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

Engadget

6 days ago

Amazon's sale is almost here (it officially starts tomorrow) but we already found some pretty great Apple Prime Day deals. Since last July, Apple has released around a dozen new products, including the AirPods 4, the Apple Watch Series 10, an M4 MacBook Air and a new iPad mini and iPad Air (and most of those are on sale). Upcoming releases include computers with M5 chips , possibly some new AirTags , a rumored home hub , and of course, the iPhone 17 . In short, the Apple gear machine never stops churning. Of course, one of the things we love about Apple products is their longevity — so whatever you buy today should last you a good long while. Here are the best early Prime Day deals on the Apple gear we've reviewed and recommend.
AirPods 4 (without ANC) for $99 ($30 off) : Apple introduced two models of its fourth generation basic earbuds alongside the iPhone 16 last September. This one doesn't have the extra features of ANC or Transparency Mode (which makes them cheaper). This pared down model benefits from a shape redesign — which our headphone expert, Billy Steele, found both more comfortable and more secure — as well as improved sound quality that's more immersive than before.
AirPods Max (USB-C) for $450 ($99 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-ear AirPods. They are comfortable and relatively lightweight, have a balanced sound and the noise cancellation is solid. This deal matches the all-time low.
Apple iPad Air (11-inch, M3) for $499 ($100 off) : In our opinion, the iPad Air is the best iPad for most people as it strikes an ideal balance between performance, price and features. The M3 chip is almost overkill for a tablet, but it means performance should never be an issue. And upcoming productivity gains from iPadOS 26 should make the tablet even more powerful. This matches the lowest price we've seen a few times over the past few months.
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.
Apple iPad Air (13-inch, M3) for $699 ($100 off) : This is Apple's most affordable large-screen iPad. Engadget's Nate Ingraham awarded it a review score of 89 upon its debut this March. When you pair it with accessories like a keyboard folio and mouse, it becomes a true productivity machine — though those add-ons make it a pricey package. Good thing iPads are on sale for Prime Day. This $100 discount matches the lowest price we've seen over the past couple months.
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.
Apple Watch Ultra 2 for $649 ($150 off) : The second generation of Apple's premium smartwatch came out in 2023 along with the iPhone 15 (last September, it just got a new Titanium Black colorway). The Ultra model is geared towards serious athletes and outdoor adventurers, packing specialized features like a 40-meter depth gauge, dual-frequency GPS and an on-board siren.
Apple Watch SE for $169 (32 percent off): Those on tight budgets can opt for the Apple Watch SE and know they're getting the core Apple wearable experience with few compromises. We consider it to be the best smartwatch for newbies.
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.