Early Black Friday Apple deals are already live, as Amazon, Best Buy and other retailers open week one of holiday doorbusters on current Apple gear. 9to5Mac’s November 1 roundup lists AirPods Pro 3 at $50 off, M5 MacBook Air models $200 off and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 nearly $100 off. All-time lows on AirTag 2 packs sit alongside early pricing on M6 Macs and the OLED iPad mini.
Key Takeaways
- AirPods Pro 3 is $50 off at $199 in week-one doorbusters.
- Select M5 MacBook Air models are $200 off, matching Prime Day.
- AirTag 2 four-packs match an all-time low at $70.
- WIRED says both are likely to drop further for Black Friday.
What the Early Black Friday Apple Deals Cover
AirPods Pro 3 is $199, down from $249, and AirPods Max 2 is $449, down from $549. Select Apple Watch Ultra 4 bands, including Burgundy Trail, Burgundy Alpine, Translucent Gray Ocean and Desert Alpine, are $699, down from $799.
A 13-inch M5 MacBook Air with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage is $1,099, down from $1,299, which 9to5Mac marks as matching Prime Day. Several other listed M5 Air configs are also $200 off and marked as matching Prime Day.
| Product | 9to5Mac, November 1 | CNET, October 30 | WIRED, October 28 |
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods Pro 3 | $199 | $200 | $200 |
| AirPods Max 2 | $449 | $475 | $449 |
| 13-inch M5 Air, 16GB/512GB | $1,099 | $1,149 | — |
| M6 Mac mini, 16GB/256GB | $780 | $779 | — |
| AirTag 2 four-pack | $70 | $89 | — |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | From $699 | $774 | — |
Those are reported prices from different days and listings, not one shared cart. CNET’s $774 Ultra 4 had no direct discount, only up to four free months of Fitness Plus, Apple Arcade and News Plus.
AirPods Prices Already Moved This Week
WIRED’s October 28 report had Max 2 at $449 on Amazon, $100 off, in midnight, blue, orange, purple and starlight. Pro 3 was $200, or $49 off, in that same report.
CNET, two days later, still had Pro 3 at $200 and called it the best price seen all year. It listed Max 2 at $475, with up to three months of Arcade, News Plus and Fitness Plus. CNET’s David Carnoy said the Pro 3 noise cancellation “stunned” him.
WIRED has seen both go for a bit less, and says they are likely to drop further for Black Friday. If you have been eyeing the headphones and need them sooner than late November, that report calls now a good time to buy.
In the Max 2 section, WIRED still calls $449 a good deal after seeing a lower price. It says the Pro 3 price is not the best it has seen. Of the original Max, the writer says, “I wouldn’t upgrade.”
Mac, iPad and Watch Prices to Compare
9to5Mac says the M6 Mac mini is $150 off. Listed 512GB models are $149 under regular price, at $950 and $1,150. The 16GB/256GB model is $780, down from $899.
CNET had that base mini at $779, a $120 savings. A 16-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro with 36GB of memory and 2TB of storage is $3,499, down from $4,399.
Amazon lists a 14-inch M6 MacBook Pro from $1,999, and Best Buy adds a $100 gift card on the listed configs. M6 iMac configs in the same roundup start at $1,499.
The OLED iPad mini is $699, $799 and $999 for 128GB, 256GB and 512GB at Amazon. Best Buy adds a free $50 gift card instead of cutting those prices. CNET lists a 13-inch M5 iPad Pro at $1,399, $100 off.
CNET’s clearer cash cuts are on older watches:
- Series 11 at Walmart for $349, $50 off, with three free months of Fitness Plus and Arcade for new or returning subscribers.
- Ultra 3 at Best Buy for $649, a $150 discount. An Ultra 2 trade-in brings the most credit.
- SE 3 at Amazon for $240, with up to four free months of Fitness Plus, Arcade and News Plus. Price varies by color.
AirTag Lows and the Case for Waiting
AirTag 2 matches an all-time low at $24, down from $29. The four-pack is $70, also an all-time low, or $17.50 each, in the 9to5Mac list. CNET had the four-pack at $89. The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is $59, down from $99, in both roundups.
CNET says waiting until Black Friday can make sense, but it is impossible to know for sure which deals will be available in advance. It recommends taking a deal when it is the product you want at a price that fits.
A gift card or free months helps only if you would use the extra. Best Buy’s $100 card on listed M6 MacBook Pro configs, and its $50 card on the OLED iPad mini, do not cut the cash price. CNET also points to Adorama and B&H for sometimes deeper discounts, and says to compare shipping and returns.
