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The best Apple deals: the iPhone 15, MacBooks, AirPods, and more
The problem with Apple products, such as the MacBook Pro and Apple Watch, is that they usually carry a hefty price tag and are rarely on sale. But there are deals and discounts, large and small if you know where to look.
Apple frequently refreshes its product lines -- one of the latest being the iPhone 15 lineup -- and this can open the path to discounts in the form of new, promotional deals for the latest gadgets alongside price reductions for older designs.
Typically, third-party retailers, such as Walmart or Amazon, will be the place to find a discount on your new MacBook, iPad, or other Apple products. We've scoured the web to source the best deals on Apple devices, many of which are being released with back-to-school discounts.
Also: The best iPhone deals
Our favorite deals are for the iPhone 15 range at Apple and T-Mobile. Apple will provide you with up to $650 in trade-in credits for a new device, whereas T-Mobile is offering a potential discount of up to $700 if you are hoping to snag more than one iPhone 15. (You can also check out our picks for the best early Black Friday Apple deals, as well as AirPods deals and Apple Watch deals.)
The best Apple deals
Starting Friday, September 15, you can order a device from the new iPhone 15 range directly from Apple, which is an excellent option if you don't want a carrier lock.
The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are thinner than their legacy counterparts. They come equipped with a USB-C port -- courtesy of EU regulations -- 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, and the Dynamic Island camera design. The Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max come with Apple's new A17 Pro CPU, a faster neural engine, and camera improvements, including a 5X telephoto lens on the Pro Max.
Retailing from $799 to $1,199 for entry-level models (based on storage), you can receive up to $650 in credit when you trade in an older device and purchase through Apple. Apple Card cashback is also available.
T-Mobile has announced preorder deals for the new iPhone 15 lineup.
The carrier will give customers a free iPhone 15 Pro or up to $1000 off other iPhone 15 models -- applied in bill credits -- when they trade in an eligible device on the right plan.
In addition, you can take advantage of a discount of up to $650 off any iPhone 15 model on other eligible subscriptions with a trade-in.
If you're in the market for more than one iPhone 15, T-Mobile will give you a $700 discount on a second device when you add a line on the majority of T-Mobile plans.
Preorders begin on Friday, September 15.
- Current price: $1099
- Original price: $1299
One of our top deals for Apple devices in September is for a MacBook Air, available with a $200 discount at Amazon. This 2023 version, the latest available, comes with a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina display, an M2 chip, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD storage.
If you're in the market for a laptop that will see you through for years to come and is suitable for work and study purposes, the 2023 MacBook Air is for you.
- Current price: $850
- Original price: $999
A top deal you should consider -- especially if you're looking for a budget-friendly option -- is for the 2020 Apple MacBook Air.
The Apple MacBook Air on offer with a $149 discount is a 13-inch model from 2020. This device comes with 8GB RAM and 256GB SSD storage.
While this laptop is from an older product line, it is absolutely worth considering especially if you need a light, portable workhorse for daily use and your studies. It would be an excellent workhorse for years to come, but it won't be able to handle resource-heavy games.
- Current price: $1149
- Original price: $1199
Apple's iPad range is a popular option for creative types, students, and for productivity. The possibilities of the tablet are vast: a stylus for drawing and writing, an optional keyboard to act more like a traditional laptop, or a device for entertainment and reading on the go.
Over at B&H, you can save $50 on an iPad Pro, a product in the higher tiers regarding specifications. The iPad Pro is equipped with a 12.9-inch display, an M2 chip, 8GB RAM, and 256GB SSD storage. However, this device is Wi-Fi only.
- Current price: $355
- Original price: $429
If you're looking to purchase one of Apple's latest smartwatches, there's a deal over at Amazon worthy of your consideration. You can save $74 on an Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS) 45mm, with a Midnight sport band. This deal tends to come along every month or so and remains one of our favorites.
- Current price: $219
- Original price: $249
If you want to take advantage of a discount on Apple AirPods Pro earbuds, Amazon is offering $30 off the second-generation product line.
Apple's AirPods Pro earbuds won't suit everybody, but for those who like the design, you'll enjoy spatial audio, noise canceling, and the power provided by Apple's H2 chip.
A charging case is included.
- Current price: $479
- Original price: $549
While Apple is best known for its laptops, tablets, and smartphones, the iPad and iPhone maker has also branched out into audio products in recent years.
We've spotted a deal at Amazon for a pair of Apple AirPods Max wireless over-ear headphones, set with noise cancelation, spatial audio, and an H1 chip with a discount of $70. There's no doubt these are expensive, but they are stylish and have proven to be a hit with Apple fans.
- Current price: $279
- Original price: $329
One of the best deals we could find for an iPad is at Amazon. You can save $50 on a ninth-gen iPad equipped with a 10.2-inch Retina display, A13 chip, front and back-end cameras, and 64GB SSD storage.
Now priced at only $279, this iPad is a great, budget-friendly option.
More Apple deals
Deals on Apple accessories
What is the best Apple deal?
Our favorite deals are for the iPhone 15 range at Apple and T-Mobile. Apple will provide you with up to $650 in trade-in credits for a new device, whereas T-Mobile is offering a potential discount of up to $700 if you are hoping to snag more than one iPhone 15.
How did we choose these Apple deals?
While researching the best Apple deals, we scoured the web and checked out promotional prices offered by major US retailers, including Amazon, Target, Best Buy, and Walmart.
We wanted to ensure we found the best deals on Apple products, including MacBooks, iPads, and iPhones, so we've shown you the latest discounts available -- but remember that stocks can be limited and sales pulled at any time.
Factors influencing our recommendations include:
- Price: The main factor we consider is the price. If the discount isn't noteworthy relative to the original price point, we don't consider it worthy of inclusion.
- Use cases: We have included a range of Apple devices on sale suitable for different uses, including work, study, entertainment, and sports.
- Variety: Here at ZDNET, we want to provide you with various products and accessories in the Apple ecosystem. We've selected deals spanning laptops and smartphones to smartwatches and more.
- Availability: If we come across a great Apple deal but only a few units are in stock unless it is a stellar saving you only see once in a blue moon, we will discount it and select a product with better stock levels instead.
What are the best deals right now?
ZDNET has been scouring the sale to find the best deals by category:
Best deals by retailer
Best deals by category