion offering the equivalent of free AirPods Pro 3 could be a strong way to bring in new users, especially as many customers already visit Apple Stores to buy iPhones, Macs, iPads, and accessories.
For Apple, the strategy makes sense. The Apple Card keeps customers more deeply connected to the company’s ecosystem, especially when paired with Apple Pay, Apple Store financing, and Daily Cash rewards. For customers, the appeal is simple: sign up for the card, buy AirPods Pro 3, and potentially receive enough cash back to cover the full cost.
As with any reported promotion, details may change before launch. Eligibility requirements, store availability, approval conditions, and timing will likely determine who can actually take advantage of the deal. Still, if Apple moves forward with the offer, it could become one of the most talked-about Apple Card promotions of the year.
