Apple Black Friday 2019: where to find the best deals on Macs, iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods

As Black Friday 2019 approaches, we're taking a look at where and when to find the best Apple deals, including what to expect from Apple itself, as well as third-party retailers, to get you ready for the big shopping event on Nov. 29.

Black Friday Apple deals

Black Friday 2019 this years falls on Nov. 29, and with it comes aggressive deals on computers and electronics, including Apple devices. Historically, third-party retailers have offered steep instant discounts on a wide range of Apple products, from iPads to MacBook Pros, typically beating Apple's own promotions. In 2018, Apple itself issued gift cards valued at up to $200 with qualifying products, while Apple Authorized Resellers offered cash discounts of up to $1,200 off.

What's new

Cash back incentives, sales tax refunds

New to the Black Friday scene this year are daily cash back incentives with the Apple Card, as well as an instant sales tax refund in qualifying states with B&H's Payboo Credit Card. These incentives are on top of the markdowns offered on the devices themselves, and can really make a difference in the amount you pay for a computer or tablet. If, for instance, you factor in an average sales tax rate of 8% and a purchase price of $3,000 for a MacBook Pro, the Payboo Credit Card can save eligible shoppers $240 instantly. With Apple's Mac Pro on the horizon, the savings can exceed $500 easily once the new systems are released.

Free Apple TV Plus trial

New Apple hardware purchases will also be eligible for a free 1-year trial of Apple TV Plus, adding another $59.88 in value to your purchase. The offer applies to any new iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, Apple TV or Mac that's capable of running the lastest Apple operating system. Here's the lowdown on the free Apple TV+ trial.

When to pick up the lowest prices

Retailers have been starting Black Friday promotional offers earlier and earlier with each passing year, and competitive discounts are no longer limited to Black Friday itself. Amazon kicked off its 2018 Black Friday Deals Week on Nov. 16, a full seven days before Black Friday, which fell on Nov. 23 last year. During that time, shoppers saw markdowns on iTunes gift cards, 12-inch MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches and Amazon's own Cloud Cams and Echo devices. Here's a recap of many of the early Black Friday deals.

Despite the lure of Black Friday deals, waiting until the last minute to shop may result in missing out on a great offer. Popular Apple resellers, such as B&H Photo and Adorama, issue flash deals and exclusive coupon offers that often sell out before Black Friday. If you're looking for a specific configuration and see a great deal, it may be worth taking the plunge then and there instead of hoping for a lower price on Black Friday, and perhaps missing out on a great Apple deal entirely.

Best Apple deals

Closeout iMac and MacBook Pro models are likely to fall to new record low prices this Black Friday

MacBook Air, iMac, MacBook Pro Black Friday deals

Looking at historical data, closeout Apple devices saw the steepest price drops, with B&H knocking $500 to $800 off previous-generation 13-inch MacBook Pros with Touch Bar for 24 hours only on Thanksgiving Day 2018. Prices started at just $1,449 for upgraded models during the Thanksgiving DealZone event, with the lowest priced option selling out quickly.

The largest markdowns on closeout 15-inch MacBook Pro models also came from B&H Photo, with flash deals issued on 2017 models well before Black Friday, with savings of up to $1,400 off for one day only. As mentioned in the When to Shop section above, it's often worth snapping up flash deals like these, even if they fall before Black Friday as once closeout models sell out, they're often gone for good.

What to expect

• Triple-digit savings on 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pros, with the greatest savings on remaining 2018 models.
• Flash deals occurring before Black Friday, often starting the week before. Tune it to AppleInsider for 24-hour Thankgiving flash offers as well.
• Limited inventory on the most aggressive deals.

iPad Black Friday deals

With triple-digit savings already here, will Apple iPad Black Friday deals deliver the lowest prices ever?

Those looking for the best iPad deals can also expect to see prices fall to at least $249 based on years past. And if Apple does launch a new iPad Pro before Black Friday and Cyber Monday, despite recent rumors to the contrary, even more aggressive deals on the 2018 models should start to arrive for the holidays.

Peripherals like the Apple Pencil should also be in effect, with the second-generation Apple Pencil already hitting 2019's lowest price of the year just this week.

What to expect

• Prices dropping to $249 or lower for budget-friendly models.
• Deals on accessories like the Apple Pencil and Apple Smart Keyboard Folio.

Apple Watch Black Friday deals

Apple Watch Black Friday discounts are expected to be aggressive

The Apple Watch proved to be a hot item during the holiday shopping season in 2018 — and with the release of the Apple Watch Series 5, this year looks to be no exception. Instant markdowns will be available on the Apple Watch 5 with the always-on display, while prices on Series 4 models are expected to fall further. Last year saw cash savings of up to $370 off current and last-gen models, with high-end styles nearly half off.

With Apple Series 5 discounts already in effect with markdowns of up to $50 off and cellular models 50% off at Sprint, it will be interesting to see how low prices go November and December 2019.

What to expect

• Apple Watch Series 4 prices will drop further.
• Wireless carriers will offer deals on GPS + Cellular models.
• Apple Watch Series 5 will be a popular gift, thanks to its new always-on display.

Apple AirPods Black Friday deals

Will inventory levels drop, impacting Apple AirPods Black Friday specials?

AirPods have also been a hot gift historically, with the accessory taking the top spot in the list of best-selling items at Best Buy in October 2018. And with 2019 AirPods already up to $30 off at Amazon, prices will most likely hit the $50 off mark during the 2019 holiday season, provided inventory remains in place. Budget-friendly shoppers are likely to pick up the AirPods accessory as an Apple-focused gift that won't break the bank, further adding to the appeal.

But what about Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday Apple deals continue to deliver year after year

It's easy to assume Black Friday is the biggest shopping day of the year, but it turns out Cyber Monday 2018 rang in as the biggest shopping day of all time in the U.S. with $7.9 billion in sales, according to Adobe Analytics.

However, while Cyber Monday saw the biggest discounts on toys in 2018, deals on televisions and computers were most aggressive on Black Friday in 2018. So developing a strategy based on your purchasing desire is key when seeking out the ultimate savings.

How to stay on top of the best Apple Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals

Black Friday 2019 is sure to feature stellar deals on Apple MacBook Pros, iMacs, iPads, Apple Watches and much more. Stay tuned to AppleInsider as we bring you the latest deals and the lowest prices on your favorite devices throughout the Thanksgiving weekend.

To ensure up-to-the-minute notifications, be sure to install the AppleInsider app on your iPhone and iPad, and don't forget to bookmark our Apple Price Guides and dedicated Apple deals page for fresh savings. As always, we will be providing round the clock coverage on Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2019, as well as the latest discounts leading up to the big weekend.

Apple Price Guides broken down by category

• Mac Price Guide
• iPad Price Guide
• Apple Watch Price Guide
• Apple TV 4K Price Guide
• Apple AirPods Price Guide

Current Apple Deals

AppleInsider and Apple authorized resellers are already running a number of exclusive deals this month on Apple hardware that will not only deliver the lowest prices on many of the items, but also throw in cash savings on AppleCare and accessories. These deals are as follows:

• Deal #1: Free AppleCare with these 2019 MacBook Pros
• Deal #2: Apple's 2019 MacBook Air gets hefty coupon discount
• Deal #3: Save up to $400 on 2019 15" MacBook Pros
• Deal #4: Apple Watch Series 3 hits new record low price
• Deal #5: 2019 AirPods on sale from $145

Interested in additional Apple hardware? See if there is a Mac, iPad or Apple Watch deal that will save you $100s by checking out prices.appleinsider.com.