The best early Black Friday deals on Apple products

The best Black Friday deals on Apple devices and accessories as of Oct. 20:

• BEST MACBOOK AIR DEAL: MacBook Air (M1, 512GB) — $1,149.99 (save $100)

• BEST MACBOOK PRO DEAL: MacBook Pro (M1, 512GB) — $1,349.00 (save $150)

• BEST IPAD DEAL: iPad Air (WiFi, 256GB) — $639.00 (save $110)

• BEST IPHONE DEAL: iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) at AT&T — $349.99 (save $349.99)

• BEST AIRPODS DEAL: AirPods Pro — $197.00 (save $52)

• BEST APPLE WATCH DEAL: Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, GPS) — $329.00 (save $70)

• BEST REFURBISHED DEAL: 2018 MacBook Pro (Intel i5, 128GB) — $440.99 (save $59)

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Apple is not famous for its sales — at least not through its own website and stores. Even with the fanfare of Black Friday, you probably won’t get the same major price cuts you’d expect from other brands.

So what does this mean for the person on the hunt for a new iPad or MacBook? Are you destined to pay full price forever? Dear reader, absolutely not. Apple deals are out there across the internet year-round, but especially once we enter Black Friday season.

Though you likely need no reminder, we continue to live in unprecedented times, meaning those Black Friday deals are already emerging. So, we’ve started rounding up the best of the best for you. In addition to this being a prime opportunity to knock some early shopping out of the way, supply chain shortages are definitely going to be a thing this holiday season, so early shopping on popular items (like that MacBook you’ve been eying) is the best way to make sure there is a gift to give come December.

So whether you’ve got your eye on the iPhone 13, continue to wait for an AirPods announcement, or are hoping these new releases mean discounted older models, we’ll keep updating you on all the best Black Friday Apple finds from Amazon to Walmart to Best Buy and wherever else is offering savings worth hearing about.

Early Black Friday deals on iPhones

Our top pick: iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) at AT&T — $349.99 (save $349.99)

• A14 Bionic chip

• 5G connectivity

• Super Retina OLED display

Click here to read Mashable’s official review of the iPhone 12 Mini.

Finding a deal on a new iPhone that doesn’t involve trading in an iPhone is difficult to say the least. And if you’re upgrading from an older model, chances are the savings won’t be as great as a trade-in deal paints them out to be. That’s why we’re fans of this iPhone 12 Mini deal at AT&T, which requires no trade-in for a 50% savings on this phone. Even though it isn’t the most recent model of the iPhone, you still get a phone that’s easy to hold, packs plenty of power with an A14 Bionic chip, and has a pretty nice camera to boot.

More deals on iPhones:

• iPhone 13 (128GB) and iPhone 13 Pro at AT&T — free with an eligible trade-in on an unlimited plan

• iPhone 13 Mini (64GB) at Verizon — free with select trade-in and unlimited plans

• iPhone 13 Pro at Verizon — free with select trade-in and unlimited plan

• iPhone SE (64GB) at Verizon — free with an unlimited plan and new line

• iPhone 12 Mini (64GB) at Verizon — free with a new line

• iPhone 12 (64GB) at Verizon — free with an eligible trade-in with an unlimited plan

Early Black Friday deals on AirPods

Our top pick: AirPods Pro — $197.00 (save $52)

• Active Noise Cancelation and Transparency modes

• Up to 4.5 hours of listening time (+19.5 hours with the included wireless charging case)

• Sweat- and water-resistant

Click here to read Mashable’s official review of the AirPods Pro.

Last Thanksgiving, we saw the AirPods Pro go all the way down to a mere $169 (their biggest-ever discount). And this year, though we’re only in early October, we’ve already seen them get close to that ultra low price. Even at $197.00, you’re still saving $50 on one of the best pairs of Bluetooth earbuds out there. And we’re not saying the new third-generation AirPods aren’t the move, but for less than $20 more you can get the active noise cancellation with the Pros, so we’re saying the third-generation AirPods might not be the move.

More deals on AirPods:

• AirPods 2 — $119.99 (save $49.01)

• AirPods Max — $489.00 (save $60)

Early Black Friday deals on Apple Watch

Our top pick: Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm, GPS) — $329.00 (save $70)

• Always-On Retina OLED display

• S6 chipset

• SpO2 sensor for blood oxygen level readings

Click here to read Mashable’s official review of the Apple Watch Series 6.

It may not be the latest and greatest model anymore, but it remains a high-performing smartwatch with an impressive battery life that’s well-suited for any fitness fanatic. Though it comes in five different colors, you score the $70 off when you opt for the red model, as compared to the $50 savings on the other models.

More deals on Apple Watch:

• Apple Watch Series 5 (44mm, GPS) — $406.71 (save $22.29)

Early Black Friday deals on iPad

Our top pick: iPad Air (WiFi, 256GB) — $639.00 (save $110)

• 10.9-inch Retina display

• A14 Bionic chip with Neural Engine

• Up to 10 hours of battery life

For over $100 cheaper than you’ll find it at Apple, you can grab an iPad Air with a powerful processor and plenty of space for you to download apps, take pictures, work on projects, and game with ease. Out of all the 2020 iPad releases, Mashable tech reporter Brenda Stolyar crowned it as the best thanks to its “sheer versatility.” As a nice cherry on top, it comes in a bunch of cute colors.

More deals on iPads:

iPad Air (10.9-in, 4th gen)

• iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $539.99 (save $60)

iPad Pro (11-in, 4th generation)

• iPad Pro (WiFi, 128GB) — $699.99 (save $100)

iPad Pro (12.9-in, 4th generation)

• iPad Pro (WiFi, 256GB) — $949.99 (save $150)

iPad Pro (11-in, 5th generation)

• iPad Pro (WiFi, 512GB) — $999.99 (save $99.01)

iPad Pro (12.9-in, 5th generation)

• iPad Pro (WiFi, 128GB) — $999.00 (save $100)

Early Black Friday Mac deals

Our top pick: MacBook Pro (M1, 512GB) — $1,349.00 (save $150)

• 13.3-inch Retina display

• Apple M1 chip

• Up to 20 hours of battery life

Click here to read Mashable’s official review for the 2020 MacBook Pro.

It’s a big week for the MacBook Pro — there’s officially a new model. But new releases (and Apple products in general, tbh) tend to get pricey quick. If you want more than the bare bones, this 2020 MacBook Pro still offers the speeds of the M1 processor and plenty of storage space without even approaching the $2,000+ price tag of the new Pros.

More deals on Macs:

• MacBook Pro (Intel Core i5, 1TB) — $1,699.99 (save $299.01)

• MacBook Pro (Intel Core i5, 512GB) — $1,499.99 (save $299.01)

• MacBook Pro (M1, 512GB) — $1,349.00 (save $150)

• MacBook Air (M1, 256GB) — $929.00 (save $70)

• MacBook Air (M1, 512GB) — $1,149.99 (save $100)

• 2020 Mac Mini (M1, 512GB) — $799.00 (save $100)

• 2020 21.5″ iMac with Retina 4K (Intel Core i3, 256GB) — $999.99 (save $300)

Early Black Friday deals on Apple accessories

Our top pick: Apple Pencil 2 — $109.99 (save $19.01)

• Wireless charging

• Tilt and pressure sensitivity

• Easy pairing

Look, we know what you’re thinking, but this isn’t just a case of Apple charging extra for a sleek design. This tablet pencil really does boast an impressive pressure sensitivity (which is especially important for the artists out there). Thanks to wireless charging and its magnetic attachment, powering up and taking this bad boy along with you wherever you go is super easy. You will want to double check its compatibility, even if you have a newer iPad — it won’t work with every single model.

More deals on Apple accessories:

• Apple MagSafe Battery Pack — $74.24 (save $24.75)

• Beats Studio Buds — $129.95 (save $20)

• Apple TV 4K 32GB (second generation) — $169.00 (save $10)

• Apple TV 4K 32GB (first generation) — $129.99 (save $30)

Refurbished finds

Our top pick: 2018 MacBook Pro (Intel i5, 128GB) — $439.00 (save $60.99)

• 13.3-inch Retina display

• 9 hours of battery life

• USB, HDMI, and SDXC card ports

If you’ve never been able to wrap your head around Apple’s prices (especially after seeing how expensive those new MacBooks can get), buying pre-owned might be for you. Though this laptop isn’t Apple certified, it has been professionally inspected by Amazon-qualified suppliers and will not show visible imperfections when held at an arm’s length. This MacBook Pro is still a relatively recent model with a good amount of storage. And if would like your USB, HDMI, and SD ports back, there’s no need to invest in the newest model — the 2018 MacBook still has them.

More refurbished finds:

iPhone

• iPhone 8 (64GB) — $249.99

• iPhone 11 (64GB) — $479.00 (save $90)

Apple Watch

• Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular, 42mm) — $189.94 (save $10.05)

iPad

• 2020 iPad Air (WiFi, 64GB) — $539.99 (save $60)

• 2021 12.9-in iPad Pro (WiFi, 128GB) — $989.99 (save $110)

MacBook

• 2016 MacBook Air (Intel i5 Dual-Core, 128GB) — $324.99 (save $24.01)

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. Usually, their Black Friday offering is a gift card. That means checking their website daily probably will not be the most fruitful course of action. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy are much more likely to offer discounts on your favorite products.

Next, it will be helpful to have some idea of what products you’re interested in buying. A glance at this very post can show you that the Apple catalog is vast and ever-expanding. Within the past two months alone we’ve gotten a slew of new releases, and then there’s still all your old favorites. 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 good sales.

So our advice? Decide what you’re really interested in. Want a new iPad but don’t need the latest and greatest? You can definitely find older generations on sale. Maybe you’re even cool with going refurbished, which is good 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.

What Apple sales should be expected this year?

We’re not anticipating any drastic departures from the kinds of deals offered in years past, so you probably won’t be able to grab one of the new iPads or MacBooks for half off.

Following the release of the new iPhones, phone retailers like Verizon and AT&T have been offering some pretty decent discounts on older phones (and the 13, provided that you have a solid trade-in option).

Of course, it’s always nice to find some savings on more popular items. Luckily, we have already seen the AirPods Pro dip down to $179 (only $10 more than last year’s Black Friday price) and decent Mac savings, like the $150 discount on the M1 MacBook Air earlier this month. Likely the best deals will be on slightly-dated 2020 releases, though we’re keeping our eyes peeled for you for any dips on the new releases.

This post will be updated throughout the holiday shopping season.