MacBook Cyber Monday LIVE: record low prices on M3 MacBook Pro and M2 Air

And we're off! It's CB Editor Georgia here, to get us started on the final phase of this epic sales weekend. I'll be sharing all the offers, plus buying advice and tips, all of which I've honed over many years of covering these deals. Thanks for being here!

I've already seen some record savings this year, including a very surprising $150 discount on the newest iteration of the MacBook line up – the M3 Pro. Now, you might not necessarily need that model, it is quite the beast, but if you do, you'll be able to get it for cheaper than expected at B&H Photo. This is obviously a record-low price, because it is so very new. See it below:

• MacBook M3: $1,599 $1,449 at B&H Photo

So, what do I know about MacBooks? Well, for a start I'm typing on one right now. The M2 MacBook Air (in starlight, thanks for asking). I love this laptop – it's thin, light and as powerful as I need it to be. Plus the battery life is excellent. 

The price on this model, which is the 13.6-inch version, has wavered since its release, but is currently sitting at its lowest price ever at B&H Photo. It's just $929 for the space grey version – that's $170 off the RRP. Actually that's the same price as Amazon has a renewed version on sale for, so that's not bad at all, is it?

It's the most basic version, which has 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD. But other options are available (for more money). Just click through. 

• Get MacBook M2 13-inch: $1,099 $929 at B&H Photo

Before I go any further, did you know about Apple's gift card promotion this Cyber Monday? If not, then we have all of the details for you in our dedicated guide. 

Or for a quick summary – if you make a purchase directly from Apple today (November 24) through to Cyber Monday (November 27) then you'll receive a complimentary Apple gift card to use on your next purchase. 

The better the product, the better the reward. So if you buy a MacBook Air you can get up to $200 gift card, whereas accessories like AirPods and the Apple Watch will reap the minimum $50 gift card rewards. 

Apple pretty much never gives direct discounts on its products, which is why you won't see us covering many deals direct from Apple here on this blog. But this gift card situation brings some prices in line with other retailers, and in some cases is even better – if you know you're going to be able to spend that gift card, that is. If you didn't have something else to buy anyway then it isn't such a draw as a cash discount. 

• Shop Apple's Cyber Monday gift card offer

I haven't always been a big Apple fan, but MacBooks were my gateway device, and now I'm firmly inside the ecosystem. My first MacBook was in 2006, but I spilled juice on it and it didn't survive for long. 

But my re entry into the Apple World was through the M1 MacBook Air. The ability to sync between devices got me hooked, and now I'm iPhone, Apple Watch and MacBook-ed up. 

That M1 MacBook Air is still a very decent option for some users, by the way. Students, for example, or those who want some decent speed, reliability and battery life, but don't need to raw power of the M2 or M3 chips. 

I keep expecting that MacBook Air M1 to price drop to something silly, but it seems to have found a new baseline at $749 during these sales events. I mean, that is very cheap for what you get, but I live in hope we'll see something sub-$700 as time goes on. Right now, it's at $749 at Amazon. 

It's one of our best laptops for students and best laptops for blogging for a reason. See our MacBook Air M1 review.

Our deputy editor, Rosie, went to Apple HQ in London recently, and the Apple experts told her that one of the things that makes the new MacBook Pro M3 stand out is the camera. She mentioned that video calls on the older MacBook didn't have such great quality when it comes to images, but that the new M3 version is much better. 

We are in the process of reviewing it as we speak, so we'll report back!

I used to work at a secondhand tech store, and you'd be surprised how many amazing deals you can get on used products that are in like-new condition. if you're hoping to save some money this Black Friday and money is tight, then maybe consider buying a used Apple MacBook instead. 

If you're a bit wary or unsure of buying used and secondhand tech (which is totally valid) then maybe our guide to refurbished Apple tech might help put you at ease or answer any questions you have. 

Be aware that especially during big retail sales events, sometimes new products can fall below the price for a secondhand model if the deal is THAT good. But typically refurbished and secondhand products will be super cheap and save you money. Just make sure you get a warranty. 

It's quite late here in the UK. But I'll be here well into the early hours, in case anything special happens at midnight when Cyber Monday begins. I don't know what I'm expecting – a fanfare (that will make me jump, it's a bit eerie here), a celebratory parade... Or maybe just a bunch of rock bottom prices. Hopefully that. 

Black Friday seems to be getting longer every year. This is the first time any retailer has had an official 'week' of sales (thanks Amazon), which has meant much longer to shop for deals. It isn't so much like the old days of sales events when there would be flash sales and a fast moving pace. We've had pretty much the same deals since the beginning of the event so far. 

I'm hoping that will change tomorrow, but even if it doesn't we've had some record prices (some incremental, but still) so I won't be super disappointed. 

Obviously on Creative Bloq, we're mostly concerned with helping you to use your MacBook to complete your creative projects. But we do dabble in practical advice, too. Just take a second to look at your laptop screen. Is it clean? Look again... 

Well, mine isn't. And we have a guide to help with that: how to clean a MacBook screen. 

If you bag a shiny new MacBook, you want to keep it looking nice, and you also need that screen to be clear enough to see your detailed work clearly. So that's why you need it.

Let's talk screen sizes a moment. 

MacBooks come in four different sizes. 

MacBook Air: The OG Air is the 13-inch – the smallest, thinnest and lightest version. It's since been joined by the 15-inch, only available in the M2, not the original Intel or M1 versions, which gives you the benefit of the Air's portability and sleek build but with a screen a creative might need.

MacBook Pro: The 14-inch and the 16-inch versions are the classic Pro sizes, but a 13-inch version was added with the previous M2 line-up. This gave the power of the Pro to a more compact build. However, this hasn't been repeated in the M3 – probably because the power is geared towards a user who would need a giant screen (or at least a 14-inch one!).