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The big savings bonanza that is Black Friday is still months away, but when it comes to Apple discounts, you can never be too prepared.
This will be my eighth year covering Black Friday sales, and if there's one thing I've learned over the years, it's that deep savings on Apple products are really rare — until the Black Friday month of November, when iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and more are all deeply discounted.
Every year, stores big and small, from Currys to Argos, John Lewis and Very, begin slashing the price of goods in early November, and while Apple isn't taking part in the sale, the tech giant is offering gift cards in exchange for a purchase.
Below, I've rounded up everything you need to know about Black Friday. From Black Friday dates to the Apple deals you can expect on the big day, plus some smaller Apple discounts you might want to take advantage of now (if you can't wait that long).
When will Apple's Black Friday deals start in 2024?
Officially, Black Friday is celebrated on the Friday after Thanksgiving in the United States. This means that this year, the gigantic Black Friday sale will start on Friday, November 29, 2024, and end on Cyber Monday, December 2, 2024.
However, those are the official dates, and if you've taken advantage of Black Friday deals in recent years, you'll know that Black Friday discounts start earlier and earlier. Last year, I started seeing discounted Apple products from AO, Very and Currys from the beginning of November, so you shouldn't have to wait until the end of November to start saving.
What to expect from Apple's Black Friday 2024 deals
If there’s one thing that’s sure to go on sale this Black Friday, it’s Apple’s AirPods — both the Pro and non-Pro models. Retailers seem to take advantage of discounts during big sales, like Amazon Prime Day (when they dropped to the lowest price I’ve ever seen earlier this year) and Black Friday. I expect retailers to match Amazon’s price or reduce it even further in November.
Last year, retailers also offered discounts on products that Apple had released just two months earlier, including the new Apple Watch Series 9 and the M3 MacBook Pro. I expect Amazon, Very, and others to offer discounts on the latest iPads, Apple Watches, and MacBooks, but reserve the biggest discounts for older Apple devices from previous years. You should still be able to score some decent savings.
As for the iPhone, I expect to see big savings on the iPhone 15 line from retailers, but if you're looking for discounts on the upcoming iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, you'll have to turn to carriers, who will offer contract deals rather than savings on the phones.
Will Apple have a Black Friday sale in 2024?
Although Apple doesn't participate in promotions like Black Friday, it always offers gift cards in exchange for a purchase during the four-day Black Friday sale. Apple announced its Black Friday gift card benefits on November 17 last year.
To give you an idea of what to expect, here's what Apple offered last year:
If you bought a Mac or Mac Mini, Apple offered you a gift card worth up to £160. An iPhone 14, 13, or SE got you a gift card worth up to £60. An iPad Pro, iPad Air, 10th-generation iPad, or iPad Mini secured you a gift card worth up to £80, while buying an Apple Watch Series 9 or Apple Watch SE got you a gift card worth up to £40. Anyone who bought AirPods Pro 2, third-generation AirPods, or AirPods Max received gift cards worth up to £60.
If they wanted a discount on the Apple product they were about to buy, rather than a future purchase, buyers had to turn to third-party retailers.
The best early Apple deals to buy now
Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Generation, Renewed: was £229, now £169.99, Amazon.co.uk
AirPods Pro headphones offer a “significant improvement over the already splendid first-generation model,” they praised. The IndependentThe brand's tech critic David Phelan in his review. They also appeared in his review of the best wireless earbuds, where he noted that “they fit well in the ear and stay securely in place, and there are now four sizes of silicone ear tips to ensure decent sound isolation.”
If you've been waiting for a price reduction, Amazon is selling a pair of refurbished AirPods Pro for £60 off. If you'd rather buy a new pair of AirPods Pro, Amazon is selling them for £20 off (£199, Amazon.co.uk).
Apple Watch Series 9, GPS, 45mm: was £399, now £349, Amazon.co.uk
The Apple Watch Series 9, which launched last September, is Apple's latest smartwatch. With an always-on display and the brightest screen of any Apple Watch, it's the new S9 processor that makes the Apple Watch stand out. At a saving of £50, it's well worth picking up if you're in the market for a new smartwatch.
Apple iPad, 9th generation, 2021: was £369, now £289, Very.co.uk
The cheapest iPad on the market is the 10.2-inch model, which was launched in 2021 and is still sold by Apple. The ninth-generation iPad is still a fast and powerful tablet with a large display and full-sounding stereo speakers. It also works with the Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboard, unlocking extra features for anyone who wants to stay productive on the move. At £80 off, this is a pretty good saving compared to the mid-range iPad.
Get the The latest Black Friday 2024 gossip with our cheat sheet for the big sale
