The best early Prime Day Apple deals on MacBooks, AirPods, iPads and more

After reviewing nearly every major device out there, our current favorite laptop, smartwatch, tablet and smartphone are all made by Apple. The only problem is, Apple gear isn’t cheap. But now that Amazon's Prime Day sale is just around the corner (it officially starts on Tuesday) some current model Apple gear is already on sale. Of course, prices could go lower and, if history is any indicator, more products will go on sale as we get closer to the event. So check back as we'll update this guide throughout Prime Day. As of now, these are the best early Prime Day Apple Deals, with links to our reviews so you can make informed purchases.

Editor's note: Apple Watches aren't currently on this list. Current sale prices on the wearables are higher than they've been over the past few weeks, so we're waiting to list them here until the discounts improve. We'll update this guide once the savings are the same or higher than in the recent past.  

Best Prime Day iPad deals

Apple iPad Pro (11-inch, M4) for $899 ($100 off): We named the iPad Pro the best tablet money can buy. The screen is one of the best we’ve seen and Apple somehow managed to make the Pro model lighter than Air models. If you plan on handling heavy productivity — video rendering and editing, machine learning apps and the like, this is the way to go.

Apple iPad Pro (13-inch, M4) for $1,099 ($200 off): The larger iPad pro is the ultimate laptop replacer. The M4 chip is faster than many computers out there but the thin and light design makes it super portable. The battery life will last through a whole day of work and more (we clocked over 10 hours of use in our review) and the screen is brilliant. Our only real complaint is the price, and this Prime Day helps at least a little.

Apple iPad Mini (A17 Pro) for $399 ($100 off): Apple’s smallest iPad earned an 83 review score from us when it came out late last year. Despite its compact size, it’s still a fully-featured iPad, with support for accessories and a laminated, anti-reflective screen. It’s not a laptop-replacer, but rather the perfect couch companion, handling games, video, web browsing and email triage.

Best Prime Day MacBook deals

MacBook Air (M4, 15-inch) for $1,049 ($150 off): If you want a little more screen real estate, go for the 15-inch Air. Devindra found the screen more immersive than the smaller model, and only slightly less portable. The slightly larger battery gave it a few more minutes of life. Whichever size you go for, the MacBook Air will be able to handle all but the most demanding rendering tasks without breaking a sweat.

MacBook Air (15-inch, M3, 24GB RAM) for $1,249 ($450 off): This higher-specced version of the M3 MacBook Air from last year has a 15-inch screen and a little extra internal memory. We gave the 15-inch model a score of 90 in our review when it came out in early 2024. Outside of its older M3 chip (which is still plenty fast for everyday use), marginally improved camera and inability to power two external displays with the lid open, this MacBook is virtually identical to the M4 version.

Best Prime Day AirPod deals

Apple AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) for $199 ($50 off): In Engadget’s guide to earbuds, Billy Steele names the AirPods Pro the best option for iOS users. They pair easily with iPhones and are an ideal conduit to hands-free Siri. Plus you get a transparency mode that’s second to none as well as solid active noise cancellation (ANC). The sound is rich and clear, too. Note, these have sold for as low as $169 in past weeks.

AirPods Max (USB-C) for $480 ($69 off): Apple’s only over-ear headphones are due for an update. The company outfitted the AirPods Max with a USB-C port late last year, but the internals haven’t had an overhaul since 2020. Still, we named them the best (and only) over-earn AirPods. They are comfortable and relatively lightweight, have a balanced sound and the noise cancellation is solid.

Best Prime Day deals on Apple accessories

Apple AirTags (4-pack) for $75 ($42 off): AirTags are famous for their ability to keep track of anything you attach them to. We named them the best Bluetooth trackers for iPhone users in our guide thanks to the AirTags’ almost spooky ability to locate items in the world at large. If you just need a single tag, that’s on sale too.

Apple Pencil Pro for $99 ($30 off): Apple announced the Pro version of its pencil at the same time as the iPad Pro with the M4 chip. It adds haptic feedback, squeeze gestures and roll capabilities to the usual stylus tricks. It works with the newest iPad Pro, Air and Mini models.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-early-prime-day-apple-deals-on-macbooks-airpods-ipads-and-more-150005125.html?src=rss https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-best-early-prime-day-apple-deals-on-macbooks-airpods-ipads-and-more-150005125.html?src=rss