The best early Black Friday deals on Apple products

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UPDATE: Nov. 2, 2021, 4:25 p.m. EDT AirPods and Beats prices are on the decline this week, along with other classic Apple finds.


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 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


blue iphone 12 mini

Credit: Apple

Why we like it

  • A14 Bionic chip

  • 5G connectivity

  • Super Retina OLED display

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

No trade-ins means you’re scoring decent savings, even if you don’t have a phone from the last couple years to hand over. With this no-trade in deal from AT&T, you can still shave off half the price of the iPhone 12 mini — 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 iPhone deals

Early Black Friday deals on AirPods


airpods pro in their charging case

Credit: Apple

Why we like them

  • Active noise cancellation

  • Different sizes of silicone tips

  • Spatial audio

Check out Mashable’s official review of the AirPods Pro.

The new third-gen AirPods may look more like the Pros, but the Pros remain the best AirPods out there. Their adjustable tips makes them more comfortable and adds to the buds impressive active noise cancellation. They work great both in and out of the Apple ecosystem, deliver nice sound quality, and add a little something to the listening experience with spatial audio. At this discount, they’re just about $15 more than the third-gen AirPods, but with many more features that actually justify their price.

More deals on AirPods:

Early Black Friday deals on Apple Watch


black apple watch series 5

Credit: Apple

Why we like it

  • Always-On display

  • Electrical and optical heart sensors

  • Built-in compass

Check out Mashable’s official review for the Apple Watch Series 5.

Apple Watches can cost a pretty penny, but if you buy refurbished, you can save some serious cash. Though it was originally released in 2019, the Series 5 is still a pretty great iPhone for your wrist, with an always-on display and decent battery life. Fitness fanatics should note though — Apple didn’t include the SPO2 sensor until the Series 6, but you’ll still get enjoy the ECG sensor, fall detection, high and low heart rate notifications, and more. Overall, it’s a great budget pick that isn’t all that behind the times, and if you’re feeling a little skeptical about buying renewed, you have up to 90 days to get a replacement or refund through Amazon.

More Apple Watch deals

Early Black Friday deals on iPad


11-inch ipad pro

Credit: Apple

Why we like it

  • Powered by an M1 chipset

  • Plenty of storage space

  • Lightweight and portable

If you’ve been waiting for just the right time to buy that top-of-the-line iPad, that time may be right now. The 512GB iPad Pro just dropped to the lowest price we’ve ever seen it. With this Pro, you get plenty of storage space for apps and projects, with a Liquid Retina display that provides a nice clarity, whether you’re getting some work done or enjoying a Netflix binge. At this price point, you’d likely want to use your iPad as a computer. In addition to the storage, the M1 chip makes sure you have the power to do just that. Plus, this model is compatible with the Magic Keyboard and second-gen Apple Pencil (which also happens to be on sale, btw).

More iPad deals

Early Black Friday Mac deals


macbook air

Credit: Apple

Our Pick: MacBook Air (M1, 256GB)

$899.99 at Amazon (save $99.01)



Why we like it

  • Quiet and fanless

  • Around 10 hours of battery life

  • M1 chipset

Click here to read Mashable’s official review of the MacBook Air.

Looking for a MacBook that won’t break the bank, has a killer battery life, and that you can take with you wherever you go? The M1-powered MacBook Air could be the laptop for you. If your day-to-day needs don’t involve high-definition video editing or gaming, here’s no need to drop thousands on the new MacBook Pros. As our reviewer said, “The M1-powered MacBook Air doesn’t revolutionize the experience of using a MacBook, but it’s certainly the right choice for Apple loyalists looking to upgrade from an older model.”

More Mac deals

Early Black Friday deals on Apple accessories


shadow gray beats

Credit: Beats by Dr. Dre

Why we like it

  • Apple W1 chip makes pairing iOS devices easy

  • Classic Beats style and sound quality

  • Fast fuel means 10 minutes of charge gives three hours of listening time

Comfort, style, and function all meet in the Studio 3 Wireless headphones, and for a limited time only, if you don’t mind sticking to matte black or shadow gray, you can grab them for just $170. Amazon’s also offering them for this price, but they’re currently waiting for a restock. Just to reiterate, that’s active noise cancellation and up to 22 hours of battery life with active noise cancellation (and up to 40 hours without) for just $170. As a nice bonus, you get a free six-month subscription to Apple Music and Apple News+.

More deals on Apple accessories:

Refurbished Apple product deals


black iphone 11

Credit: Apple

Our Pick: iPhone 11 (64GB)

$479 at Amazon (save $90)



Why we like it

  • A13 Bionic chip

  • 6.1-inch Liquid Retina display

  • Two 12-megapixel rear cameras

Check out Mashable’s official review of the iPhone 11.

It may not be the top-of-the-line pick, but there was a reason the iPhone 11 was a Mashable Choice pick not too long ago. This refurbished model from Amazon comes backed with a one-year satisfaction guarantee, so if you’re into scoring a deal on a new iPhone without opening a new line, starting an unlimited plan, or having to trade-in an old phone, grabbing this renewed model could be the way to go. And don’t worry — this iPhone is unlocked, so it’ll work no matter what carrier you currently have.

More refurbished Apple product deals:

iPhone

Apple Watch

iPad

Mac

AirPods

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.

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