X
Business
Why you can trust ZDNET : ZDNET's expert staff finds the best discounts and price drops from reputable sellers on a regular basis. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Our process

'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?

ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.

When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.

ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.

Close

The best early Amazon Prime Day Apple deals

With Prime Day coming up next week, we found the best rare deals and discounts on Apple products, including MacBooks, iPads, Apple Watches, and AirPods.
Written by Charlie Osborne, Contributing Writer
Apple MacBook Pro (2023) | Save $150
MacBook Pro (M3 Max) with new MacOS Sonoma lock screen
Apple MacBook Pro (2023)
Save $150
View now View at Amazon
Apple AirPods Max | Save $99
AirPods Max at an Apple Store, captured by iPhone 15 Pro Max
Apple AirPods Max
Save $99
View now View at Amazon
Apple Watch Series 9 | Save $70
apple-watch-series-9
Apple Watch Series 9
Save $70
View now View at Amazon
Apple MacBook Air | Save $50
MacBook Air M2 with ZDNET homepage on a table
Apple MacBook Air
Save $50
View now View at Amazon
Apple AirPods | Save $49
Apple 2nd-Generation AirPods
Apple AirPods
Save $49
View now View at Amazon

This year's Amazon Prime Day will bring Prime members (and those who sign up for a free trial) deals on a wide range of tech products, including elusive Apple discounts. 

Apple rarely offers big deals, but this brand is always featured during Prime Day, with some of the best deals to be found at Amazon. While some price drops might be larger than others, you can expect to find deals on products like MacBooks, iPhones, and AirPods during the event -- and even some beforehand.

AlsoThe best Prime Day deals right now

Below, you will find the best Apple deals that are now available at Amazon ahead of Prime Day, which is set to kick off next week. 

Best early Amazon Prime Day Apple deals

There are plenty of deals already available for Apple products, and as more worthwhile sales appear, we will update this list -- so check back again for more discounts.

  • Current price: $1449
  • Original price: $1599

If you're in the market for a powerful, portable laptop, you can save $150 on a 2023 MacBook Pro equipped with an M3 chip, 8GB RAM, and 512GB SSD storage. This device, being one of the latest options in Apple's lineup, is a workhorse that would be perfect for work, productivity, and entertainment.

AirPods Max at an Apple Store, captured by iPhone 15 Pro Max
Jason Hiner/ZDNET
  • Current price: $450
  • Original price: $549

With stunning audio quality supported by Dolby Atmos technologies and Apple's H1 chip, a deal for the noise-canceling AirPods Max over-ear headphones, now with a $100 discount, is not to be missed. At the time of writing, these headphones are available in five colors. 

  • Current price: $329
  • Original price: $399

We often see discounted Apple Watch series during sales events, and ahead of Prime Day, you can save $70 on a GPS-ready, 41mm Apple Watch Series 9 with a Midnight strap. This smartwatch offers users an Always-on Retina display and access to a variety of lifestyle and health-related mobile applications.

MacBook Air M2 with ZDNET homepage on a table
Cliff Joseph/ZDNET
  • Current price: $944
  • Original price: $999

I've owned a 2022 MacBook Air since the range was launched and have found it invaluable on trips away. If you are looking for an ultra-portable, light laptop for work and play, consider the $50 discount available on this Apple MacBook Air, which comes with an M2 chip and a 13-inch Liquid Retina display. Higher discounts keep appearing, so watch this item -- you might be able to enjoy a deeper discount in the days to come.

Apple 2nd-Generation AirPods
Kyle Kucharski/ZDNET
  • Current price: $80
  • Original price: $129

You can save $49 on a pair of Apple AirPods, a great accessory for your iPhone if you want to listen to music on the move. Apple says you can expect around a day of use on a single charge and these second-generation earbuds come with a charging case as standard.

More Prime Day 2024 Apple deals

ipad pro with apple pencil pro on table
Adam Breeden/ZDNET

FAQs

When is Amazon Prime Day 2024? 

Amazon Prime Day 2024 will officially run from July 16 at 12:01 a.m. PDT through July 17. However, you can expect deals to appear before the event, and competitors -- such as Walmart and Best Buy -- will also run their own versions of a summer sale. 

When does Prime Day begin?

Prime Day 2024 will begin on Tuesday, July 16, at 12:01 a.m. PT and run through Wednesday, July 17. The annual two-day sale will last 48 hours, although deals will start appearing ahead of time, and some discounts may also hang around for a few days afterward. Keep in mind that the products with the best deals will likely sell out quickly. 

What is Amazon Prime Day?

The first Prime Day was back in 2015 and has occurred every year since and is typically held in July. Although Amazon has branched out to add an October Prime event and runs an extremely popular Black Friday week, Prime Day remains one of the most popular sales events.

Prime Day grants Amazon Prime members exclusive access to deals on Amazon.com across all categories, including home, tech, apparel, and more. But you can always sign up for a trial to access the full sale without being a member. 

Are Apple products really cheaper on Prime Day? 

Apple rarely offers sales and discounts on its products, and considering the generally high price point, you might wait a while before upgrading your gear. So events such as Prime Day and Black Friday are great opportunities to save -- but discounts are often still low, with many deals we've observed offering roughly five to 20 percent off, at most. 

How did we choose these Prime Day deals?

ZDNET authors and reviewers will only include deals that catch our eye: products we have hands-on experience with, want, or would recommend to our readers. 

We use our own experience, knowledge, and research to judge the worthiness of a deal that appears during Prime Day, alongside price tracker tools and services, to compare historical pricing data and determine whether or not we consider a deal to be of real value. Furthermore, we consider the price point itself: even if we've seen a product with a lower price point in the past if the new price is still valuable, we will consider the product's inclusion. 

We like to see discounts of at least 20%, but in some cases -- such as Apple deals, which often have less of a discount available -- we may still include a deal if it demonstrates value for money. 

Editorial standards