Apple Launches Universal Gift Cards in Canada; iTunes Balances Can Buy Products Now
Back in July 2020, Apple launched a universal gift card in the United States, allowing customers to apply it towards apps, games, services, subscriptions and more, along with products and accessories for the first time. This essentially combined Apple Store gift cards and iTunes cards.
It was speculated this would eventually trickle out to other countries, and with the recent removal of iTunes cards from Costco Canada (there were periodic 16% off card sales), many believed the universal Apple gift card would launch in Canada. Well, that day has finally come.
Apple has updated its gift card website in Canada to now indicate the universal gift card is now available here, as noted in a tip to iPhone in Canada by @BasicAppleGuy, while 9to5Mac spotted this new card is also available in Australia.
“Redeem Apple Gift Cards or add money directly into your Apple Account Balance anytime. Then use it to pay for Apple products, accessories, apps, games, music, movies, TV shows, iCloud, you name it,” says Apple. (Note to self: do not pay my taxes to the CRA with these gift cards.)
As you can see below, there is now mention of gift cards applying to Mac, iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch and accessories.
If you log into your Apple account balance, you’ll now see it can be applied to products. So this means those that loaded up on Costco’s iTunes card sales over the past little while, your discounted balance can now apply to Apple products. Of course, we missed out on the last Costco iTunes card sale when our balance really needed it.
Your best bet is to add a credit card with decent perks as your method of payment for reloading your Apple account balance, to get a little bit extra. If you happen to see iTunes cards on sale soon (it’s likely that won’t happen anymore), definitely let us know.