The short answer is yes, but it’s complicated. Official Apple Mac products rarely go on sale directly from Apple stores or its website. Instead of frequent discounts, you'll find savings through specific promotions like their Back-to-School event, the Certified Refurbished store, and a handful of authorized resellers like Best Buy and Amazon.
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This is one of the best ways to get a discount on a Mac year-round. Apple sells pre-owned products that have been cleaned, tested, and restored with genuine Apple parts. These Macs come with a standard one-year warranty and are often discounted by 15-20% off the original price.
If you're a student, teacher, or staff member at any grade level, you can get a discount on a new Mac through the Apple Education Store. This typically saves you around 10% on a new MacBook or iMac, making it a reliable way to cut costs.
Usually running from July through late summer, Apple's Back-to-School event is a popular time to buy. Instead of a direct price cut, they typically offer a free Apple Gift Card (often worth $100-$150) with the purchase of an eligible Mac. This promotion is open to students and educators.
While Apple's own Black Friday deals are rare and usually just a gift card offer, authorized resellers like Best Buy, B&H Photo, and Amazon often have the best Mac deals of the year during this period. You can find direct price drops of $50-$200 or more on various MacBook and iMac models.
Retailers like Best Buy and Amazon regularly offer small discounts on MacBooks, especially on older-generation models they need to clear out. Keep an eye on these sites during major federal holidays for flash sales.
This is your top destination for year-round discounts directly from Apple. Products are backed by a one-year warranty and are often indistinguishable from brand-new ones. Check the inventory often as popular models sell out fast. Visit the Apple Refurbished Store to see current deals.
Active students and educators can access exclusive pricing on the official site. To get the discount, shop through the dedicated Apple Education Store.
These third-party stores are often your best bet for sales on new Mac models, especially around holidays. Check their websites frequently for the latest promotions:
Sites like Slickdeals and forums like Reddit (check the r/mac subreddit) are great places to find crowdsourced deals. Users post discounts as soon as they appear, giving you a head start on limited-time offers from various retailers.
When Apple releases a new Mac, retailers immediately start discounting the previous generation to clear their inventory. If you don't need the absolute latest specs, this is an excellent way to save hundreds of dollars.
Use a rewards credit card or a cashback portal like Rakuten to earn money back on your purchase. During a Back-to-School event, you could use a student discount, get a bonus gift card from Apple, and get 1-3% cashback from your credit card at the same time.
The deepest and broadest discounts on new MacBooks from authorized retailers happen between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. If you can wait, this period often provides the most savings on current-year models.
Before you buy new, always take a minute to check Apple's Certified Refurbished store. You might find the exact model you want - or even a slightly better one - for a lower price, and it comes with the same peace of mind and warranty as a new device.
Shopping for a discounted Mac is totally possible, but there are a few key things to keep in mind to shop smart and avoid trouble.
While Macs don't have sales in the traditional sense, smart shoppers have plenty of options to avoid paying full price. By using the education discount, exploring the Certified Refurbished store, and timing your purchase around key holidays, you can score a great deal on your next Mac.
