Macworld’s Black Friday guide: How to score the Apple deal you want

As soon as the dishes are cleared and the pumpkin pie is polished off, the sales begin. Holiday deals may have been going on for weeks now, but on Friday, November 26, Black Friday weekend will officially kick off, so stay tuned to Macworld for all of the latest deals as they arrive. But before the big day arrives, here’s our guide for making sure you get the best bang for your buck. 

Shop early

Normally, we’d recommend waiting for just the right deal to show up, but this year is very different. Even before Black Friday, several major Apple products are backordered until at least December, and some won’t arrive at all before the holidays. Many stores are offerings Black Friday guarantees for anything bought before a certain date, so if you see a discount on something you want, don’t hesitate. You can always return it later.

Make a list and check it twice

Black Friday will bring loads of deals on Apple products, but they’re going to go quick. So before the sales hit, make a list of the ones you want, including the color, capacity, and style. That way you’ll be able to quickly select the Apple Watch or iPad model that you want. Products are going to sell out quickly, so you don’t want to waste time thinking about what colors and styles while the clock is ticking on a killer deal.

A list of things you want will also save you from making unnecessary impulse buys that harpoon your budget. As the saying goes, it’s only a bargain if you were going to buy it anyway. There will be plenty of Black Friday deals that are tempting but pass them up if it’s not something you need.

We know of a couple of deep discounts on products during Black Friday week that probably won’t be around very long:

Walmart will be selling the AirPods Pro For $159 ($90 off) beginning November 22.

Walmart will also have the Apple Watch Series 3 for $109 ($90 off) beginning November 22.

Target will be selling the Apple Watch SE for $220 ($59 off) beginning November 21.

The Apple Watch SE will be cheaper than we’ve ever seen it.Michael Simon/IDG

Don’t sleep on Apple’s event

Normally, Apple’s four-day shopping event isn’t much to write home about. For one, nothing’s actually on sale, since Apple offers gift cards on future products rather than actual discounts. For another, none of the newer products are part of the event, so the iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7, iPad mini, 3rd-gen AirPods, and 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros will miss out on the fun.

But the 24-inch iMac, M1 MacBooks, iPad Pro, and iPhone 12 will be included, and you’ll be able to get up to $100 in gift cards, depending on what you buy. Apple is guaranteed to have a healthy stock of products as well, so considering many of those products will be quickly sold out until after the holidays, Apple’s shopping event is shaping up to be a sleep Black Friday hit. So keep your eyes on Macworld.com for more information about it Monday.

Apple

Use your Apple Card

Every bit of savings counts, so if you have an Apple Card make sure you use it. You’ll get 2 percent cash back on all purchases, 3 percent back at the Apple Store, and likely some extra promotions as well—we’re hoping Apple offers 6 percent back during its shopping event. If the store you’re buying from doesn’t accept Apple Pay, you can find you card number in the Wallet app by clicking the “123” icon at the top of the screen.

Know who you’re buying from

These days every store also has a third-party marketplace and it can be tricky to tell who you’re buying from, especially when things start selling out. So whether you’re shopping at Amazon, Target, Walmart, or some other retailer, make sure you check to see who’s selling the device you’re buying. A third-party retailer isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker, but make sure you read the description, as it could be refurbished and returning could be more difficult.

Don’t forget the accessories

Getting the Apple product you want at a great price is the ultimate Black Friday score, but you might need to make a few more purchases. None of Apple’s devices come with a charger, so you’ll want to look for a 20W USB-C one to enable fast charging. If you’re buying an iPhone, you’ll want to consider a case. There’s also MagSafe accessories, Magic Keyboards, AppleCare+. So whether you’re buying a gift for yourself or someone else, make sure you have everything you need to complete your purchase. 

Expect deals to sell out quickly

There will be deals to be had across all of Apple’s product lines, so be sure to check Macworld.com regularly. In the meantime, you can read about what we expect as well as deals that are available now:

Black Friday AirPods deals

Black Friday iPad deals

Black Friday Apple Watch deals

Black Friday iPhone deals

Black Friday Mac deals