The best Black Friday deals for Apple devices

Black Friday is in full swing, and that’s great news if you’ve had your eyes set on an Apple device but were waiting for a solid discount to pull the trigger. Apple devices are notoriously expensive, and you don’t usually see many discounts throughout the year. Thankfully, Black Friday brings notable Apple deals not just from retailers, but Apple itself. As we do every year, we’re cutting through the noise to bring you the best Black Friday Apple deals we can find.

Below are some of the most exciting Apple deals we’ve seen so far. As always, we focus on the products we actually recommend based on time spent reviewing them and excluding those we think aren’t worth your money. Finally: there haven’t been any huge iPhone deals that we think are worth your time, so the focus here is on other products.

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Apple iPad Air 2022 10.9-inch for $500 ($560) on Amazon (discount at checkout)

Also at Apple for $680 with $50 Apple Gift Card

These days it’s not hard to make the case for Apple too many iPad models. The range has become convoluted and confusing, and some models offer better value for money than others. Luckily, if you can afford it, there’s one clear recommendation for the vast majority of potential tablet owners: the iPad Air.

The iPad Pro’s 120Hz display, Face ID authentication, and other bells and whistles are all nice to have, but they’re not essential. And at the other end of the line, the new 2022 iPad sacrifices a bit too much compared to the Air, given the price difference.

The Air doesn’t skimp on anything essential: it’s got the speedy M1 chip, second-generation Apple Pencil support, an excellent display and solid accessory support. It is currently on sale on Amazon for $500 ($60 off the usual retail price), but Apple is also offering it full retail for $680 with a $50 Apple Gift Card incentive.

2022 MacBook Air for $1,050 ($1,200) on Amazon

The Mac has been through many permutations (and ups and downs) over the years, but the recent transition from Intel processors to Apple’s custom-designed silicon has made it clear that now is the best time to switch to the Mac as everything there ever was. .

While many of Apple’s Macs (like the MacBook Pro or Mac Studio) are niche products for certain audiences, the 2022 MacBook Air is the Mac that makes the most sense for most people. Its M2 processor is frankly faster than most desktop processors, and a recent redesign has modernized a classic laptop, even if it did so at the expense of its unique identity.

You can buy the Air at a $150 discount on Amazon ($1,050 for 256 GB or $1,350 for 512 GB) or you can buy it directly from Apple and get a $150 gift card.

If you need more power or a bigger screen, check out our article on the best Black Friday laptop deals, where we’ve got discounts on the well-equipped, multiport 14-inch MacBook Pro on sale for $1,600 ($400 off) and Apple’s most powerful laptop, the 16-inch MacBook Pro for $2,000 ($500 off).

Apple AirPods Pro (second generation) for $249 with $75 Apple Gift Card from Apple

Also at Amazon for $199 and first generation for $159 at Walmart

The AirPods are more convenient than any other wireless headphones we’ve used, they offer essential features like spatial audio and transparency mode, and the sound quality isn’t generally too bad for the price either. . You absolutely can find other headphones that beat any of Apple’s comparably priced AirPods models in sound quality or noise cancellation (although you’d be hard pressed to find something this easy to use wireless), but as a complete package, let’s just say that AirPods are very popular for a reason. Don’t worry if you don’t have an Apple device to pair them with.

The best AirPods for most people are the AirPods Pro; they strike a perfect balance between price and performance. The first and second generation AirPods Pro are currently on sale. While both offerings offer solid value, the second generation is an objectively better pair of headphones in all relevant ways, as you might expect. If you can find a use for a $75 Apple gift card, we recommend grabbing Apple’s offer for second-generation AirPods Pro.

Noise cancellation is improved, as is spatial audio performance, allowing for a more immersive sound experience. The second generation also improves the listening time from four and a half hours on the first generation to six on the last generation, while adding goodies like a MagSafe charging case with a built-in speaker and a chip for new capabilities. Find My, in case your AirPods go missing. The first-gen AirPods still sound great, and the noise cancellation is on the higher end of the spectrum compared to most headphones. So, again, if you have no use for a $75 Apple Gift Card, we can’t blame you for saving a few bucks and getting the first-gen Pros instead.

Apple TV 4K 2021 64 GB for $100 ($130) on Amazon

Apple TV HD 2021 32 GB $59 ($99) at Walmart

Apple just released a new revision to its Apple TV 4K streaming box, but it wasn’t a huge upgrade over the previous model, unless you’re using a TV that only supports HDR10+ instead of Dolby. Vision. With new to market, however, last year’s almost identical model is strongly at a reduced price, making it the best deal for a streaming TV platform. As always, its appeal over offerings from Roku and others is muted if you don’t already live in Apple’s ecosystem, but if you have an iPhone or AirPods, the current discount is a steal.

If you don’t need 4K quality, Apple TV HD is also heavily discounted for the lowest price we’ve ever seen on a new Apple TV at $69.

Apple Watch SE second generation (40 mm) for $229 ($270) Amazon

Apple now offers a plethora of watch models, including the new flashy and outdoor Apple Watch Ultra. But truth be told, the entry-level Apple Watch SE (available in 40mm or 44mm) includes most of the features that most people would like to have. We’re not knocking the Series 8 or the Ultra, they have a lot to offer. If you want the most health-heavy device, the Apple Watch Series 8 is the way to go, and it’s on sale for $350 ($50 off) right now. But if you’re just looking for something to help you track your workouts and stay connected, the SE will get the job done for a lot less money.