Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the last two decades, you know that Apple’s not exactly a budget-friendly brand. Still, there are ways you can pay less for an iPad, iPhone and other Apple items compared to Apple’s own prices. These tricks should particularly be helpful for those invested (or interested) in the Apple ecosystem, as that would need more than a few Apple devices.
How To Pay Less for Apple Products
In this article, I’m going to show you how to save money on Apple products. So what is the best way to save on an Apple product? The simple answer is:
Buying used/refurbished is probably the best way to save on Apple products
That being said, let’s get into some other ways to get Apple products for a lower price.
Know Where To Shop
As mentioned in the beginning, you’ll pay top dollar for an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch at an Apple store or from their website. Fortunately, Apple also sells their products through most of the big retailers that sell electronics. Want to save big? Just grab the discounts.
For example, Costco members get emails with exclusive sales from the retailer delivered straight to their inbox. There was a recent discount on a 2020 MacBook Pro with 256GB of storage for $1,099.99. The same model has a listed MSRP of $1,299 through Apple. That’s $200 in savings!
Screenshot via Costco emailDiscounts on MacBooks are harder to find, but the best prices on new ones are usually found at Micro Center and Costco. Best Buy also offers student discounts in August, around the start of the new school year, with its student membership. The discounts usually vary, but they offered $200 off last year.
Buy at the Right Time
You also want to be looking at buying these during a sale season.
For example, discounts on AirPods usually come up in June/July for Amazon’s Prime Day. And there’s also Black Friday/Cyber Monday, which is we usually see the best deals on all electronics, especially AirPods and Apple Watches, so make sure to mark them on your calendar!
Another good discounts window is just after an Apple event, when the company releases new products or product features. Apple events always generate a lot of interest for the latest models, but that also means older models get price cuts. If you don’t mind buying something that’s one or two generations behind, the time after an Apple event is often when you can save the most!
Consider buying Refurbished
Many electronics retailers sell refurbished Apple products, including Walmart, Best Buy, eBay and Apple themselves.
Woot is another good place to look. Woot often provides bargains on refurbished iPhones and watches, but they are daily specials, so you must keep an eye out for them.
Another regular store that’s great when it comes to buying used Apple products is Amazon Renewed. They come with all the pros and securities Amazon offers on regular devices, just at a lower price.
Interested in buying refurbished items? Here’s what to know about Amazon Renewed.
Trade In Older Electronics
Another way you can get Apple products for a cheaper price is to use the trade-in value of other items.
Sometimes, carriers offer a really good discount when you trade in your old iPhone. A neat trick would be to buy a used phone for cheap off eBay, and then trade that in, saving about $50.
The best part is that you don’t have to search and track down Apple’s best trade-in deals. Apple.com has a Carrier Deals Page that shows you all the trade-in specials you need to know.
Final Thoughts
Although Apple products are long-lasting and well built, they’re pretty expensive!
Check out your favorite retailer’s refurbished category for excellent prices on Apple gadgets. If you’re buying from a third-party seller on sites like Amazon.com, make sure you only buy from vendors with the best ratings.
If you do decide to buy refurbished, be sure your Apple device comes with a money-back guarantee.
