Black Friday

Black Friday 2021 may be over, but Apple deals at Amazon, Adorama, Expercom, Walmart, Best Buy, and B&H are in full effect heading into 2022.

Apple Black Friday Deals Still Going Strong

Aggressive discounts are going on right now, with many promotions available exclusively for AppleInsider readers. Here are a few highlights:

• AirPods and AirPods Pro dip to some of the year's lowest prices
• B&H's latest Apple price drops offer up to $270 off Macs and iPads
• B&H's Holiday Sale knocks up to $2,700 off instantly
• Amazon's Toys We Love for 2021 list is here
• Software steals: $199 lifetime Babbel subscription, $69 1-year Setapp subscription, $19.99 Sam's Club 1-year membership & more in the AppleInsider Shop

Daily Deals

• December 21: 27-inch iMac for $1,399.99, $300 off 1TB microSD card, more
• December 20: $155 refurbished AirPods Pro, $40 Logitech webcam, $75 off Samsung 4K monitor, more
• December 19: $18 Tile tracker, $88 1TB SK Hynix SSD, $160 portable monitor, more
• December 18: $65 4TB WD Red hard drive, $76 Meshforce Wi-Fi pack, more
• December 16: 37% off 96TB 8-bay RAID, $500 for a 65-inch 4K TV, more

A Look Back at 2021 Black Friday Apple Deals

Amazon

• Amazon's Epic Deals event continues
• AirPods 2: $99 ($50 off)
• 2021 14" MacBook Pro (M1 Pro with 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) Silver: $1,949.99 ($50 off)
• Mac mini (M1, 8GB, 256GB): $599.99 ($100 off) - Update: sold out

Adorama

• Save on nearly every Mac computer (and select iPads too) with promo code APINSIDER using this cost-saving activation link. Need help? Check out these step-by-step promo code activation instructions.

B&H

• B&H launches its BF Sale
• Save $270 on this MacBook Air

Best Buy

• Black Friday prices guaranteed for Totaltech or My Best Buy members. Valid on select items.
• 21.5" iMac 4K (3.0GHz Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD): $999.99 ($500 off)
• Sony 55" Class BRAVIA XR A80J Series OLED 4K UHD Smart Google TV: $1,399.99 ($400 off)
• LG A1 Series 65-inch 4K OLED: $1,499.99 ($300 off)
• LG C1 Series 65-inch 4K OLED: $1,799.99 ($300 off)
• Sony 65-inch 4K OLED: $1,799.99 ($500 off)
• Samsung 3.1 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer: $209.99 ($190 off)
• LG 5.1.2 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer and Dolby Atmos: $649.99 ($350 off)
• Vizio 5.1 Channel Soundbar with Wireless Subwoofer: $199.99 ($50 off)
• Microsoft Xbox controller with Daystrike Camo Color Scheme: $54.99 ($15 off)
• SanDisk 128GB Memory Card for Nintendo Switch: $19.99 ($48 off)
• Mario Kart Live: $59.99 ($40 off)
• Sony XM4 Headphones: $248 ($101.99 off)
• Sennheiser Momentum Headphones: $249.98 ($150 off)
• Bose QuietComfort Earbuds: $199 ($80 off)
• Dyson Cyclone V10 Stick Vacuum: $399.99 ($100 off)
• Dyson Outsize Stick Vacuum: $649.99 ($200 off)
• iRobot Roomba i7+ Robot Vacuum: $549.99 ($250)

Walmart

• Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS): $109 ($90 off)
• AirPods Pro with MagSafe : $159
• Get a sneak peek at Walmart's Black Friday deals

Target

• Shop Target's top deals now through Saturday
• Apple Watch Series 3 drops to $169

Samsung TV Deals

• 43-inch QN90A 4K was $1,499.99, now $1,199.99 ($300 off)
• 65-inch QN90A 4K was $2,599.99, now $1,699.99 ($900 off)
• 85-inch QN90A 4K was $4,999.99, now $3,299.99 ($1,700 off)
• 43-inch The Frame 4K was $999.99, now $799.99 ($200 off)
• 55-inch The Frame 4K was $1,499.99, now $999.99 ($500 off)
• 75-inch The Frame 4K was $2,999.99, now $2,199.99 ($800 off)
• 65-inch QN900A Neo 8K was $4,999.99, now $3,299.99 ($1,700 off)
• 75-inch QN900A Neo 8K was $6,999.99, now $4,499.99 ($2,500 off)
• 85-inch QN900A Neo 8K was $8,999.99, now $5,499.99 ($3,500 off)

Top Apple Accessory Makers

Satechi

From November 24 to November 29: Get up to 30% off your purchase at Satechi based on your order total at checkout. Satechi is known for its use of aluminum and glass to make accessories that blend well with an Apple-centric workstation.

• Orders under $75 - use code BFCM20 for 20% off your order
• Orders over $75 - use code BFCM25 for 25% off your order
• Orders over $150 - use code BFCM30 for 30% off your order 

Nomad

Get 30% off Nomad gear sitewide during their Black Friday sale. The company is well known for its use of Horween Leather in making high-quality Apple accessories.

• Modern leather iPhone 13 case with MagSafe was $59.95, now $41.95.
• Modern leather 3rd-generation AirPods case was $34.95, now $23.95.
• Modern leather Apple Watch band was $69.95, now $48.95.

Twelve South

Twelve South is offering discounts across many of its most popular products. Everything from the leather BookBook cases for iPhone to the HoverBar Duo stand for iPad has been placed on sale.

• BookBook vol. 2 for iPhone 13 was $69.99, now $64.99.
• HoverBar Duo for iPad was $79.99, now $59.99.
• AirSnap Pro for AirPods Pro was $39.99, now $29.99.

Software Sales

Adobe

Customers can get up to 70% off the Adobe Creative Cloud "All Apps" plan based on if they are first-time customers, students, or teams buyers. Get access to over 20 desktop apps with a single subscription. The discounted price lasts through the first year of the service.

Affinity

Affinity apps are fine-tuned to take advantage of Apple's custom M-series processors and are a popular alternative to Adobe's offerings. Get 30% off all of Affinity's software and add-ons throughout the Black Friday shopping event.

Babbel

Bargain hunters can also get a lifetime subscription to the language learning software by Babbel for only $179. That's a $320 discount from the regular price and matches the lowest price we've ever seen on the software.

Find Apple Black Friday Discounts

• MacBook Pro deals
• MacBook Air deals
• iMac deals
• AirPods deals
• iPad deals
• Apple Watch deals
• Apple Student Discounts

Current Apple Price Trackers

There are plenty of Apple deals that can save you hundreds of dollars on your Mac, iPad, or Apple Watch purchase ahead of Black Friday. Be sure to visit the AppleInsider Price Guide for the cheapest Apple prices on fan-favorite devices.

• Mac computer prices
• iPad prices
• Apple Watch prices
• iPhone prices
• AirPods and HomePods prices
• Accessory prices
• Drone prices
• Trade-in deals

AirPods

There are several types of AirPods available from Apple, and they are all discounted in some way at top retailers. Anything from the new third-generation AirPods to the premium AirPods Max can be found on sale for this sales event.

Apple AirPods have been a hot product over the Thanksgiving weekend and the same is expected for 2021. AirPods prices have already dipped to $89 this month.

We'll be tracking the best AirPods Black Friday deals throughout Q4 2021.

MacBook Air

The MacBook Air is the bestselling Apple laptop thanks to its low entry price and competitive feature set. Thanks to the M1 processor, this budget MacBook is also among the most powerful Apple ever sold.

Making it even more attractive are exclusive discounts knocking up to $164 off the latest MacBook Air with Apple's M1 chip. In addition to deals on the systems themselves, AppleCare is also marked down at select retailers. Find the best MacBook Air Black Friday deals in our Price Guide.

MacBook Pro

Apple sells three models of MacBook Pro, each targeted at specific use cases based on user preference. The 13-inch MacBook Pro uses the M1 processor and still has a Touch Bar. The 14-inch MacBook Pro and 16-inch MacBook Pro have identical feature sets, but the larger model will have a thermal advantage thanks to its size.

The robust MacBook Pro lineup will be discounted on Black Friday and Cyber Monday at a variety of Apple resellers. Current early Black Friday MacBook Pro deals knock up to $600 off the high-end MacBook line, all of which are tracked in our roundup. You can also compare prices easily across leading Apple retailers in our Mac Price Guide. 

iPad

The iPad lineup is more complex than ever with different tablets that fulfill different needs at various prices. The budget 10.2-inch iPad may have an aging design, but it is still capable of running any iPad app on the App Store. The iPad mini and iPad Air will appeal to those who want a modern design and great performance without a pro price tag. The iPad Pros act as flagship devices capable of replacing a laptop.

Apple's line of iPads continues to be a hot seller during the holiday season. Exclusive discounts are in effect across the iPad range at Apple Premier Partner Expercom when using this activation link (or the Expercom pricing links in our iPad Price Guide).

Apple Watch

With the release of the Apple Watch Series 7 in September 2021, the latest models are a hot holiday gift idea. AT&T is running a promotion offering $200 in credits on Apple Watches when you buy 2. There are terms and conditions pertaining to the offer, but it's a great way to save a bundle on a watch for yourself and give another as a gift.

This and other Apple Watch Black Friday deals are at your fingertips throughout the holiday season.

Past Apple Black Friday Sales

Past Apple Black Friday Sales With Black Friday comes some of the year's best 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 iPad to MacBook Pro, typically beating Apple Store promotions. In most years, including 2020, Apple issued gift cards with qualifying products, while Apple Authorized Resellers offered even bigger cash discounts on select items.

Apple Black Friday FAQ

When is Black Friday 2021?

Black Friday falls on November 26, 2021.

When does Black Friday start?

Although Black Friday officially starts on November 26, 2021, sales have started sooner, with pre-Black Friday deals launching as early as mid-October and online Black Friday deals going live on Thanksgiving Day. With supply chain shortages affecting everything from computers to toys, shoppers have been getting a head start on holiday shopping in 2021.

Why is it called Black Friday?

The term Black Friday originally referred to the crash of the U.S. gold market on September 24, 1869.

However, in a shopping context, the name was used in Philadelphia in the 1950s. Philly police first used the term to describe the chaotic shopping day when they had to work long hours and weren't allowed to take the day off.

Philadelphia stores didn't like the term and tried to rebrand it as "Big Friday." Retailers tried a different form of rebranding in the 1980s, erroneously explaining that it was the day when businesses, previously operating at a loss throughout the year, got "back in black." Neither attempt at rewriting history caught on.

The name spread gradually. In the 80s, media coverage started to grow, and people nationwide began using the term more frequently. By the 90s, it increasingly became a household name for the day after Thanksgiving and kickoff to the holiday shopping season.

How will the COVID-19 pandemic affect Black Friday?

During the pandemic, huge crowds cramming into stores would have posed a significant health risk. Rather than risking superspreader events, retailers in 2020 focused more on online sales and earlier deals, with less emphasis on door-busting in-store sales.

Supply chain shortages have been affecting multiple industries, including computers, electronics, and toys, and shoppers have been encouraged to pick up gifts earlier than before to avoid items selling out or prolonged wait times.

Does Apple have Black Friday sales?

Apple does offer Black Friday deals, but historically the promotions have offered shoppers free Apple gift cards with select purchases instead of reduced Apple prices.

In 2020, Apple included gift cards ranging from $25 with the purchase of an Apple Watch Series 3 or AirPods up to a $150 gift card with select Mac purchases.

Apple resellers typically shave hundreds of dollars off Macs and even iPads, beating Apple's own Black Friday deals. Expect something similar in 2021.

Can I expect better Apple deals from other retailers?

Third-party retailers will typically give you the best Apple deals.

Significant savings on Apple products can bring in crowds, so retailers like Target, Walmart, and Best Buy often use deals on products like iPad, Apple Watch, and AirPods to drive customers into their stores. Their goal is for buyers to do the rest of their shopping there at the same time.

Look at historical data, in 2020, Best Buy took $70 off the 10.2-inch iPad, Amazon had AirPods Pro for $169.99, and B&H took $100 off the new 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 chip. 

When is the best time to shop?

Physical and online vendors typically save their best deals for the day of Black Friday. However, to prevent unsafe crowds during the pandemic, stores offered aggressive online deals in the days and weeks leading up to Black Friday 2020.

Since stores had a greater online emphasis in 2020, the best bet was to pounce as soon as you saw a low price on something you wanted, regardless of the timing. The best deals on the most in-demand products sold out quickly at popular retail outlets like Amazon, Walmart, Best Buy, and Target.

Which retailers have the best Apple Black Friday deals?

Until all the big stores have released their deals, there's no way to know for sure. Sale flyers frequently begin leaking in the preceding weeks.

Some of the most well-known retail outlets like Amazon, Target, Walmart, and Best Buy offer eye-catching Apple sales. If you have a membership, you can also keep an eye on warehouse clubs like Costco and Sam's Club. Other Apple Authorized Resellers like B&H Photo, Adorama, and Expercom frequently have steep discounts on Macs and other Apple gear, with many of the season's best deals available exclusively to AppleInsider readers.

AppleInsider will continue to track all the best sales through Black Friday 2022, so be sure to check in regularly and bookmark this page to make sure you're first to see the best Apple Black Friday deals.