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Cyber Week is one of those rare times of year when the Apple Store holds a sale of some sort. Instead of offering cash rebates on its devices, the tech retailer only distributes free gift cards with qualifying purchases.
Apple’s 2025 Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping event runs from Friday, November 28 to Monday, December 1, and it’s a bit more flashy than usual. When shoppers purchase one of its gadgets outright, they can earn up to $250 worth of free gift cards, up from $200 in 2024 and 2023. Free money is always nice, but Black Friday price cuts from third-party retailers on AirPods, MacBook, iPad, and Apple Watch are far more competitive. Additionally, many new devices are excluded from Apple Store promotions.
Right now, there are only five Apple devices and accessories I would recommend buying on sale from Apple itself.
Apple AirPods Pro 3 Noise Canceling Heart Rate Wireless Earbuds
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$219.99
(List Price $249.00)
Apple iPad 11″ 128GB Wi-Fi Retina Tablet (Blue, 2025 Release)
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$274.00
(List Price $349.00)
Amazon Fire HD 10 32GB Tablet (2023 Release, Black)
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$69.99
(List price $139.99)
Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
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$248.00
(List price $399.99)
Blink Outdoor 4 1080p Security Camera (5-Pack)
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$159.99
(List price $399.99)
Fire TV Stick 4K Streaming Device with Remote (2023 Model)
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$24.99
(List price $49.99)
Bose Quiet Comfort Ultra Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones
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$298.00
(List Price $429.00)
Shark AV2511AE AI Robot Vacuum with XL Self-Empty Base
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$249.99
(List Price $599.00)
Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm, S/M Black Sport Band)
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$339.00
(List Price $399.00)
WD 6TB My Passport USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive
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$138.65
(List price $179.99)
Apple Store’s 2025 Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals
Apple’s free gift card offers for Black Friday and Cyber Monday range from $25 to $250 depending on the product. These can only be redeemed for future purchases at an Apple Store, in person or online:
Apple deals from other retailers are mostly better
Most of the Apple Store offers pale in comparison to other retailers’ cash discounts on its devices (with five notable exceptions – more on those shortly). For example, Amazon and Walmart have reduced the AirPods 4 to $69 during their Black Friday sales, which is a savings of $60 off the list price. If you buy them directly from Apple, you’ll only get $25 back.
Here’s another example: Amazon and Best Buy are both selling the M4 MacBook Air at a $250 discount — the 13-inch model is $749 (normally $999), while the 15-inch model is $949 (normally $1,199). If you’re only saving $175 or $200, respectively, it’s unwise to purchase any size directly from the Apple Store.
30+ Best Black Friday Apple Deals: Record-Low Prices on MacBooks and $69 AirPods
Even the high-end MacBook Pro that comes with Apple’s highest free gift card offer is heavily discounted elsewhere. The M4 Pro and M4 Max models are discounted by $250 to $500 at Amazon and Best Buy.
It’s also important to know that the Apple Store’s Cyber Week savings event doesn’t include some of the latest products including the M5 MacBook Pro, M5 iPad Pro, Apple Watch Ultra 3, and Beats PowerBeats Fit earbuds. AirTags, HomePod Mini, Mac Studio, and Studio Display have also been removed. Third-party retailers are the only place to get any kind of deals on most of them. (The Powerbeats Fit is the only product I couldn’t find on sale anywhere.)
5 Black Friday Apple Store deals worth buying
I’ve cross-checked all the products shown at Apple’s Cyber Week savings event and found five instances where its gift card offer was better than the retailer’s cash discount. (All the rest are matched or beaten.) Chances are they’ll be cheaper at third-party retailers on Black Friday, so consider waiting to buy them.
airpods pro 3 Currently $219.99 (or $30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, Walmart, and Target. They come with a free $50 gift card to the Apple Store.
$149 Apple TV 4K (3rd generation, WiFi + Ethernet) Was on sale at Costco for $99.99, but it is now sold out there. (The deal was limited to Costco members anyway.) It’s full price everywhere else, including the WiFi-only model. The Apple Store will give you a free $25 gift card with just one purchase.
Mashable Deals
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HomePod (2nd generation) The price has been reduced to $269.99 at Best Buy, which is $29.01 off. Meanwhile, it gives you a free $50 gift card through the Apple Store.
Beats Studio Buds+ They’re $149.95 at Amazon and $149.99 at Best Buy, a savings of $20. At the Apple Store, they come with a free $50 gift card.
Ultimately, Amazon has Magic Keyboard of M3 iPad Air On sale for $247.50 in the 11-inch size and $299.99 in the 13-inch size, buyers saved $21.50 and $19.01, respectively. The Apple Store gives you a $25 gift card if you buy a gift there.
A Bonus Pro Tip for Those Seeking Expert-Level Deals
If you know you’re going to be buying something from the Apple Store this Black Friday, buy some Apple gift cards from Target first. Target Circle members get a free $15 Target gift card for every $100 spent on Apple gift cards through November 29. Joining the Target Circle loyalty program is completely free, so it’s an easy way to earn even more free money as part of your Cyber Week shopping.
Includes free $15 Target gift card
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apple black friday
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