When Is the Best Time to Buy Apple Products?

If you're planning to buy an Apple product, timing your purchase can save you hundreds of dollars. Here's everything you need to know about when to buy.

The Apple Product Cycle

Apple follows a fairly predictable release schedule for most products:

• iPhone: September (annually)
• Apple Watch: September (annually)
• iPad Pro: Spring or Fall (varies)
• MacBook Pro: Fall (annually with M-series chips)
• MacBook Air: Spring (typically)
• Mac mini: Fall (when updated)
• iMac: Fall (when updated)

Best Times to Buy

1. Right After a New Release (If You Want the Latest)

Prices are at MSRP, but you get the newest features and longest support cycle. This is ideal if you plan to keep the device for 4+ years.

2. Amazon Prime Day (July)

Amazon typically offers $50-150 off current-generation Apple products. This is one of the best times to buy if you don't want to wait for Black Friday.

3. Back to School Season (July-September)

Apple offers free AirPods or gift cards with Mac and iPad purchases for students. Amazon and Best Buy often match with their own promotions.

4. Black Friday / Cyber Monday (November)

The biggest discounts of the year:

• MacBooks: $150-200 off
• iPads: $50-100 off
• AirPods: $50-80 off
• Apple Watch: $50-100 off

5. After a New Model Announcement

When Apple announces a new model, retailers discount the previous generation. You can often find last year's MacBook Pro for $200-400 less than the new model.

When NOT to Buy

Avoid buying Apple products:

1. 1-2 months before a typical release date - You'll feel buyer's remorse when the new model drops
2. At full MSRP from Apple.com - Retailers like Amazon almost always have at least a small discount
3. Right before Black Friday - Unless you absolutely need it now, wait for the deals

Use Our Price Tracker

That's why we built Apple Deal Tracker! We monitor prices across Amazon, Apple, and other retailers so you can:

• See historical price trends
• Know if the current price is actually a good deal
• Get notified when prices drop

Check the homepage to see current prices on all Apple products.

The Bottom Line

The "best" time to buy depends on your priorities:

• Need the latest features? Buy at launch
• Want the best price? Wait for Black Friday or Prime Day
• Don't need cutting-edge? Buy previous-gen after new release

Whatever you decide, always check if you're buying at a good price relative to historical trends. A "sale" isn't always a good deal if the product was cheaper last month!