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Most Apple products cost more this Black Friday than they did last year. Apple raised Mac and iPad prices in June 2026, then most iPhone prices in September, and blamed the AI-driven memory chip shortage.
So last year’s Black Friday prices won’t come back on most Apple gear. The M4 MacBook Air sold for $749 last November, and the cheapest MacBook Air now lists at $1,299. AirPods and Apple Watch are the exceptions, with list prices that didn’t move.
On November 27, I’d wait for three things: AirPods, Apple Watch and $200 off a MacBook Air. Every Apple product below has its current price and the price I’d hold out for.
Apple Prices Right Now
These are Apple’s US list prices for the base model of each product, and how they changed in 2026.
| Product | US list price | Change in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 | $899 | +$100 in September |
| iPhone 17e | $699 | +$100 in September |
| iPhone Air | $1,099 | +$100 in September |
| iPhone 18 Pro / 18 Pro Max | $1,199 / $1,299 | New in September |
| MacBook Neo | $699 | +$100 in June |
| MacBook Air 13-inch (M5) | $1,299 | +$200 in June |
| MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5) | $1,999 | +$300 in June |
| iPad (A16) | $449 | +$100 in June |
| iPad Air 11-inch (M4) | $749 | +$150 in June |
| AirPods 5 | $129 | New, same price as AirPods 4 |
| AirPods Pro 3 | $249 | No change |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | $399 | No change |
| Apple Watch SE 3 | $249 | No change |
Apple’s iPhone prices assume you activate the phone with a carrier at checkout. Buying one without a carrier adds $30.
Black Friday 2025 vs 2026
This is what major retailers charged last Black Friday next to this year’s list prices:
| Product | Black Friday 2025 price | 2026 list price |
|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13-inch | $749 (M4) | $1,299 (M5) |
| iPad (A16) | $274 | $449 |
| iPad Air 11-inch | $449 (M3) | $749 (M4) |
| AirPods 4 / AirPods 5 | $69 (AirPods 4) | $129 (AirPods 5) |
| AirPods Pro 3 | $219.99 | $249 |
| Apple Watch Series 11 / Series 12, 42mm | $339 (Series 11) | $399 (Series 12) |
| Apple Watch SE 3, 40mm | $199 | $249 |
| iPhone 17 | Carrier deals with a trade-in or new line | $899 |
For Macs and iPads, even a strong 2026 discount stays above last year’s Black Friday price. AirPods and Apple Watch are different: their list prices held, so last year’s deal prices are realistic targets again.
Apple’s own Black Friday event ran from November 28 to December 1, 2025. It gave Apple Gift Cards of up to $250 with eligible purchases instead of discounts. It also left out the newest models, including the iPhone 17 lineup, the M5 iPad Pro and the M5 MacBook Pro.
What’s Pushing Apple Prices Up
One cause explains most of this year’s increases, and it hasn’t hit every product the same way.
Memory chips cost far more. The memory in Macs and iPads now competes with AI servers for supply. Apple raised prices on 17 products in June, including every Mac laptop and iPad, and said no part had ever gone up this much, this fast. Tim Cook called the increases unavoidable. Analysts at Jefferies see another 30% to 40% jump before the year ends, according to Notebookcheck.
iPhones followed in September. When Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro, it raised the iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17e and iPhone 16 by $100 each. The iPhone 17 Pro models were discontinued.
AirPods and Apple Watch held. Neither line went up in June, and the Apple Watch Series 12 launched at the same $399 as the Series 11. These products need far less memory than a Mac or an iPad.
Retailers still discount the new prices. October sales at major retailers already took these amounts off:
- $200 off the M5 MacBook Air
- $100 off the iPad Air and iPad mini
- $70 off AirPods Pro 3
- about $50 off the Apple Watch Series 12
What to Expect This Black Friday
Apple’s 2026 plans are still unannounced. Last year’s event and this October’s sales point to this:
- Likely: Apple runs its gift-card event again from Black Friday to Cyber Monday, with the newest models left out.
- Likely: AirPods Pro 3 at $179 to $199 and about $50 off the Apple Watch Series 12.
- Likely: $200 off the MacBook Air and $100 off the iPad Air and iPad mini at major retailers.
- Likely: carrier iPhone deals tied to a trade-in or a new line, as every year.
- Possible: the Apple Watch SE 3 back at $199.
- Unlikely: Apple lowering its own prices, or a Mac or iPad selling for last year’s Black Friday amount.
My buy prices for Black Friday week:
| Product | US list price | Black Friday target |
|---|---|---|
| AirPods 5 | $129 | $109 or less |
| AirPods Pro 3 | $249 | $179 or less |
| Apple Watch Series 12, 42mm | $399 | $349 or less |
| Apple Watch SE 3, 40mm | $249 | $199 |
| iPad (A16) | $449 | $399 or less |
| iPad Air 11-inch | $749 | $649 |
| MacBook Neo | $699 | $649 or less |
| MacBook Air 13-inch | $1,299 | $1,099 |
iPhone on Black Friday
Apple almost never discounts its own iPhones. Last Black Friday, the iPhone 17 deals came from carriers: AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon offered it free or nearly free with a trade-in or a new line.
This year the iPhone 17 costs $100 more at $899, and the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199. Expect the same carrier pattern, and expect Apple’s own gift-card offer to skip the newest iPhones again.
Add up the carrier plan over the full contract before you count a phone as free. Most carrier deals spread the credit over 24 to 36 months, and you lose the rest if you leave early.
Best Apple Deals to Watch
These are the Apple products where a Black Friday discount is worth the most this year, with the price I’d wait for on each.
AirPods 5
AirPods 5 are the AirPods I’d buy for most people, because they now include noise cancellation at $129.
- Active Noise Cancellation, H2 chip and Live Translation
- Same $129 price as the AirPods 4, which have no noise cancellation
- Black Friday target: $109 or less
My AirPods Black Friday guide compares every model.
AirPods Pro 3
AirPods Pro 3 are the best Apple deal this year, because they already sold below last Black Friday’s price in October.
- The strongest noise cancellation in Apple’s earbuds, with silicone ear tips
- Heart rate sensing and a hearing aid feature
- Black Friday target: $179 or less
Apple Watch Series 12
The Apple Watch Series 12 is the Apple Watch I’d buy for most iPhone owners, and its price didn’t change this year.
- 42mm and 46mm sizes, from $399 for the 42mm GPS model
- Heart rate, sleep and fitness tracking
- Black Friday target: $349 or less
iPad (A16)
The base iPad is the iPad I’d buy for most people, even after its $100 increase.
- 11-inch display, A16 chip and 128GB of storage
- No Apple Intelligence, which needs a newer chip
- Black Friday target: $399 or less
My iPad Black Friday guide covers the iPad mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro.
MacBook Neo
The MacBook Neo is the cheapest way into a Mac this year, and the one I’d buy for students and light work.
- 13-inch display, A18 Pro chip, 8GB of memory and 256GB of storage
- $600 less than the 13-inch MacBook Air
- Black Friday target: $649 or less
MacBook Air 13-inch (M5)
The 13-inch MacBook Air is the Mac most people should buy if they need more than the Neo, and $200 off makes it fair value again.
- M5 chip with 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage
- No fan, so it stays silent
- Black Friday target: $1,099
My MacBook Black Friday guide covers the 15-inch Air and the MacBook Pro.
FAQs on Apple Black Friday
Does Apple have Black Friday deals?
Apple doesn’t cut its own prices. It has offered Apple Gift Cards with eligible purchases from Black Friday to Cyber Monday instead, worth up to $250 last year. Retailers offer the real discounts.
What are the best Apple Black Friday deals this year?
AirPods and Apple Watch, because their prices didn’t rise in 2026. For Macs and iPads, $200 off a MacBook Air and $100 off an iPad Air are the deals to watch.
Will Apple products be cheaper on Black Friday 2026 than in 2025?
Mostly no. Macs, iPads and most iPhones cost $100 to $300 more after the 2026 increases. AirPods and Apple Watch are the exceptions.
When do Apple Black Friday deals start?
Black Friday is on November 27, 2026 and Cyber Monday on November 30. Retailer deals usually start earlier in November, and Apple’s own event ran from Black Friday through Cyber Monday last year.
Will Apple prices drop after Black Friday?
Unlikely. Memory prices are expected to keep rising into 2027, and Apple has said price increases were unavoidable.
Final Remarks
If you buy one Apple product this Black Friday, make it AirPods or an Apple Watch, where last year’s prices are still in reach. For a Mac or an iPad, wait for $200 off a MacBook Air or $100 off an iPad Air, and don’t hold out for 2025 prices.