Finding a good price on Apple items is similar to seeing a meteor shower: it happens seldom, and when it does, you have to be in the right place at the right time or you’ll miss it entirely. Despite the fact that Apple products are ubiquitous, it can take months for big-box stores to start offering large discounts on iPads, AirPods, and MacBooks.
Deals on iPhones do appear, but they are usually in the form of perks, such as gift cards, rather than price reductions. Many other Apple products, on the other hand, rarely see price decreases of more than 5% or 10%.
If you can wait until Amazon’s yearly event, the finest Amazon Prime Day offers frequently contain a wider range of fantastic Apple hardware prices than what’s available the rest of the year. We’ve put together a thorough guide to everything you need to know about getting the best pricing on Apple Watches, iPhones, AirPods, MacBooks, iPads, chargers, and cases to help you take advantage of the rare Apple offers that do crop up.
BEST APPLE WATCH
Apple usually has a couple different Apple Watch models on hand. In most cases, the most recent edition receives all of the attention, while the preceding generation continues to exist at a reduced cost. Apple, on the other hand, will introduce two new models in September 2020: the Apple Watch SE and the Series 6.
Our top Apple Watch recommendation, the budget-friendly Apple Watch SE, emerged as an option that immediately beat previous-generation pricing, even in new condition, without compromising functionality. As a result, we believe it is the best alternative for the majority of people. We believe that the Series 6 is overkill for most people, and that some older versions in new condition are worth your time if the price is right.
Unless you need ECG or an always-on display, which the Series 6 provides, the SE’s recent sale price of $230 (40mm) is difficult to beat. If you see the Series 3 on sale, we advise you to avoid it. If you’re looking for something newer, keep in mind that Apple Watches don’t vary much from year to year.
Older models, on the other hand, may still do all of the essential features, such as tracking your fitness, receiving message notifications, allowing quick access to regularly used apps like Alarms or Cycle Tracking, and, of course, displaying the time.
- Series 6 Apple Watch (GPS, 40 mm) (Best Buy)
- $330 on sale; $380 on the street
- Take a look at our list of the top smartwatches for iPhone users.
Consider the Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 40mm), which is down to $330 in black, white, and red if you’re weary of missing critical notifications and don’t want to be continually reaching for your phone.
The Apple Watch Series 6 is nearly identical to the Apple Watch SE, but it has a few extra features, such as an always-on display, significantly faster performance and charging, and more health features (such as blood oxygen monitoring and heart rhythm measurement). If you think the extra features are worth the greater price, now is a good time to get our upgrade smartwatch recommendation for iPhone users.
Apple Watch Series 6 is the sixth generation of Apple’s smartwatches.
The deal is $360; the street price is $400.
Take a look at our list of the top smartwatches for iPhone users.
The Apple Watch Series 6 retails for $360; the street price is $400.
Take a look at our list of the top smartwatches for iPhone users.
Despite not being the lowest price we’ve ever seen, this is a fantastic discount on the Apple Watch Series 6, our upgrade pick for the greatest Apple Watch.
AIRPODS DEALS
Many people think of Apple’s AirPods, as well as the improved AirPods Pro version, when they’re looking for wireless headphones. However, we don’t recommend them if you’re looking for the best wireless earbuds. Other wireless earbuds offer considerably better sound than Apple’s earbuds for the same price.
“In the end, we don’t detest the AirPods Pro; we just like using other earbuds a bit better,” says senior staff writer Lauren Dragan, our headphones expert. Consider the Beats Powerbeats Pro headphones instead if you have an iPhone and appreciate the usability advantages that the AirPods provide.
They’re also Apple-made, so they have Siri and pair just as quickly and effortlessly as the AirPods, but they sound and fit better.
We’ve seen regular discounts in 2021 that have put the Powerbeats Pro pair on sale for roughly $165 in a variety of colors. That’s a better offer than many of the AirPods Pro deals we’ve seen, which usually start at $190.
When Prime Day arrives, additional 10% off would be a significant savings for anyone.
While the Airpods Pro are on sale on Prime Day, we believe there are higher quality wireless earbuds and headphones to choose from.
MACBOOK PRO DEALS
We recommend something with an Apple M1 CPU (unless you have extremely particular demands that require Intel optimization or can’t wait for the M1 16-inch Pro), because we’ve discovered that the M1 allows laptops to compete with Intel Macs while using a fraction of the power.
Keep an eye out for deals on the latest Mac Books we recommend at major retailers like Best Buy or B&H Photo. However, keep an eye on Amazon, since it may occasionally give price-matching on-page coupons or in-cart discounts. Even a $100 discount on an entry-level Apple laptop is a good offer, and one worth taking advantage of if the model and configuration you want are available.
Discounts don’t become much bigger during major sales like Prime Day, but businesses may throw in a free gift card or a bundled item (think free software, not a free iPhone) to sweeten the bargain.
You won’t find a deal on a custom-ordered MacBook or MacBook Pro outside of Black Friday, and you shouldn’t expect sales at Apple’s stores or on its website.
If you wish to purchase directly from Apple, your discount possibilities are restricted. Students and instructors can shop in its education store, however most PCs are only discounted by 5% to 10%. Around August (the start of back-to-school season), Apple’s education shop usually offers a bonus or a larger discount on a bundle.
- MacBook Air (Apple) (2020, M1, 256 GB SSD)
- The deal is $900; the street price is $1000.
- Take a look at our list of the greatest MacBooks.
You can’t go wrong with the new Apple MacBook Air if you’re searching for a nice MacBook (2020, M1). This MacBook is equipped with an Apple M1 processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD, making it a well-balanced machine.
We believe the Air is the greatest all-around option for most individuals because of its quick performance, ergonomic keyboard, and ample storage space. The only significant drawback we’ve seen is that some Mac apps haven’t yet been tuned for the new M1 CPU, so expect some slowness until they are.
IPAD DEALS
At any one moment, Apple has a variety of iPad models available for purchase—as of this writing, there are four primary models available: the iPad Pro (in two screen sizes), iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini. Because of this variety, finding a good deal on an iPad is a little easier than finding a good deal on other Apple products.
Despite the fact that previous versions are still available in some places (including Apple’s reconditioned shop), the current (8th-generation) base model iPad is the finest iPad deal we’ve seen in years. Expect few iPad offers through the Apple website, as with other Apple products. Small discounts of 5 percent to 10% are commonplace at various stores throughout the year.
However, as an iPad model gets older, the savings at places like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart tend to get better. Prime Day and the holiday shopping season are usually the only times when you can get free gift cards or accessories.
- Stylus Zagg Pro
- The deal is $49; the street price is $70.
- Check out our assessment of the best iPad stylus.
A nice stylus is a useful tool to have on hand if you frequently use your iPad to draw or take notes. The Zagg Pro, our top selection, is responsive, precise, and comfortable to wield.
It also has extra handy features like as palm rejection and tilt awareness. Normally $70, this $49 offer is part of a site-wide 30 percent discount sale. This is a new low price for the Zagg, and it’s only the third significant reduction we’ve seen, so if you’ve been thinking about upgrading your stylus game, now’s the time.
- iPad Air by Apple (4th Gen, 10.9-inch, 64 GB)
- $520 on sale; $600 on the street
- Check out our list of the top professional tablets.
If you’re in the market for a tablet, the 64 GB iPad Air is on sale for $540, matching the lowest price we’ve seen. This adaptable alternative helps you effortlessly take your work on the go, thanks to its crisp screen, long battery life, and user-friendly interface.
While we prefer the iPad Air’s lightweight design and portability for creative, tablet-centric tasks, a laptop could be a better bet if you’re planning to conduct more serious web development and coding.
APPLE ACCESSORIES
If you’re just shopping for accessories, avoid the Apple store because it gives discounts on accessories as infrequently as it does on other products, and with a restricted variety. However, we do not advocate purchasing the cheapest chargers and cords available, as they are often unreliable or even harmful.
However, we’ve tested and rated hundreds of accessories to identify the best ones, and those models are typically less expensive than Apple’s offerings.
Chargers and cables are two areas where Apple-branded accessories fall short. We typically recommend products from major accessory manufacturers like Anker because they last longer, perform better, and are less expensive.
Additionally, firms like Anker, Aukey, and RAVPower frequently sell their models on sale. Many of them, however, must be purchased directly from the firm or found on Amazon.
WALMART APPLE DEALS
Walmart offers moderate discounts on Apple faves like the iPhone and iPad, as well as accessories like the Apple Pencil and AirPods, throughout the year. There are also fantastic deals on occasion, especially on Apple Watches and iPads. On Prime Day, you should expect Walmart to match Amazon’s pricing (and vice versa) where possible.
Historically, Walmart, like Apple, has offered gift cards in addition to new iPhone purchases (with activation) on Black Friday. We don’t advocate buying a MacBook from any third-party merchants who might post them on the Walmart marketplace because Walmart doesn’t sell them directly.
