Prime Day 2021 is just days away, taking place Monday and Tuesday and if you’re looking for a deal on Apple devices — Apple Watch, MacBook, iPad, AirPods and Beats — this is the best time of year to find them outside of Black Friday. We’re keeping a close eye on Apple, and the deals Amazon and others are offering.
Retailers announced their rival sales to Prime Day, including Target’s Deal Days running from June 20-22 and Walmart’s Deals for Days taking place June 20-23, so they’re also a great place to look for the best discounts on Apple products. What you’ll find below are our favorite Apple deals across all categories but we have lists with Prime Day bargains smartwatches, iPads, MacBooks, AirPods and Beats headphones.
Two important things to keep in mind: Note that prices and availability are accurate at time of publication, but they tend to fluctuate. And, just as importantly, the prices here could dip even lower once these sales hit their stride on Monday and beyond.
Apple deals available now
Apple iPad (10.5-inch, 2020): $299
Save $30 vs. Apple Store
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Since its release in 2020, Apple’s newest iPad has frequently fluctuated in price between $300 and $330, so it’s a good idea to grab one around Prime Day before the price surges again. With its speedy processor and compatibility with trackpads and keyboards, CNET’s Scott Stein calls the new-and-improved basic tablet “the best iPad value by far.”
AirPods Pro: $197
Save $52 vs. Apple Store
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For just under $200, you can invest in a pair of Apple’s top-of-the-line wireless earbuds. The sound is crisp, the fit is snug and the noise cancellation really works. Read our AirPods Pro review.
Apple Watch Series 6 (GPS, 44mm): $350
Save $79 vs. Apple Store
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The Apple Watch is essentially a wearable iPhone, and the Series 6 might even have the iPhone beat in one respect: The screen stays on so you can glance at it anytime. Plus, it can measure your blood oxygen levels. Note that the price can dip as low as $320 for some colors in the smaller 40mm size.
M1-based MacBook Air (512GB SSD, gold): $1,149
Save $100 vs. Apple Store
Stephen Shankland/CNET
The baseline MacBook Air is more or less “always” on sale for $50 off at Amazon and elsewhere, and sometimes dips down to $100 off ($900 total). But the better buy is the step-up MacBook Air model, which offers an improved M1 processor with an eight-core GPU versus the seven cores you get in the base model, as well as double the storage (512GB vs. 256GB). You can get this model in gold at a $100 discount; silver and space gray offer half the savings.
2020 MacBook Pro (13-inch, 512 GB, Apple M1 chip): $1,300
Save $200
Dan Ackerman/CNET
Apple’s newest iteration of the MacBook Pro boasts the high-performing M1 chip, running faster than ever and making Mac history with a 20-hour battery life. An aluminum heat spreader replaces the fan, allowing you to run applications without the system overheating and whirring. The 512 GB version normally sells closer to $1,400 on Amazon, so at $1,300 it’s a pretty great deal.
Beats Solo Pro: $149
Save $151 vs. Apple Store
David Carnoy/CNET
If you’re looking for the noise-canceling feature of AirPod Pros but are not a fan of the in-ear design or price tag, you gotta jump on these Beats Pro Solo. Originally retailed at $300, these headphones are now half off.
The inclusion of Apple’s H1 chip means that it will pair easily with Apple devices just like AirPods. Android users can get this feature via app. Note: It only charges via Lightning port and doesn’t come with a cable or adapter to be used as a wired headset. Previously an issue at full price, but we can be more forgiving at this price. Lastly, these are also compatible with Apple Spatial Audio, released last week, if you happen to subscribe to Apple Music.
Beats Powerbeats Pro: $160 (lava red)
Save $90
David Carnoy/CNET
Beats’ Powerbeats Pro earbuds are as low as $150 in red and $160 for the yellow or moss colors. They’ve been holding pretty steady at those price points, but note that $150 is just about the lowest we’ve seen for them.