It's hard to resist the best Apple deals when they show themselves. Apple products are sought after because they're beautifully designed and to do their job really well, so you'll always have to pay a premium price for the premium piece of Apple kit. But there are still deals to be had!
We've gathered together a list of our favourite Apple products to point you in the right direction for the best Apple deals right now on the internet. With our handy price comparison technology, all the deals listed below are the current best prices you'll find on the top Apple products. So read on to see what bargains can be had.
01. iPad deals
02. MacBook deals
03. iMac deals
04. Apple Pencil deals
05. Apple Watch deals
06. Airpods deals
07. iPhone deals
Best Apple deals: iPads
The best Apple deals: iPad
If you're after a tablet but you're budget's not up to much, it's hard to go wrong with the entry-level iPad 10.2-inch. While it lacks in comparison to more upmarket models – it doesn't have the lightness of the Air or the sheer power and versatility of the Pro range – it's nevertheless a perfectly serviceable tablet that'll handle pretty much everything you throw at it.
It supports the first-gen Apple Pencil, making it an effective drawing and painting tool, although its now ageing A10 processor means it might struggle with complex multi-layered images. And while the basic model looks like a bargain, you'll quickly burn through its 32GB of storage. Bite the bullet and go for the 128GB option. Oh, and don't forget to grab yourself a cheap Apple Pencil deal at the same time.
The best Apple deals: iPad Pro
Right at the other end of the iPad scale we have this, the mighty 12.9-inch iPad Pro that's pitched by Apple as being an actual alternative to a computer. And this time around we can almost believe the hype; pair it with Apple's Magic Keyboard and you have a proper multi-tasking productivity machine complete with a trackpad for a more laptop-like user experience.
With an A12Z Bionic CPU as well as an eight-core GPU, it's a powerful beast that's suitable for the likes of 4K video editing, 3D and AR, and its 12.9-inch display is gorgeously crisp and incredibly smooth, thanks to its 120Hz refresh rate. It even has a LiDAR scanner augmenting its dual cameras, making it a perfect AR platform.
It's not cheap, however if you crave its power and aren't too fussed about the size, the 11-inch model does exactly the same in a smaller format and costs $200/£200 less. Whatever Apple says, we don't believe it quite matches the versatility of a full-fat computer; as a tablet, though, it's impossible to beat.
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Best Apple deals: MacBook
The best 16-inch MacBook Pro deals now
For anyone who prefers a laptop workflow but also demands maximum screen size, the 16-inch MacBook Pro, launched last year, is a welcome addition to the MacBook range. Superseding the old 15-inch model (which you can still find for sale if you fancy a bargain and aren't worried about that extra inch), it's an all-round creative powerhouse that can cope with heavyweight tasks in its more high-end (and expensive) configurations.
Its 16-inch Retina display is to die for and the keyboard, with scissor switches instead of the unreliable butterfly switches in previous models, is a huge improvement. The only issue is the price; even if you find a discount, you're still going to end up paying a lot for this 16-incher, in which case you might prefer to settle for the much more reasonable 13-inch model.
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Best Apple deals: iMac
The best Apple iMac deals available now
If it's a desktop Mac that you require, Apple has an iMac to suit. The basic 21.5-inch model is probably just a little too basic for most creatives, with its HD sRGB display, 2.3GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 CPU and Intel Iris Plus graphics; you'll want to spend extra for the 4K P3 display with a more powerful processor and Radeon Pro graphics.
For ultimate desktop swag, though, it's the 27-inch model you should be looking at, with its gloriously sharp and bright 5K display. Again it comes in a variety of configurations, enabling you to pick the right amount of power for your line of work, and right now it's part of the very best Apple deals around.
The only real downside to the iMac is the mouse with its charging port on the underside, meaning you can't charge and use it at the same time; keep it topped up overnight. And whichever spec you choose, we'd recommend upgrading the amount of memory; every model comes with 8GB RAM, and for serious creative work then we'd advise increasing that to a more roomy 16GB.
The best Apple iMac Pro deals available now
Let's be clear about this: you probably don't need an iMac Pro. For sure, it's an immensely desirable piece of Apple kit, with its 27-inch Retina 5K display and Space Grey styling that marks it apart from the rest of the iMac range, but its breathtaking specs – and the heart-stopping price tag that comes with them – are way above and beyond what most designers are ever likely to need.
If you're working regularly with full-frame photography, high-end video or rich 3D environments, there may be a case for choosing the iMac Pro; realistically you're unlikely to ever use a fraction of its workstation-level power. But as we said in our iMac Pro review, your decision to buy should be based on a simple calculation as to whether the iMac Pro will make you more money than it costs.
Best Apple deals: Apple Pencil
The original Apple Pencil was first released back in 2015, and it's quality has seen it retain its value to this day. However, whether you can use this on your iPad depends on what model you have, which is where its performance becomes very limited. This first generation Apple Pencil is supported by the iPad 10.2-inch (2019), iPad mini (2019) and iPad Air (2019) from the current line-up. So, if you're iPad is anything other than those three models, you're looking at getting the second, more expensive generation Apple Pencil.
This version has a glossy, plastic finish to it – a material that lends itself well to grease and fingerprints, which can affect the quality of the grip. It's totally circular design also means its prone to rolling away.
If you have anything other than a standard iPad or older iPad Air, you'll need a second generation Apple Pencil. Which, while it may cost a bit more than the original, isn't a bad thing as the second version in this small product line-up includes a number of welcome features it's older sibling wasn't fortunate enough to have.
For example, the second gen Apple Pencil saw Apple ditch the totally circular design and instead opt for a flat edge, which not only meant it didn't roll, but also meant it could be attached to an iPad itself (via magnets) for wireless charging (not to mention somewhere to keep it safe). The second gen also saw the introduction of a new matte finish, giving it a much more authentic wooden pencil feel, and making it nicer to hold and easier to grip.
Best Apple deals: Apple Watch
Much like the Apple Watch 5 before it, September 2020's launch of the Apple Watch Series 6 comes with an always-on screen, which is a really great feature, especially when we're talking about a display as detailed as this one! To preserve battery life, previous iterations of the Watch kept the display mostly off, requiring you to do the Apple hand-jive to see the time. No more! With the Watch 6, the big step forward is the Blood Oxygen monitoring – perfect if you want to keep on top of your fitness / wellbeing.
As well as the Series 6's always-on display, it also offers ceramic, stainless steel and ceramic cases on top of the existing aluminium option, and you also get fresh goodies such as an ECG app, international emergency calling, fall detection and even a compass. The battery life is a step up from the Watch 5, and with the S6 processor, everything just runs that bit quicker. The price is still twice that of the still-great Watch 3, which happens to be receiving some hefty discounts at the moment, so we advise you look at both options (see below). And it was also released at the same time as the $100-less Apple Watch SE – also well worth a look. But rest assured, if you choose the Watch 6, you'll have a quality, cutting edge smartwatch on your wrist for many a year.
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Best Apple deals: Apple AirPods
We've never been entirely convinced by Apple's AirPods. They look to us like they could fall out far too easily, and the lack of silicone ear tips makes us question just how good their audio quality actually is. You can't argue with popularity, though; since their launch they've become a much sought-after accessory and triggered a market for cheap fake AirPods that give you the look while not actually working.
Last year's update delivered improved audio quality, longer talk time, voice-activated Siri and an optional wireless charging case; if the latter's a clincher for you, we'd strongly advise paying a bit more for the far superior AirPods Pro.
It's lovely when an Apple product lives up to the hype. We initially laughed at the notion of AirPods Pro when they were launched last year, then we checked out the specs and features. It's those extra details such as the silicone ear tips, adaptive EQ, noise cancelling and transparency mode that made us realise that we definitely had to own a pair.
In classic Apple fashion, they just work. The noise-cancellation isn't perfect, but it's a lot better than you'd ever expect a pair of in-ears to be. Switching between that and transparency mode, which lets you hear everything that's going on around you, is as simple as squeezing one of the arms. And the fit is near perfect; it's easy to forget you're wearing them. We'd love a little more battery life, and changing the ear tips is a struggle until you learn the knack, but beyond that we can wholeheartedly recommend them, especially considering some of the price cuts available now.
Best Apple deals: iPhone
The best Apple iPhone 12 deals available now
Apple is always happy to tempt us with bigger, more feature-packed models of the iPhone, but for our money the standard iPhone 12 is the best bet right now. It lacks the extra telephoto camera found on the Pro and Pro Max, it's only water resistant to two metres rather than four, and its display is Liquid Retina rather than the brighter, higher-res Super Retina XDR, but if you can live with that then its significantly lower price seals the deal.
The iPhone 12's wide and ultra-wide 12MP front cameras will suit most of your photographic needs, it'll shoot 4K video at 60fps, it has the same A14 Bionic chip as its more expensive siblings, and it comes in a range of much more alluring colours. If it's still a bit rich for your tastes, however, the new iPhone SE would be a fine budget alternative.
More Apple iPhone 11 and 12 deals
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