Prime Day Apple Deals

Apple tends to keep a few different Apple Watch models available. Generally, the most recent version gets all the attention, and the previous generation sticks around at a lower price. In September 2020, however, Apple debuted two new models: the Apple Watch SE and the Series 6. The budget-oriented Apple Watch SE, our top Apple Watch pick, emerged as an option that—even in new condition—immediately beat previous-generation pricing, without sacrificing features. So we consider it to be the best option for most people. We think the Series 6 is overkill for many, and some previous generations in new condition are worth your time if pricing is good enough. However, the SE’s recent sale price of $230 (40mm) is tough to compete with, unless you need ECG or an always-on display, which the Series 6 offers. We recommend that you avoid the Series 3 if you see it on sale. But for anything newer, note that Apple Watches don’t change much year to year. And more-basic, older models can still perform all the core functions, such as tracking your fitness, providing message notifications, giving you quick access to frequently used apps like Alarms or Cycle Tracking, and, of course, showing you the time.

If you’re just looking for a new Apple Watch charger or a new Apple Watch band, the options we recommend are rarely made by Apple, so finding a deal is much easier.

Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 40 mm) (Best Buy)
Deal price: $330; street price: $380
Read our review of the best smartwatches for iPhone owners.

If you're tired of missing important notifications and don't want to be constantly reaching for your phone, consider the Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 40mm), which is down to $330 in black, white, and red. Nearly identical to the Apple Watch SE, the Series 6 boasts several bonus features, including an always-on display, slightly faster performance and charging capabilities, and more health features (such as blood oxygen monitoring and heart rhythm measurement). If you think these extras are worth the higher price tag, this is a nice opportunity to snap up our upgrade smartwatch pick for iPhone users.

Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 44 mm)  (Best Buy)
Deal price: $360; street price: $400
Read our review of the best smartwatches for iPhone owners.

Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 44 mm) (Target)
Deal price: $360; street price: $400
Read our review of the best smartwatches for iPhone owners.

Although not the lowest price we've ever seen, this deal is a great drop on the Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 44 mm), our upgrade pick for the best Apple Watch.

Apple’s AirPods, as well as the upgraded AirPods Pro version, have become the first thing many people think of when shopping for wireless headphones. But if you’re looking for the best wireless earbuds, we don’t actually recommend them. For the price, other wireless earbuds offer far better sound than Apple’s earbuds. Senior staff writer Lauren Dragan, our headphones expert, writes, “In the end, we don’t dislike the AirPods Pro; we just like using other earbuds a little better.” If you use an iPhone and prefer the usability improvements that the AirPods offer, consider the Beats Powerbeats Pro earbuds instead. They’re also made by Apple, so they include Siri integration and pair as quickly and easily as the AirPods, but they sound and fit better.

In 2021, we’ve posted regular deals that put the Powerbeats Pro pair on sale for around $165 in various colors. That price is lower than many of the AirPods Pro deals we see, which still tend to bottom out at $190. When Prime Day rolls around, another 10% would be a notable discount for either.

So while you can find deals on the Airpods Pro this Prime Day, we think there are better quality wireless earbuds and headphones worth choosing instead.

For deals on the latest MacBooks we recommend, your best bet is to keep an eye on major retailers like Best Buy or B&H Photo. But remember to eye Amazon too, since it will occasionally offer on-page coupons or in-cart discounts to price-match. Even $100 off an entry-level Apple laptop is a decent deal and one worth jumping on, if it’s for the model and configuration you’re seeking. We’d recommend something with the Apple M1 processor (unless you have very specific needs that require Intel optimization, or you can’t wait for the M1 16-inch Pro), because we’ve found that the M1 allows laptops to compete with Intel Macs while using a fraction of the electricity. During major sales like Prime Day, discounts don’t get much bigger, but stores may offer a free gift card or a bundled item (think free software, not a free iPhone) to make the deal more enticing.

You’ll rarely find a deal on a custom-ordered MacBook or MacBook Pro, and you shouldn’t expect sales at Apple’s stores or on its website outside of Black Friday. If you want to buy straight from Apple, your options for a discount are limited. Students and teachers can use its education store, but that normally provides only a 5% to 10% discount on most computers. And around August (when back-to-school season kicks off), Apple’s education store generally offers some sort of bonus or bigger discount on a bundle. We’re big fans of Apple’s refurbished store, though: There, anyone can buy Apple laptops that come with full warranties (and the same options to extend the coverage, as on new laptops), often at substantial discounts.

If you’re not already set on buying an Apple laptop, and you can’t find the deal you’re looking for, we also have recommendations for the best PC laptops, one of which may offer everything you’re looking for at a lower price (and may be on sale more often).

Newly released gear rarely sees meaningful discounts. And that’ll be true of Apple’s newest release, the 24-inch iMac, which may see discounts of around $50 for the base model and (optimistically) $100 for higher-specced versions. Available in seven eye-catching colors, the iMac also uses the Apple M1 processor, which enables it to handle anything you throw at it. Because it was released in May, we don’t expect to see deals on the technicolor desktop computer this Prime Day (or anytime soon after, for that matter).

Apple MacBook Air (2020, M1, 256 GB SSD)
Deal price: $900; street price: $1000
Read our review of the best MacBooks.

If you're looking for a great MacBook, you can't go wrong with the new Apple MacBook Air (2020, M1). This well-balanced MacBook is specced with an Eight-core Apple M1 CPU processor, 8 GB of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD. Between its snappy performance, comfortable keyboard, and decent storage space, we think the Air is the best all-around option for most people. The only real downside we've noted is that some Mac apps have yet to be optimized for the new M1 chip, so you may notice some lag until they're updated.

Apple tends to keep a lot of versions of the iPad available for sale at any given time—as of this writing, it has four main models, including the iPad Pro (in two screen sizes), iPad Air, iPad, and iPad mini. That variety makes finding a deal on an iPad you’ll like a little easier than finding a deal on other Apple gear.

Although older models are still in stock in some places—including on Apple’s refurbished store—the current (8th-generation) base model iPad is the best iPad value we’ve seen in years. As with other Apple items, don’t expect many iPad deals from the Apple website (except on Black Friday, when Apple credit could be a possibility). At other stores, small discounts of 5% to 10% are common enough throughout the year. But as an iPad model ages, the discounts at stores like Best Buy, Target, and Walmart often improve. Bonuses such as free gift cards or accessories are usually limited to Prime Day and the holiday shopping season.

You can find tablets made by companies other than Apple that use the Android operating system instead, and Amazon’s own Fire tablets will almost certainly be available at a deep discount too. We really do think the iPad is the best tablet in most cases. But if you don’t plan on using a tablet much or are trying to find a deal, other tablets might be an okay option.

Zagg Pro Stylus
Deal price: $49; street price: $70
Read our review of the best stylus for your iPad.

If you frequently use your iPad to draw or take notes, a good stylus is a great accessory to have handy. Our top pick, the Zagg Pro, is responsive, accurate, and comfortable to hold. It also comes equipped with additional useful features, like palm rejection and tilt awareness. Normally around $70, this $49 deal is part of a 30% off sale site wide. This is a new low price and only the third notable drop we've seen for the Zagg, so if you've been wanting to upgrade your stylus game, now's the time.

Apple iPad (8th generation, 32 GB)
Deal price: $300; street price: $330
Read our review of the best tablets.

Our top pick for the best tablet, the Apple iPad (8th generation, 32 GB) is currently available for $300. A perfect tablet match for most users, this feature-rich iPad offers a large screen and an intuitive operating system with superb hardware. The 8th gen iteration shares most of the same specs as its predecessor, but offers a much faster processor and longer battery life. If you're looking for a high-quality tablet to surf the web, play casual games, and stream music and videos, check out our recommended pick.

Apple iPad Air (4th Gen, 10.9-inch, 64 GB)
Deal price: $520; street price: $600
Read our review of the best pro tablets.

If you're looking to add a tablet to your tech repertoire, the 64 GB iPad Air is down to $540, matching the lowest price we've seen. Featuring a crisp screen, long battery life, and user-friendly interface, this versatile option lets you easily take your work on the go. While we like the lightweight design and portability of the iPad Air for creative, tablet-centric tasks, if you're hoping to do more serious web development and coding, a laptop might be a better bet.

If you’re just looking for accessories, steer clear of the Apple site, which offers discounts on accessories as rarely as it does on other products, and with a limited selection. On the other hand, we also don’t recommend buying the cheapest chargers and cables you can find, since they tend to be unreliable or even dangerous. But we have tested and reviewed hundreds of accessories to find the best ones, and those models are generally available for lower prices than Apple’s options.

Chargers and cables are a particularly weak spot for Apple-branded accessories. We frequently recommend options from major accessory companies like Anker because they tend to last longer, perform better, and cost less. Plus, companies such as Anker, Aukey, and RAVPower tend to put their models on sale more often. For many of them, though, you’ll need to buy straight from the company or find them on Amazon.

Unfortunately, we don’t expect to see huge deals on the recently released Apple AirTag. As the Bluetooth tracker we recommend for iPhone users, the AirTag is impressively accurate in pinpointing a lost item’s exact location. We’ll likely see small discounts on single AirTags, with the possibility of larger discounts on the 4-pack as Apple goes toe to toe with Tile for your Bluetooth tracker dollar.

As for cases, we’ve tested hundreds over the past few years, and even the best iPhone cases and iPad cases aren’t particularly expensive at normal prices. So waiting for a sale doesn’t save you much.

If you’re looking for deals on MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches, or iPhones, you won’t find those bargains at the Apple Store or on the Apple website. According to senior staff writer Nick Guy, our Apple expert, discounts from the company itself are rare. When Apple does offer promotions, the deals tend to take the form of gift cards (instead of lower prices) that are awarded when you buy Apple gear. “Even when Apple does offer cash-off deals, they’re often not substantial discounts,” Nick said. If you’re looking for bigger discounts, you’re better off trying other sites and stores, such as Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, Sam’s Club, Target, and Walmart.

You shouldn’t expect to see great Apple deals on the very newest items, though, even from third-party merchants. It’s unlikely that a just-released iPhone or MacBook will see any discounts at all, but models that have been around a little longer are typically fair game. Here’s what we know about scoring the best Apple deals we’ve found from third-party merchants.

Best Walmart Apple deals

Throughout the year, Walmart regularly offers small discounts on Apple favorites like the iPhone and iPad, and on accessories such as the Apple Pencil and AirPods. There’s also the occasional great discount, particularly on Apple Watches and iPads. You can expect Walmart to match Amazon pricing (and vice versa) where possible on Prime Day. Walmart, like Apple itself, has historically offered gift cards on top of new iPhone purchases (with activation) during Black Friday. Walmart doesn’t directly sell MacBooks, and we don’t recommend purchasing one from any third-party sellers that might list MacBooks on the Walmart marketplace.

Apple TV 4K (32 GB)
Deal price: $100; street price: $170
Read our review of the best media streaming devices.

Available for $100, this deal is a decent drop for the lower storage capacity version of the Apple TV 4K plus one free year of their subscription TV streaming service. Our former upgrade media streamer pick, this previous gen model is still a good option if you're in the market for a media streamer and don't need more local storage. It's essentially the same as the new model but with a worse remote (and a slower CPU). Staff writer Chris Heinonen recommends this handy sleeve for the remote (also on sale) or you can also just upgrade Apple's new remote to work with the older AppleTV.

Best Target Apple deals

Target occasionally offers its own sale pricing on iPads and both current and last-generation Apple Watches. Target’s Apple sale prices typically match the discounts at other major stores. But if you’re a RedCard holder, you can save an additional 5%—not a huge discount, but enough to offset some sales tax. Like Walmart, Target doesn’t sell MacBooks or iMacs. However, you can generally find accessories like iPad keyboard cases, AirPods, and the Apple Pencil, in addition to iPad and iPad Pro tablets, the HomePod Mini, and the Apple TV.

Best Apple deals from Best Buy

Outside of the Apple Store itself, Best Buy is the major chain where you’ll find the largest variety of Apple gear available, since the electronics giant (unlike some of its competitors) sells Apple laptops and desktops. Best Buy also has the most regular and heavily advertised Apple sales throughout the year (though only some of those sales offer pricing worth your time). Look out for deals on iPads and Apple Watches during Prime Day—the bargains will be every bit as good as those of competitors. The area where Best Buy differentiates itself from the competition is in MacBooks, with regular deals on both the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro lines. The discounts usually aren’t massive, especially for new models. But occasionally toward the end of a MacBook generation, we see even more significant discounts. Again, however, we’d be wary of non-M1 MacBook purchases for all but the most specific uses—most people should opt for M1 processors at this point.

What about deals on refurbished Apple iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks?

Buying a refurbished item (one that’s been returned or otherwise repaired) directly from Apple is a great way to save money. “Apple’s refurbished products are every bit as reliable as new ones, and almost always cosmetically indistinguishable,” Nick said. They also come with a full one-year Apple warranty and are eligible for the optional AppleCare extended warranty.

But if you see a too-good-to-be-true price on an iPhone, an iPad, or a MacBook on a third-party site, it’s likely to be a unit that has been refurbished by a company other than Apple. Such a deal can feel a little sketchy, and it’s probably best to steer clear, especially for a purchase that has a discounted-yet-still-hefty price tag. “With the exception of refurbished products that Apple itself sells, refurbs usually have a shorter warranty than new models and no guarantee of quality,” Nick warned.