Using Ultimate Rewards for Apple Products

Chase launched the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store in 2018, giving Sapphire, Freedom and Ink cardholders another opportunity to redeem their Ultimate Rewards points.

If you have a Chase credit card that earns Ultimate Rewards points, you can use those points to buy Macs, iPads, iPhones, and more—and you’ll get free shipping on all orders placed in the Apple Ultimate Rewards store.

Lisa Walker, Managing Director of Ultimate Rewards and Loyalty Solutions, explained when the program was launched: “We know our customers crave flexibility and choice with their rewards, so we’re excited to provide another way to redeem points for things our cardholders love.” including the latest Apple products.”

If you want to redeem your Chase Ultimate Rewards points for a new iPhone or your first Apple Watch, here’s what you need to know about the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store. We’ll show you how to shop, how many points you’ll need to make a purchase, and how the cost of redeeming points compares to other Chase redemption options.

What is the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store?

The Apple Ultimate Rewards Store is just one of the many redemption options available on the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. In addition to redeeming points for travel, gift cards, cashback, purchases, and Amazon experiences, cardholders can use their points to pay for all or part of Apple products.

Currently, 1 point is worth 1 cent when redeemed in the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store. For example, an iPhone 13 with 128GB of storage costs 82,900 points or $829. These are the same prices you’ll pay if you buy this phone (unlocked) through Apple.com, but you won’t be able to use your Ultimate Rewards points to cover any or all of the cost if you buy directly from Apple.

How the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store Works

To access the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store and redeem points for Apple products, start by logging into your Chase account online.

Select the arrow leading to the Rewards section to enter the Chase Ultimate Rewards portal. You can also log into the Ultimate Rewards portal directly by visiting UltimateRewards.Chase.com and logging in with your Chase username and password.

Once you’re in the Ultimate Rewards portal, look for the “Buy Apple” option. The Apple Ultimate Rewards Store lets you view the various Apple products available for purchase. If you already know which Apple product you want to buy—for example, the iPad Air—you can select a product category from the menu at the top of the screen.

Once you’ve identified the Apple product you’d like to purchase and adjusted specifications if necessary, select “Add to Cart” and complete the checkout process. If you do not have enough Ultimate Rewards points to complete your purchase in full, you can use a credit or debit card to cover the remainder of your balance. To split a purchase between payment types, you must be able to pay at least 20% of your purchase with points.

Apple Purchases Compared to Other Chase Redemption Options

Chase Ultimate Rewards points are some of the most valuable reward points on the market, but not all redemption options offer the same value per point, and your Ultimate Rewards points amount may depend on which Chase credit card is currently in your wallet.

Take, for example, the Chase Sapphire Preferred® card, which offers a 60,000 signup bonus if you spend $4,000 during the first three months of the card membership. If you exchange those 60,000 points for Apple products, they will be worth $600.

On the other hand, if you use your Chase Sapphire Preferred signup bonus to travel through Ultimate Rewards, the same 60,000 points will be worth $750.

You can try to buy an Apple product through Shop Through Chase as this method allows you to earn Ultimate Rewards per dollar on purchase. However, when attempting to shop on BestBuy.com through Shop Through Chase, the program terms expressly state that Apple products are excluded. All this suggests that if you are trying to cheat the system, be sure to read the terms and conditions carefully before making a purchase.

If you can make an Apple purchase with Shop Through Chase, that’s great. You can then redeem your existing points for their maximum value through Ultimate Rewards Travel.

Here is a quick overview of how much your Chase Ultimate Rewards points are worth when redeemed for different options:

As you can see, using points in the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store is better than using points for purchases on Amazon.com. However, if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Chase Ink Business Preferred® credit card, you can save points for more valuable trips.

Should I use Ultimate Rewards for Apple purchases?

If you are looking to buy a new Apple product such as an iPhone, iPad, or Mac and have earned enough Ultimate Rewards Points to cover at least 20% of the purchase price, using Ultimate Rewards Points for Apple purchases may be a smart move. This is a particularly good idea if you are not planning on traveling anytime soon.

Chase offers a 1:1 redemption value when you redeem your points through the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store, which is equivalent to the value you would earn if you used your points for a credit statement or gift card.

However, if you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred, Chase Sapphire Reserve, or Ink Business Preferred card, you can use points for travel purchases and not for Apple purchases. Cardholders who love all things Apple may want to apply for a separate card to earn rewards on Apple purchases.

Nicole Dicker is a freelance writer specializing in personal finance and habit formation. She spent five years as a writer and editor on The Billfold, a personal finance site where people talk candidly about money, and she regularly teaches classes on how to increase your income as a freelancer.