Apple products are expensive, but that doesn’t mean you should settle for anything less than what you want. In fact, if you know how to shop right, there are a few ways you can reduce the cost of your next iPhone, iPad, or Mac purchase. This article will show you six ways to get discounts on Apple products for your next purchase. We’ve only included deal hunting tips in this article that still get you a new (or manufacturer refurbished) device with a standard Apple warranty, so there’s no “buy used” tips from us.
Table of Contents
- Sign Up For Apple’s Credit Card
- Check Out Apple’s Education Store
- Wait for Apple’s Back-to-School Sale
- Buy Apple Certified Refurbished
- Check Apple Authorized Resellers
- Wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday
- Enjoy and Shop Related Deals
Sign Up For Apple’s Credit Card
So what’s new with the Apple Card this year? First: Apple eliminated a bunch of industry-standard fees. This credit card still charges interest, but it doesn’t have an annual fee or a fee for late payments. It also doesn’t charge foreign transaction fees.
The Apple Card also features unlimited cash back. Expect to see a percentage of every purchase sent right back to your card, every day. That also defies industry norms. Most credit card reward programs credit your account with reward points the month after you make your purchase. With Apple Card, you get Daily Cash back the same day.
Get 1% Daily Cash when you pay with the Titanium Apple Card, or earn 3% Daily Cash when you use the Apple Card to shop at Apple. Everywhere else, the best rewards come from Apple Pay. Tie your card to an Apple Pay account, and you get 2% back as Daily Cash–whether you pay from an iPhone or an Apple Watch.
Some merchants also earn you that hefty 3% Daily Cash back. We found this benefit at Nike, Uber, Walgreens, Mobil, Exxon, and other popular brands.
They also changed the way you see your bill. The Apple Card estimates your overall interest based on the amount you pay, and they show that to you right up front. This removes the standard “minimum payment” most cards advertise (the kind of payment that often leads to increased principal balances instead of decreased).
Check Out Apple’s Education Store
Apple’s Education Store offers discounts on iPads and Macs purchased by students, school teachers, professors, and faculty, or parents of college students. The discount usually takes about 10% off the list price, depending on the product. Make sure to check out Apple’s Education Store if you’re eligible.
Education sales aren’t limited to Apple either: Best Buy also offers education discounts on iPads and Macs throughout the year. These deals are very competitive with Apple’s, so make sure to comparison shop during the back-to-school season.
Wait for Apple’s Back-to-School Sale
Speaking of education, Apple holds an annual back-to-school promotion to help you save even further. Recently, Apple included up to a $150 gift card with iPad and Mac purchases. The deal usually runs from early August to the end of September.
Buy Apple Certified Refurbished
Apple’s Refurbished Store offers recent model devices for hundreds of dollars below their retail price; generally 15-20% off, so make sure to price compare against authorized resellers. All products on this store are refurbished by Apple and receive new batteries, are fully restored to factory settings, and are guaranteed to look like-new.
Most importantly, these products come with Apple’s standard one-year warranty with the option of extension with AppleCare+. This means that all products are covered the same as a new Apple product, so all manufacturer defects are covered.
The only real difference between a Certified Refurbished and new Apple product is the box the device comes in. A refurbished unit comes in a plain white box that’s marked as “Certified Refurbished”. Other than that, you’re getting a like-new device on the cheap.
Learn more about the benefits of buying refurbished with our article The Case for Apple Refurbs: Why New Isn’t Always Better.
Check Apple Authorized Resellers
Apple partners with a number of authorized resellers like Walmart, Amazon, and B&H Photo. Sometimes these resellers have overstock of a specific device, so it’ll sell it under the original retail price. Further, some retailers offer bundle deals. For example, it may throw in an extra charger, case, or headphones with the purchase of an iPad.
Additionally, resellers like Adorama and B&H sell Apple products tax-free in most states. Depending on where you live, this can save you a sizeable amount of money–in some cases, even more than Apple’s education discount.
A special note on iPads: resellers like Best Buy, Staples, Target, and Walmart often offer competitive deals. Check Brad’s Deals regularly for the best Apple deals across all authorized resellers to make sure you get the best deal.
You can read more about authorized Apple resellers in our post Why You Should NOT Just Walk into the Apple Store to Buy Your Mac.
Wait for Black Friday/Cyber Monday
Many Apple Authorized Resellers have Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales annually. Generally, we see prior generation Apple products (and their respective accessories) get deep discounts. Retailers to look out for include Walmart, Target, MacMall, and Best Buy.
We’ll keep you updated on the best Black Friday deals once the holiday shopping season rolls around–stay tuned!
Enjoy Your New iDevice!
And that’s all there is to saving money on a new Apple device! Use these tips next time you need to buy a new laptop for yourself or as a gift–your wallet will thank you!
