Prior to the release of the M1 Macs, Apple provided developers with a Developer Transition Kit featuring a Mac mini equipped with an A12Z Bionic chip first used in the iPad Pro, 16 GB RAM, a 512 GB SSD, two USB C ports, two USB ports -A ports and an HDMI 2.0 port.
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These DTKs were temporarily offered to developers who paid $ 500 for access, and were intended to provide a way for developers to create universal apps in preparation for the transition from Intel processors to Apple silicon chips.
Apple is now developers ask to return their Developer Transition Kits in exchange for a one-time use code that provides $ 200 off a M1 Mac.
Thank you for joining the Universal App Quick Start Program and your continued commitment to building great apps for Mac. The response to the new Macs has been incredible, and we love the fantastic experiences developers like you have already created for Mac users.
With the new MacBook Air, Mac mini, and MacBook Pro powered by M1 available, it will soon be time to return the Developer Transition Kit (DTK) that you received as part of the program. Please find the original packaging for use when returning the DTK. We will send you an email with instructions on how to return the DTK within a few weeks.
In appreciation of your participation in the program and to assist you in your continued development of universal apps, you will receive a one-time use code of USD 200 to use when purchasing a Mac with M1, upon confirmed return from the DTK. Until your program membership expires one year after your membership start date, you can access other program benefits, such as technical support incidents and private discussion forums.
Apple first shipped Developer Transition Kits in late June, so developers have had them on hand for the past seven months. Developers were supposed to get a year at the DTK for app development purposes, but other benefits, including a private discussion forum and technical support, will remain available for the full 12-month period.
Some developers are unhappy with Apple’s compensation given the initial $ 500 price of the DTK program and the bugs encountered that made using the DTK difficult. The last time Apple had a similar program to transition from PowerPC to Intel chips, Apple provided developers with the first Intel-based Mac for free.
TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS? That’s less than a third of the way to the cheapest M1 Mac. It roughly covers the 4 months the DTK was usable from the 12 month lease you paid for – Steve Troughton-Smith (@stroughtonsmith) February 3, 2021
$ 200 and use at the end of May. Very bad considering how useless the DTK became that you already had to buy an M1. Very disappointed – Neil Kerr (@nfjkerr) February 4, 2021
It’s an absolute joke. I waited almost three months to have my unusable DTK replaced with a usable, still radio silence from Apple after agreeing to replace it. Along with the fact that it should be used on May 31st. Very Disappointed – Alpha (@AlphaNDB) February 4, 2021
Hello, please return your DTK that you paid $ 500 to borrow for. As a token of our gratitude, here is enough money to buy 1/6 of a M1 Mac. Thanks! “- Adam Bell (@ b3ll) February 4, 2021
The $ 200 credit can be used on any Mac, and the $ 699 Mac mini would be the cheapest option available to developers looking to purchase a new M1 Mac for further development. The credit must be used at the end of May.