The Best Deals on Apple Devices From the October Prime Day Sale.
Apple products are notoriously expensive, but that doesn’t mean they never drop. While Apple doesn’t typically offer its own discounts, retailers often slash prices on MacBooks, AirPods, and iPads, and that’s certainly the case with the Amazon Prime Big Deal Days sale . While “October Prime Day” doesn’t officially begin until Tuesday, you can already find plenty of great deals on Apple products.
MacBook Air M5 (13-inch)
The MacBook Air has long been the top choice for most people. While many would likely prefer the simpler, more affordable MacBook Neo, those upgrading to the MacBook Air with the M5 processor have numerous advantages: a larger and better display; an M5 chip that’s significantly more powerful than the Neo’s A18 Pro chip; Touch ID as standard; and MagSafe charging, to name a few. Amazon is now offering the 13-inch MacBook Air for $1,099, a $200 discount from its recently inflated price of $1,299.
MacBook Air M5 (15-inch)
Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air is a good option for users who need more screen space but don’t want to pay the premium for the Pro version. Following a recent price hike, Apple’s 512GB model sells for $1,499, but ahead of the October Prime Day sale, you can save $200 on the laptop through Amazon. According to Keepa, this is the best price on a 15-inch MacBook Air since early August. This MacBook Air features a 15.3-inch display, an Apple M5 processor with a 10-core CPU and 10-core GPU, 512GB of storage, 16GB of RAM, and up to 18 hours of battery life (according to Apple).
MacBook Pro m5 Max (14-inch)
While the M5 chip in the MacBook Air is more than sufficient for most computing tasks, the Apple M5 Max is on a whole other level. For users who do intensive graphics processing or AI-powered data crunching, there are few better chips than the one in this 14-inch MacBook Pro. Of course, all this power comes at a price: Apple’s suggested retail price for this specific configuration is $4,099. But right now , Best Buy is offering it at a $600 discount . For $3,499, you get a 14.2-inch mini-LED display, an M5 Max chip with an 18-core CPU and 32-core GPU, 36GB of RAM, and a 2TB SSD.
AirPods Max (USB-C)
As much as I love my AirPods Max, I have a hard time recommending them because of the price—$549 is steep for wireless earbuds, and it’s hard to ignore other excellent options that cost hundreds of dollars less than Apple’s earbuds. However, it becomes easier to recommend them when they’re on sale. Right now, you can get the Apple AirPods Max 2 for $429 —still pricey, but a little more reasonable. These are Apple’s newest AirPods Max, with “new” features like live translation and adaptive sound.
AirPods Pro 3
Apple’s third-generation AirPods Pro earbuds are excellent, but also expensive. For $249, you get Apple’s best earbuds, featuring active noise cancellation, adaptive transparency, a built-in heart rate monitor, and interchangeable ear tips for a secure fit. While these earbuds may be worth the price, they’re especially good value when they’re on sale: right now, you can save $70 on the AirPods Pro 3 , as Amazon is selling them for $179. Apple also offers cheaper AirPods with similar features, so if you don’t need the exclusive benefits of the Pro, you can save even more by upgrading to the new, fully featured AirPods 5 ( $149 for the version with the wireless charging case ).
AirPods 4
If you’re looking for the lowest price on AirPods, check out this deal from Best Buy. Apple AirPods 4 are on sale for just $79 , down from the original price of $129.99. Granted, this is an older model and lacks active noise cancellation, but for the price, it’s a great way to get the AirPods experience.
iPad (A16)
The Apple iPad (sometimes referred to as the iPad A16) is the best choice for most users. Most people are happy with an 11-inch tablet with a processor capable of running iPadOS and 12-megapixel cameras on both the front and back. While there are iPads with larger displays, including OLED screens, more powerful processors, and better cameras, this iPad is generally more than sufficient. Amazon is currently offering the 128GB model for 11% off , reducing the price from $449 to $399. If you need more storage, Amazon offers smaller discounts on the 256GB and 512GB models, as well as the 128GB and 256GB models with cellular support.
iPad mini (A17 Pro)
If you’ve been waiting for the right time to buy Apple’s smallest iPad, now might be it. Apple’s newest iPad mini is currently on sale at Amazon for 17% off, dropping the price from $599 to $499. This iPad mini features an Apple A17 Pro chip, an 8.3-inch display, 128GB of storage, and 12MP cameras on both the front and back of the tablet. 128GB isn’t much, but it might be enough if you primarily store files in the cloud. If you need more storage, Amazon is slashing the price of all models by $100, so you can still save on the 256GB and 512GB models —not to mention the iPad mini with cellular support .
iPad Pro M5 (11-inch)
Apple’s 11-inch iPad Pro is powered by the same M5 chip as the MacBook Air, though it uses iPadOS. Despite lacking perks like a built-in keyboard, trackpad, and macOS support, this iPad Pro isn’t much different in price from the MacBook Air. It typically retails for $1,199, but it’s currently on sale for $60 on Amazon. It’s a small discount, but you could spend that money on an Apple Pencil Pro (currently 23% off) or an Apple Magic Keyboard . This model features an 11-inch OLED display, the M5 chip, and two 12-megapixel cameras—one front and one back.
Apple Watch SE 3
The Apple Watch SE 3 is the best Apple Watch for most people. While there are larger and “better” Apple Watch models, the SE 3 does everything most people want from their Apple Watch. It tracks your workouts, lets you send and receive text messages, monitors your sleep habits, and checks your heart rate. It may lack features like an ECG reader, the latest S11 chip, and Apple’s new continuous heart rate monitor, but most people don’t need these extra features. What’s more, the SE 3 is currently 20% off at Amazon . You can get the new SE 3 for just $199 for the 40mm model or $229 for the 44mm option . Cellular models start at $249 for the 40mm or $279 for the 44mm option , both prices reduced by $50.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
Apple just released the Apple Watch Ultra 4 , so there aren’t likely to be any big discounts this fall. Instead, you can save $200 by opting for the previous-generation Apple Ultra wearable . The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is still a capable watch with the S10 chip, 5G support, up to 42 hours of battery life, and water resistance up to 100 meters. You’ll lose the S11 chip, Audio Intelligence, and Apple’s new continuous heart rate monitoring, but the savings may be worth the small sacrifice.
Apple Watch Series 12
While the Ultra 4 isn’t available yet, the equally new Series 12 is already discounted. As part of the October Prime Day sale, Amazon is offering $50 off the latest flagship Apple Watch. This means the Series 12 on Amazon now starts at $349 instead of $399, or $399 for the 46mm model instead of $449 —though it appears the discount only applies to certain colors. The Series 12 features Apple’s latest S12 chip, as well as a new heart rate sensor that takes readings every five seconds, or 20 times per minute.
AirTags
Apple’s AirTags are excellent tracking devices for anyone in the Apple ecosystem. Once set up, you can place AirTags on or in any of your belongings (bags, bikes, keys, etc.) and track them using the Find My iPhone app. While AirTags themselves can’t connect to the internet, they do communicate with other Find My iPhone-enabled devices. These devices then securely and privately update the location of your AirTags. Amazon is currently offering $10 off a pack of four or $5 off a single AirTag .
Magic Mouse
Apple’s Magic Mouse is often mocked for its odd charging port placement (it’s on the bottom, making it impossible to use while charging) and its unergonomic design. Despite this, it’s often a top choice for Mac users, simply because it’s easy to connect and compatible with macOS gestures. If you’re looking for a new mouse for your Mac—or even your iPad— you can save 24% on the Magic Mouse at Amazon , reducing the price from $79 to $59.99.