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The biggest Labor Day deals on Apple devices include $120 off AirPods Max

Expand your Apple ecosystem with these great deals just in time for Labor Day.
Written by Rebecca Isaacs, Staff Writer
Apple AirPods Max wireless over-ear headphones | Save $120
Apple AirPods Max
Apple AirPods Max wireless over-ear headphones
Save $120
View now View at Amazon
Apple TV 4K | Save $60
The Apple 4k streams vivid pictures from all major streaming platforms
Apple TV 4K
Save $60
View now View at Amazon
Apple Watch SE | Save $90
Apple Watch SE
Apple Watch SE
Save $90
View now View at Amazon
Apple iPad 10.2-inch Wi-Fi | Save $50
Partial view of a man using his 9th generation iPad along with an Apple Pen and Magic Keyboard.
Apple iPad 10.2-inch Wi-Fi
Save $50
View now View at Target
MacBook Pro 13.3-inch laptop with M1 chip | Save $350
MacBook Pro 13.3-inch Laptop - Apple M2 chip - 8GB Memory - 256GB SSD - Space Gray
MacBook Pro 13.3-inch laptop with M1 chip
Save $350
View now View at Best Buy
Apple Pencil 2nd Generation | Save $30
Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)
Apple Pencil 2nd Generation
Save $30
View now View at Amazon
Apple 14.2-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro Chip | Save $300
Two people looking at a Macbook Pro laptop
Apple 14.2-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro Chip
Save $300
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It's no secret that Apple has some of the best tech products on the market, but finding them at a discount can be tricky. With Labor Day less than a week away, it's a great time to peruse for the best Apple deals. Right now, the tech giant is finishing its back-to-school sales, but there are some good deals still around if you know where to look.

We rounded up the best deals on Apple products right now. From MacBooks to AirPods, there's something to suit everyone on sale for Labor Day. Be sure to check out our list of the best Apple Labor Day deals below.

Must read:

  • The best Labor Day deals you can shop right now
  • The best Labor Day deals on Amazon right now
  • The best Labor Day deals under $100
  • The best Labor Day appliance deals
  • The best Labor Day security camera deals
    • Current Price: $429
    • Original Price: $549

    Designed with the Apple H1 chip, Apple's over-ear headphones provide high-fidelity audio with not only active noise cancelation, but transparency mode for when you need it as well. The headphones can last up to 20 hours between charges, giving you plenty of time for listening to music or watching movies, and they include spatial audio.

    • Current price: $119
    • Original price: $179

    If you have the HomePod Mini, the next step is to invest in the Apple TV 4K. The small device features an A12 Bionic chip that integrates Dolby Atmos and Dolby Vision for immersive audio, video, and graphics for gaming, streaming, and everything in between. You also can use it to interact with Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, and Apple Music. With the Siri remote, you'll have a touch-enabled clickpad. Plus, with this model you get 32GB of storage to download your favorite music, shows, and more.

    • Current Price: $229
    • Original Price: $319

    You can save $90 on this handy wearable when you checkout on Amazon. With a 40mm watch band and GPS cellular capabilities, you can monitor your health and fitness with Apple's signature technology including heart rhythm notifications, sleep tracking, step counting, and more.

    • Current Price: $279
    • Original Price: $329

    With a 10.2-inch retina display, Apple's tablet is perfect for streaming, jotting down notes, FaceTiming loved ones, and more. You can buy the 64GB model for $50 savings, but we recommend opting for $50 off the 256GB model. With more storage, you have more freedom to store images and do what what you love on this 2021 tablet model.

    • Current price: $949
    • Original price: $1,299

    The MacBook 13.3-inch Pro laptop comes with the powerful M1 chip and houses 256GB of internal storage for documents and other small-ticket items. The screen features Apple's signature Liquid Retina display for a bright performance no matter where you are, and you can get up to 20 hours of battery life on a single charge. 

    • Current price: $99
    • Original price: $129

    iPad owners, rejoice – the Apple Pencil is finally back on sale. This deal is so rare that we even covered this deal in its own separate post. This second generation Apple tool is compatible with various iPads, such as the Apple iPad Pro 11 inch (2nd Generation 2020), Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inch (3rd Generation 2018), Apple iPad Pro 12.9 inch (4th Generation 2020), and Apple iPad mini (6th Generation 2021). In addition to the Pencil, you'll get Apple Music, Apple News+, and Apple TV+ free for six months.

    The lowest price we've seen is $99.

    • Current price: $2,199
    • Original price: $2,499

    The best of the best, the MacBook Pro comes with a 1 TB hard drive, so whether you're a content creator or in a profession that requires ample digital storage, you'll have plenty of space. This processing powerhouse has 16GB of RAM coupled with the Apple M1 10-core chip. Plus, with up to 1,600 nits of brightness with the Liquid Retina XDR display that can handle up to 120Hz refresh rates, you can work anywhere with a bright screen, thanks to 17 hours of battery life.

    When is Labor Day in 2022?

    Labor Day in 2022 is September 5.

    When do the Labor Day sales begin?

    Sale dates really depend on the retailer. If you're looking for a major appliance, you can expect those to ramp up closer to Labor Day – usually one week before, which would be around August 26.

    However, multiple factors make that an educated guess this year rather than a guarantee. First, there are still supply chain woes amid the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a lot of stores ended up purchasing items in bulk, and with people still spending, albeit less, they have a lot of extra inventory that they need to offload. That's where the savings come in. Traditionally they usually start sales around August 26, but some retailers have begun dropping prices now to encourage consumers to buy.

    What items are typically discounted the most during Labor Day?

    If you've been holding off on a major outdoor purchase, like patio furniture, grills, or major-ticket items inside your home like ranges and fridges, Labor Day is one of the best times to purchase those items. Many seasonal outdoor items will be discounted since retailers are trying to clear out lawn mowers and weed whackers for leaf blowers and snowmobiles.

    The same goes for appliances. This is one of the best times of the year to invest in a new stove or a new smart refrigerator because retailers want to clear out current stock to make room for new releases. Veterans Day is the next time consumers should look for another good smart appliance deal, and after that, Presidents Day. You can get a good deal now, and it's one of the last opportunities for such deals this year.

    How do you determine what is a great Labor Day deal?

    We comb the internet across multiple retailers and take into account various factors. First, If the product is less than 15% off, it is usually not a good deal. There are exceptions to that, such as Apple products above, which are very popular but not usually on sale. Our general rule of thumb is that it has to be discounted by at least 15%.

    Additionally, we check prices over the past six months for any item we think may be a great deal to make sure that you truly are getting a great deal. Anything that has been price-gouged to appear like a deal, where they raise the price a few days before and drop it back down as a "deal" the day of, has not been included on this list. We want to make sure that you get the best deal for these items. 

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