Apple devices are expensive, and they are rarely on sale, at least in the Apple Store. Third-party sellers like Best Buy and Amazon do offer discounts from time to time, including right now. We’ve found a number of Apple devices on sale at discounted prices, including iPads, MacBooks, Apple Watches and other accessories. Most of these deals match or are better than what we saw on Cyber Monday, but many of them will end on Thursday.
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iPad Deals
If you need help determining which iPad is best for you, check out our guide to the best iPad.
Apple recently updated its most basic iPad (7/10, WIRED Review) with slim bezels, an Apple A14 chip, and a USB-C port. As on the iPad Air, the Touch ID sensor is integrated into the power button that sits on the top edge of the slate. The rear camera has been upgraded to 12 megapixels from 8. But, perhaps most importantly, the 12 megapixel selfie camera has been moved to the center of the iPad (in landscape mode), you won’t have so no more looking uncomfortably to the side during video calls. The bad news is that Apple has increased the price by $120 over previous models. This deal is better than what we saw on Cyber Monday and makes the slate more accessible.
The 10th generation iPad above is the most expensive entry-level iPad Apple has ever made. That’s why we still think this ninth-gen model (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is the best iPad for most people. Not only is it affordable, especially at this discount, but it also packs a 12MP rear camera with Center Stage support to keep you in frame during video calls. There’s a Touch ID-enabled physical home button (for those who prefer it), a True Tone display that adjusts the screen’s color temperature based on the lighting around you, and 64GB of storage. It’s also the only iPad in the company’s lineup with a headphone jack.
It’s not a huge sale, but the iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite upgrade over the base model. You get the same M1 processor as a 2020 Macbook Air, a 10.9-inch LCD screen, slim bezels, a USB-C port, and Touch ID built into the top power button. It supports the second generation Apple Pencil and the Smart and Magic Keyboard.
The iPad Mini (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great travel companion. It’s small enough to slip into my tote or backpack, and the 8.3-inch screen is great for reading e-books or watching movies. Equipped with an A15 Bionic processor (the same one that powered last year’s iPhone 13), it’s fast enough to handle both demanding apps and games. With support for the second-generation Apple Pencil, you can also use it as a notebook or sketchbook. It’s dropped to that price for Cyber Monday, but it’s still a bargain.
This is the iPad Pro 2021 model with the company’s M1 processor. The new sixth-generation iPad Pro (7/10, WIRED Review) announced last month is a very incremental update; save some money and grab this version instead.
Apple’s stylus rarely goes on sale, although it recently dropped to $89 during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. As small as it is, this is the next best discount we’ve seen. It works with all iPads in Apple’s current lineup except the 9th generation iPad.
Best MacBooks
Read our guide to the best MacBook for more help in choosing the right MacBook for your needs.
Apple introduced a new design with its latest MacBook Air (7/10, WIRED Recommends), which is also powered by the new M2 chipset. It’s got plenty of power for most day-to-day tasks, solid battery life, and a 1080p webcam. You also get a MagSafe connector so the laptop won’t fly off if you trip over the cable. It’s more expensive than its predecessor, but this discount helps remedy that. Remember that the chipset does not allow you to connect this machine to more than one external display.
Even though the M1-powered MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) was released in 2020, it’s still one of the most powerful laptops you can buy at this price. It’s our favorite budget MacBook to recommend. It has great performance, battery life (it’ll easily last you a full workday), and an improved keyboard (that won’t break). It’s also slim and lightweight, making it ideal for travel.
2021’s 14-inch MacBook Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) was Apple’s first to reintroduce the idea that laptops should have lots of ports (including a MagSafe charging port) – what a concept. It also offers a 1080p webcam and a stunning 14.2-inch display with ProMotion (which has a 120Hz refresh rate). The M1 Pro under the hood delivers excellent performance and can handle almost any demanding project you throw at it. (It’s confusing, but the M1 Pro is more powerful than the M2.)
The 16-inch MacBook Pro is similar to the 14-inch model, but with a larger screen. This thing is huge and somewhat awkward to carry around, but the extra screen room can be nice, especially for busy apps, perfect for video editors. This model was $100 cheaper for Cyber Monday, but if you missed that, it’s still a bargain.
Apple Watch and headphones deals
Read our Best Apple Watch and Best Wireless Earbuds guides to learn more.
We recommend the second-generation Apple Watch SE to most people, especially if you don’t need the complex Series 8 capabilities like the ECG sensor, temperature sensor, or the ability to check your blood oxygen. But it’s more than capable of tracking your health and fitness, and with the latest S8 chip you’ll also get collision detection and the revamped Compass app. It’s also compatible with WatchOS 9, which means you won’t miss any of the latest software features. The larger 44mm version is also on sale for $269 ($20 off).
The Apple Watch (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite Apple Watch in the lineup. It offers blood oxygen level sensor, ECG reader and heart rate monitor. Apple also introduced a wrist-based temperature sensing feature that tracks your skin temperature. This can be very useful for tracking your period and fertility. This deal was $30 better during Cyber Monday, but if you missed it, you can still save a few bucks.
We saw that price drop by $10 over Cyber Monday, but it’s still a bargain for Apple’s new high-end smartwatch (8/10, WIRED Recommends). It has the best battery life you’ll find on an Apple Watch, mainly because it’s much larger than the standard Series 8. There’s a loud siren in case you get lost in the woods, and a spare action button to trigger specific and configurable. Shares.
This deal was $29 cheaper during Cyber Monday. The second-gen AirPods Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) come with upgrades like improved noise cancellation and better battery life – you’ll get six hours with the buds and 24 hours in the case , which will definitely get you through a working day. The charging case also comes with some new features, like the ability to sync it with Apple’s Find My app (which will beep to help you locate them), and the ability to charge it on an Apple puck. Watch. Read our guide to the best wireless headphones to learn more.
Accessory Deals
Our guides to the best iPhone 14 cases and the best MagSafe accessories can help.
We’ve seen this drop a few dollars, but it’s still a small discount on Apple’s official wireless charger for iPhone models with MagSafe (iPhone 12 and later). It charges quickly (15 watts) because it aligns precisely with the spot which allows for the best power transfer. But with an annoying 3-foot cable, it’s hard to use your phone while it’s charging unless you’re right next to where it’s plugged in.
The MagSafe Duo is a great choice if you have both an iPhone and an Apple Watch, with respective slots for both. It also folds in half, which makes it very easy to transport. It’s just way too expensive for what it does, but this deal makes it a little easier on the wallet.
This keyboard will fit the 11-inch iPad Pro (first, second, third and fourth generation) and iPad Air (fourth and fifth generation). This slim keyboard doesn’t offer any tactile feedback on the keys, but many people love this keyboard for the fact that it’s quiet.
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