Yes, you can find Black Friday deals on Macs, but they rarely come directly from Apple in the form of a price cut. Instead, Apple typically offers promotional gift cards with the purchase of a new Mac. The real discounts are found at authorized retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, and B&,H Photo, which often offer direct price reductions of up to $200 on select MacBook and iMac models during Black Friday.
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Instead of slashing prices, Apple's official Black Friday event usually involves a gift card offer. When you buy an eligible MacBook or iMac, you'll receive an Apple Gift Card worth between $100 and $200. This is a great deal if you plan on buying other Apple products or accessories anyway.
This is where you'll find the most straightforward price cuts. Retailers like Best Buy, Amazon, Target, and B&,H Photo compete heavily during Black Friday and will offer direct discounts on Macs. Expect to see deals like $150-$200 off popular MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, especially on configurations from the previous year.
Apple's Education Store offers a year-round discount for students, teachers, and educational staff. During promotional periods like Black Friday or Back to School season, Apple might add a bonus gift card on top of the existing education pricing, making it one of the best ways to save.
You can lower the cost of a new Mac by trading in your old device. Apple and many authorized retailers offer trade-in programs that give you credit toward your purchase. The value depends on the model and condition of your old device, but it can be a significant savings booster.
Don't overlook Apple's Certified Refurbished store. These Macs are restored by Apple to like-new condition, include a one-year warranty, and are already discounted. During Black Friday, you might find even better prices on these already reduced-price models.
During the Black Friday shopping event week, check the official Apple website for banners announcing their gift card promotion. For year-round deals, the most valuable page is the Apple Certified Refurbished section, where you can find Macs at a significant discount.
These are your best bet for direct discounts. Check their dedicated Black Friday sections in late November:
Sites like Slickdeals and coupon extensions like Honey are great for tracking Mac deals across all retailers in one place. Users on these sites are quick to post price drops, helping you find the best offer as soon as it goes live.
The easiest way to not miss a deal is to have it sent to you. Sign up for email newsletters from Best Buy, Amazon, and B&H Photo in early November. Better yet, download their apps and enable push notifications for instant alerts when Mac deals go live.
Mac sales typically begin the week of Thanksgiving and run through Cyber Monday. Some retailers release their deals early, so start checking in mid-November. The deepest discounts are often on older models, making Black Friday a perfect time to buy a slightly older Mac for a lot less.
Browser extensions like Honey, Keepa, or CamelCamelCamel (for Amazon) can track the price history of a specific Mac model. This helps you confirm if a Black Friday deal is actually a good value or just a small, temporary price drop.
You often can't stack coupon codes on Apple purchases, but you can be strategic. For instance, use a cashback credit card to make your purchase or shop through a portal like Rakuten to get money back. You can also stack a trade-in credit together with a retailer's Black Friday discount for maximum savings.
Before you shop, keep a few things in mind to avoid disappointment:
While Apple itself doesn't offer huge markdowns, savvy shoppers can still find significant savings on a new Mac during Black Friday. By focusing on authorized retailers, using trade-in programs, and timing your purchase right, you can get a great deal on your next computer.
