For as long as we can remember, Apple has included a little gift when you buy a new iPhone, Mac or iPad that makes users feel like valued members of a community: a small sheet with two stickers with the Apple logo. However, if you buy one of the new iPad Pros or iPad Airs, you won’t receive any of these.
According to 9to5Mac, Apple distributed a memo to its store employees explaining the change, which is due to environmental pressure to remove all plastic from its packaging. The stickers are included in products as recent as the new M3 MacBook Airs released in March, although the Vision Pro notably does not come with them.
9to5Mac reports that stores will have stickers on hand and will hand them out on demand when someone purchases one of the new iPads. However, if you don’t buy your new iPad from the Apple Store, it’s unclear if you’ll be able to get it. The site says Apple won’t send stickers to third-party retailers, but you may be able to get one by bringing proof of purchase to an Apple Store and asking nicely.
Either way, we doubt many people will actually ask for their stickers or even a review. And so begins the beginning of the end of another perk that’s just going to disappear, like EarPods, a cleaning cloth, and a power adapter. For our part, we will cherish our Space Black stickers a little more from now on.
