Best early Black Friday Apple deals: MacBook, AirPods, iPad, and more on sale

UPDATE: Nov. 1, 2022, 12:55 p.m. EDT This post has been updated with the latest Apple deals from early Black Friday sales.

BEST MACBOOK DEAL: The MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) updates Apple’s most portable laptop in almost every way, and it’s back down to its lowest price ever — $1,049 $1,199 at Amazon (save $150) 🔥

BEST IPAD DEAL: The 2021 iPad Mini (WiFi, 64GB) brings portability and power in one small package — $399.99 $499 at Amazon (save $99.01)

BEST APPLE WATCH DEAL: The Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS) has an ECG sensor, a blood oxygen sensor, and 45mm of an always-on display— $309 $379 at Best Buy (save $70)

BEST AIRPODS DEAL: AirPods Max are Apple’s premiere over-the-ear headphones, offering ANC and exemplary sound quality all in one stylish package — $449.99 $549 at Amazon (save $99.01)

BEST ACCESSORY DEAL: The Beats Studio Buds offer a worthy alternative to the AirPods Pro, and they’re back at their Prime Day 2 price — $99.95 $149.95 at Amazon (save $50)

Apple is not famous for its sales — at least not through its own website and stores. Luckily, several other retailers have no problem marking down Apple products.

Even more luckily, several of those retailers have already started rolling out early Black Friday deals, including Amazon, Best Buy, and Target (with Walmart soon to follow).

Basically, that means that the good Apple deals we find year round are even better at the moment. Case in point: the M1 MacBook Air is back down to $800 for the second time this shopping season, some Apple Watches are back down to their all-time low prices, and the iPad Mini is entering it’s second week at $400.

If you don’t see your wishlist items on sale, don’t worry. We’ll be updating this post constantly leading up to the Black Friday’s official start on Nov. 25. Until then, it never hurts to glance at the best deals that are live beforehand. Check them out below.

Please note: All newly added deals have been marked with a ✨. Anything with a strikeout was either sold out or no longer available at the sale price as of this writing, and anything marked with a 🔥 has dropped to an all-time low price. Check back often — we’re updating this page constantly.

Mac and MacBook deals

Why we like it

Check out our full review of the M2 MacBook Air.

The 2022 MacBook Air comes at a slightly higher starting price than its 2020 counterpart, but for a few good reasons. One, it underwent a total redesign that gives it a more Pro-like look, while still maintaining the thin look the Air is known for. The keyboard is miles better than the Butterfly monstrosity, and you also get a full-sized function role. We wish its 60Hz refresh rate offered a little more, but the M2 chip gives top-of-the-line performance. And that slightly larger 13.6-inch screen and 1080p webcam make a difference.

More Mac and MacBook deals

2022 MacBook Pro

MacBook Pro (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,149 $1,299 at Amazon (save $150)

2022 MacBook Air

MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $1,049 $1,199 at Amazon (save $150) 🔥

MacBook Air (M2, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 $1,499 at Amazon (save $100)

2021 MacBook Pro

14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,599 $1,999 at Best Buy (save $400)

14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,099 $2,499 at Best Buy (save $400)

16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,099 $2,499 at Best Buy (save $400) ✨

16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $2,199 $2,499 at Amazon (save $300)

16-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,299 $2,699 at Amazon (save $400)

2020 MacBook Air

MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $799.99 $999 at Best Buy (save $199.01) ✨

MacBook Air (M1, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) — $899 $999 at Amazon (save $100)

iPad deals

Why we like it

Check out our full review of the 2021 iPad Mini.

Even with the release of iPadOS 16, let’s be real — no one is really using their iPad as a complete laptop replacement. When it comes down to it, most people want a tablet to be portable, to stream shows and videos easily, maybe run some creative work, and not run out of battery quickly. The iPad Mini checks pretty much most of those boxes. For casual use the battery does well, but the A15 Bionic chip brings the speed (you don’t need an M1 or M2 chip to play games and watch YouTube). The 8.3-inch display is compact without being way too small, the USB-C charging port adds a level of convenience the iPhone would be well suited to follow, and the stereo speakers sound great. All these factors together make it clear why this tablet is a Mashable Choice pick.

More iPad deals

iPad Mini

2021 iPad Mini (WiFi, 64GB) — $399.99 $499 at Best Buy (save $99.01) ✨

2021 iPad Mini (WiFi, 256GB) — $549.99 $649 at Amazon (save $99.01)

2021 iPad Mini (WiFi, 256GB) — $549.99 $649 at Best Buy (save $99.01) ✨

iPad Air

2022 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $519.99 $599 at Amazon (save $79.01)

2022 iPad Air (WiFi + cellular, 64GB) — $649.99 $749 at Amazon (save $99.01) ✨

Apple Watch deals

Why we like it

If you want to grab the latest Apple Watch with a 45mm band you’ll be paying at least $419. Opting instead for last year’s Series 7 still gets a large, bright, always-on, crack-resistant display. In terms of fitness features, you get blood oxygen and ECG sensors, as well as a heart rate monitor. You won’t get the crash detection and temperature sensors of the Series 8, but if those weren’t must-have features for you anyway, saving over a hundred bucks and going for the Series 7 is the move. (You’ll also find more color ways available for 99 cents more at Target).

More Apple Watch deals

Series 8

Apple Watch Series 8 (41mm, GPS) — $389 $399 at Amazon (save $10)

Apple Watch Series 8 (45mm, GPS) — $419 $429 at Amazon (save $10)

Series 7

Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS) — $309.99 $379 at Target (save $69.01) ✨

Apple Watch Series 7 (41mm, GPS + cellular) — $349 $429 at Amazon (save $80) ✨

Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm, GPS + cellular) — $379 $529 at Amazon (save $150) 🔥

SE (Second generation)

Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS) — $269.98 $279 at Amazon (save $9.02)

Apple Watch SE (44mm, GPS + cellular) — $289.99 $329 at Amazon (save $39.01) 🔥

AirPods deals

Why we like them

Check out our full review of the AirPods Max.

Yes, these headphones are viral on TikTok, but it’s not just about their looks. They do offer really nice active noise cancellation, have seriously impressive audio quality, and come with spatial audio for that immersive listening experience. We’d have a hard time ever recommending them at full price, but every single color is available lower than the $479 price they’ve been sitting at on Amazon for while, so if you’re loyal to Apple and want some over-ear headphones, this could be a good time to buy. We do think there’s more than a decent chance they drop even further closer to Black Friday, though.

More AirPods deals

AirPods (second gen) — $89.99 $129 at Walmart (save $39.01)

AirPods Pro (first gen) — $169.99 $249 at Walmart (save $79.01)

AirPods Pro (first gen) — $169.99 $249 at Target (save $79.01)

AirPods Pro (second gen) — $239 $249 at Amazon (save $10)

Apple accessories deals

Why we like them

Read our full review of the Beats Studio Buds.

If you’re interested in the idea of the ANC of the AirPods Pros but less interested in their price tag, the Beats Studio Buds offer a worthy alternative. The ANC might not quite match up to the Pros standard, but with 8 hours of battery life per charge (that’s longer the second gen Pros) and impressive bass for buds, you might just find them worth the trade off. Plus, you get more color options.

More Apple accessories deals

AirTag Loop — $19.99 $29.99 at Amazon (save $9.01)

Beats Solo3 Wireless On-Ear Headphones — $99 $199.95 at Amazon (save $100.95)

2021 Apple TV 4K (32GB) — $109.99 $179 at Amazon (save $69.01)

2021 Apple TV 4K (64GB) — $114 $179 at Amazon (save $85)

Beats Studio3 Wireless Over-Ear Headphones — $149.99 $349.95 at Amazon (save $199.96)

Powerbeats Pro — $179.95 $249.95 at Amazon (save $70)

How to score the best Black Friday Apple deals:

First and foremost, you should keep an eye on this list. Self-promo aside, we’ll be making sure it stays updated with all the best deals. If you are interested in doing some deal hunting of your own, we do have a few tips to share.

As we mentioned earlier, Apple is notoriously stingy when it comes to offering sales. (Their 2021 Black Friday “deal” was just a free gift card with the purchase of select items, keeping in line with previous years.) That means checking their website throughout the weekend probably will not be the most fruitful course of action. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy offer Apple deals throughout the year, are much more likely to offer even more significant discounts on your favorite products during the holiday shopping season.

Next, it will be helpful to have a clear idea of what exactly you’re interested in buying. A glance at this very post can show you that the Apple catalog is vast and ever-expanding. Since the summer, we’ve gotten a ton of new releases, including new generations of iPads, MacBooks, AirPods, Apple Watches, iPhones, and even an Apple TV 4K. Apple deals also have a tendency to fluctuate, so trying to keep a close eye on all their selections can get overwhelming quick (besides, that’s what you have us for — no need to put yourself through that). What’s more, Apple is — as you may know — a popular brand, meaning you only have so long to hop on the really good sales.

Our advice? Be honest with yourself about which products are absolute wants, and which would be nice, but not exactly necessary. Want a new iPad but don’t need the latest and greatest? Older generations will be sale and still work great. Maybe you’re even cool with going refurbished (which is great for your wallet and the planet).

Having a clear sense of what you’re looking for can help you make sure you don’t miss any deals or spend big on something you won’t you get much use out of. If you plan on shopping through Amazon, it’s also a good idea to make use of your wishlist.

This post will be updated throughout the holiday shopping season.