Over the past few years, Chase has continuously adapted its bonus categories and introduced innovative methods for redeeming points, especially with travel cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve and Chase Sapphire Preferred Card.
Excitingly, Chase has recently reintroduced a points redemption promotion that allows eligible cardholders to receive up to 50% additional value when buying Apple products through Ultimate Rewards. This offer is available until Nov. 30.
Using Ultimate Rewards toward Apple purchases
Typically, redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for shopping — such as with Apple — gets you a flat 1-cent-per-point redemption rate. That’s not a great use of points, considering that TPG values Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each (largely thanks to Chase’s valuable travel transfer partners).
Details of the promotion
However, with up to a 50% bonus on eligible products, we start getting into a place where it may make sense to use your points toward Apple products.
Take the Chase Sapphire Reserve, for instance. With this card, you can get a 50% bonus when redeeming for eligible Apple products. Alternatively, you’ll get the same 1.5-cents-per-point redemption rate when you book travel through Chase Ultimate Rewards.
Here is the breakdown of the limited-time Apple redemption rate for select Chase cards.
50% bonus redeeming for Apple products in the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store (1.5 cents per point)
The information for the J.P. Morgan Reserve has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
25% bonus redeeming for Apple products in the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store (1.25 cents per point)
10% bonus redeeming for Apple products in the Apple Ultimate Rewards Store (1.1 cents per point value)
The information for the Ink Business Plus, Ink Business Cash and Chase Freedom Student and Chase Freedom cards has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
All of these offers are live through the Ultimate Rewards site, so you should see them automatically reflected when you place an order.
The elevated Apple redemption promotion runs through Nov. 30. This is perfect timing if you’re shopping for a gift for the upcoming holidays.
Should you redeem Chase points for Apple products?
If you have a substantial number of Ultimate Rewards points, this limited-time promotion presents an appealing opportunity to maximize the value of your points and save some money. However, it is worth considering whether using your points in this manner is the most advantageous option.
We value Ultimate Rewards points at 2.05 cents each, and all of the redemption options mentioned fall below this value. So, if you aim to extract the highest possible value from your points, this may not be the ideal strategy.
Nevertheless, if you have no immediate plans to book trips and are interested in Apple purchases, this redemption offer might be tempting.
Remember that you can transfer Ultimate Rewards between accounts freely and instantly, so use whichever card will offer you the best value for these redemptions.
Bottom line
Through the end of November, eligible Chase cardmembers can redeem Ultimate Rewards at 1.1 to 1.5 cents apiece on Apple products. These redemptions normally aren’t a good use of your points, but there are a few instances where it could make sense, given the current promotion. Not every Chase credit card provides the maximum value of 1.5 cents per point, so this promotion is most valuable for those with the Sapphire Reserve.