Apple deals and sales tax holidays mean significant savings for back to school shoppers

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Starting Aug. 2, several states will be offering a sales tax break on eligible items for back to school, and we're rounding up a list of the best Apple discounts to snap up during the sales tax holiday. Please note, each state has different requirements for which items qualify, so it's best to check your local laws for specific details.

States with sales tax holidays

Although the number of states is limited, shoppers in additional states can also also save on tax with B&H's Payboo Card. Best for those looking to pay off the balance in full each month, Payboo cardholders can instantly receive a credit for the amount of sales tax collected at B&H during checkout, putting the savings back in your wallet immediately.

Here are some of the best Apple deals available for back to school shopping (many of which require no student ID or .edu email address).

Best AirPods deals

Apple's hot accessory is now $15 to $20 off instantly at Amazon.

AirPods on sale

• 2019 Apple AirPods with Charging Case: $144.99 ($15 off)
• 2019 Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case: $179 ($20 off)

iPad deals

Back to school shoppers can also snap up iPads for as low as $249 or save up to $250 on Apple's latest iPad Pro.

9.7-inch iPad deals

• 2018 iPad (32GB, Wi-Fi): $249 ($80 off)
• 2018 iPad (128GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular): $429.99 ($130 off)

2019 iPad Air markdowns

• 2019 iPad Air (64GB, Wi-Fi): $469 ($30 off)
• 2019 iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi): $599 ($50 off)
• 2019 iPad Air (256GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular): $729 ($50 off)

Closeout iPad Pro deals

• 512GB 2017 12.9" iPad Pro (Wi-Fi) in Gold: $699 ($450 off)
• 512GB 2017 12.9" iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular) in Silver: $749 ($530 off)
• 512GB 2017 12.9" iPad Pro (Wi-Fi + Cellular) in Gold: $719 ($560 off)

Apple Pencil (first-gen) discount

• Apple Pencil (1st Generation): $94.88 ($5 off)

Best iPad Pro deals

• 11" iPad Pro (64GB, Wi-Fi): $749 ($50 off)
• 11" iPad Pro (256GB, Wi-Fi + LTE): $924 ($175 off)
• 11" iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi) Silver: $1,299 ($250 off)
• 11" iPad Pro (1TB, Wi-Fi) Silver: $1,549 ($150 off)
• 12.9" iPad Pro (64GB, Wi-Fi + LTE): $999 ($150 off)
• 12.9" iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi): $1,149 ($250 off) Plus many more iPad deals...

Apple Pencil 2 for newest iPad Pros

• Apple Pencil (2nd Generation): $124.99 ($5 off)

Best Mac deals

Although the sales tax holiday runs through the entire weekend for many, Aug. 2 is your last chance to pick up a 2018 MacBook Air in your choice of finish for just $899. Thin and light for students traveling to and from class, this budget-friendly notebook is a great way to enter the Mac ecosystem.

Need a more robust MacBook Pro or even an iMac all-in-one desktop? Shoppers can save hundreds on nearly every config in our Apple Price Guide thanks to instant and exclusive coupon savings.

Final call for $899 MacBook Airs

• 2018 MacBook Air (1.6GHz, 8GB, 128GB) Space Gray: $899* ($300 off)
• 2018 MacBook Air (1.6GHz, 8GB, 128GB) Silver: $899* ($300 off)
• 2018 MacBook Air (1.6GHz, 8GB, 128GB) Gold: $899* ($300 off) *Must activate the deal through the AI desktop site on a laptop, desktop or iPad using instructions found here.

13" MacBook Pros with function keys

• 2017 13" MacBook Pro (2.3GHz, 8GB, 128GB) Silver: $1,069 ($230 off)

2019 13" MacBook Pro savings

• 2019 13" MacBook Pro (1.4GHz, 8GB, 128GB): $1,099.99 @ Best Buy for students ($200 off)
• 2019 13" MacBook Pro (1.4GHz, 8GB, 128GB): $1,199.99 @ B&H ($100 off)
• 2019 13" MacBook Pro (1.4GHz, 8GB, 128GB): $1,199.99 @ Amazon ($100 off)
• 2019 13" MacBook Pro (2.4GHz, 8GB, 256GB): $1,499.99 @ Best Buy for students ($300 off)
• 2019 13" MacBook Pro (2.4GHz, 8GB, 256GB): $1,599 @ Amazon ($200 off)
• 2019 13" MacBook Pro (2.4GHz, 8GB, 512GB): $1,799 @ Amazon ($200 off) Save with promo code on every 13" MacBook Pro CTO model...

2019 15" MacBook Pro markdowns

• 2019 15" MacBook Pro (2.6GHz, 16GB, 256GB, 555X): $1,999 @ Best Buy for students ($400 off)
• 2019 15" MacBook Pro (2.6GHz, 16GB, 256GB, 555X): $2,099.99 @ B&H ($300 off)
• 2019 15" MacBook Pro (2.6GHz, 16GB, 256GB, 555X): $2,099.99 @ Amazon ($300 off)
• 2019 15" MacBook Pro (2.3GHz, 16GB, 512GB, Radeon 560X): $2,399 @ Best Buy for students ($400 off)
• 2019 15" MacBook Pro (2.3GHz, 16GB, 512GB, Radeon 560X): $2,499 @ B&H ($300 off)
• 2019 15" MacBook Pro (2.3GHz, 16GB, 512GB, Radeon 560X): $2,499 @ Amazon ($300 off)
• 2019 15" MacBook Pro (2.6GHz, 32GB, 1TB, Radeon 560X): $2,899* @ Adorama ($400 off)
• 2019 15" MacBook Pro (2.4GHz, 16GB, 1TB, Vega 20): $3,149* @ Adorama ($400 off) Plus hundreds more deals in our Price Guides...

Lowest prices on closeout MacBook Pros

• 2018 15" MacBook Pro (2.6GHz, 32GB, 2TB SSD, Radeon 560X) Space Gray: $2,999 ($1,200 off)
• 2018 15" MacBook Pro (2.9GHz, 32GB, 2TB SSD, Radeon 560X) Space Gray: $3,149 ($1,350 off) Find clearance deals on many more models...

Mac mini for just $499

• 2014 Mac mini (2.8GHz, 8GB, 1TB FUS): $499 ($500 off)

iMac clearance deals

• 2017 21.5" iMac 4K (3.0GHz, 8GB, 1TB HDD, Radeon 555): $929 ($370 off)
• 2017 21.5" iMac 4K (3.4GHz, 8GB, 1TB FUS, Radeon 560): $1,049 ($450 off)
• 2017 21.5" iMac 4K (3.5GHz, 8GB, 1TB FUS, Radeon 575): $1,399 ($600 off) - Ends Aug. 2.
• 2017 21.5" iMac 4K (3.6GHz, 16GB, 512GB SSD, Radeon 560): $1,849 ($350 off)
• 2019 27" iMac 5K (3.0GHz, 8GB, 1TB FUS, Radeon 570X): $1,649 ($150 off) Plus many more iMac deals...

Apple Watches still $199

Apple Watch deals on Series 3 and Series 4 devices are still available with prices as low as $199. Pefect for getting to class on time and tracking fitness goals, there are a variety of styles on sale, with even more deals available AppleInsider Apple Watch Price Guide. Nike is also running a limited time deal knocking $30 off Apple Watch Nike+ models with promo code PLAY30.

$30 off Nike+ Apple Watch Series 4

• Nike+ Apple Watch Series 4: From $394 with $30 off code PLAY30 ($105 off)

Apple Watch Series 3 from $199

• 38mm GPS Only (Silver Aluminum, White Sport Band): $199 @ Walmart ($80 off)
• 42mm GPS Only (Space Gray Aluminum, Black Sport Band): $229 @ Walmart ($80 off)

Apple Watch Series 4 deals

• 40mm Apple Watch GPS (Silver Alum., White Sport Band): $639* ($60 off)
• 40mm Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (Space Black Stainless, Black Sport Band): $639* ($60 off)
• 40mm Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (Gold Stainless, Stone Sport Band): $649* ($50 off)
• 44mm Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (Stainless, White Sport Band): $699* ($50 off)
• 44mm Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (Gold Stainless, Stone Sport Band): $689* ($60 off)
• 40mm Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (Gold Stainless, Gold Milanese Loop): $749* ($60 off)
• 44mm Apple Watch GPS + Cellular (Space Black Stainless, Space Black Milanese Loop): $799* ($50 off)
• 40mm Apple Watch Nike+ GPS + Cellular (Silver Alum., Platinum/Black Nike Sport Band): $479* ($20 off) *B&H will not collect sales tax on orders shipped to several states. Find out more here.

Even more ways save on tax

Many shoppers placing orders outside of the sales tax weekend or in states not offering a sales tax holiday can still save on sales tax using B&H's Payboo Card. Best geared for customers paying off the balance in full, it's easy to save hundreds instantly on a Mac purchase. Qualifying shoppers looking to spread payments out over time can also secure no interest financing for up to 12 months in lieu of the sales tax rebate using B&H's regular Financing Card. Here's a list of average savings across Apple's product lines for shoppers in eligible states:

Additional Apple Deals

AppleInsider and Apple authorized resellers are also running a handful of additional exclusive promotions this month on Apple hardware that will not only deliver the lowest prices on many of the items, but also throw in instant discounts on AppleCare, software and accessories. These deals are as follows:

• Deal #1: $150 to $400 off 2019 15" MacBook Pros
• Deal #2: $50 to $150 off all CTO 2019 iMacs
• Deal #3: Budget-friendly iPads on sale from $249
• Deal #4: Grab a MacBook Air for just $899
• Deal #5: $50-$250 off iPad Pros at Amazon

See if there is a Mac, iPad or Apple Watch deal that will save you $100s by checking out prices.appleinsider.com and deals.appleinsider.com.