Attendees take pictures of a display of newly redesigned MacBook Air (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty … [+]
As Black Friday approaches, many in the Apple community will be looking for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air offers and a chance to upgrade their laptop with something a little better than the sticker price would suggest. But it’s not straightforward.
What MacBook Pro Discounts Can You Expect?
One thing to note is that Apple does not directly offer discounts during the Black Friday season. It does offer trade-ins on older Apple hardware; it is pushing the trade-in options for a new MacBook Pro heavily on social media this week. Apple will also offer gift cards to spend in the Apple Store.
In the past, Apple’s gift card deals were not announced until the day before Black Friday… clearly, Apple is paying attention to the strict 24-hour window of the retail experience. This year, that would mean Thursday, 21st November, for the confirmation and Friday, 22nd, for the purchase.
If you are looking for a cash discount, you will have to move away from the comfort of the Apple Store and head to other retailers. Amazon is offering discounts on the order of $100-$150 on the latest M4 MacBook Pro models, and US readers should also keep a close eye on both Best Buy and Walmart for other accounts.
In all the deals being discussed and shared online to tempt you, you must take care in two areas.
Not Every MacBook Pro Is Top Of The Line
The first is the specifications. Some big MacBook discounts are out there, but they are not for the latest machines. With last month’s launch of the M4, M4 Pro and M4 Max equipped MacBook Pro laptops, retailers will be looking to shift a lot of older stock out. That means clearance discounts on top of the Black Friday discount for older and slower machines.
That slower performance is relative, though. Thanks to Apple Silicon’s capability and the extended support window offered by macOS and the Mac platform, these laptops will stay viable for years to come.
It’s a similar story for the MacBook Air. Unlike the MacBook Pro portfolio, Apple did not launch an M4-powered MacBook Air, so the M3 MacBook Air offers are on current hardware. Yet the current hardware is a generation behind in Apple Silicon technology, and the M4 Airs are expected to launch in early 2025.
Again, the capabilities of the M3 Airs should not be discounted, but the Black Friday discounts are on effectively older hardware.
Scammers Target The MacBook Pro Buyers
The second issue to consider is scams and fraud. Consumers looking for deals and bargains in the Black Friday period and early adopters needing the new M4 MacBook Pro model right now will be attractive targets for attackers.
Watch out for websites mimicking popular sites. These can capture financial details when you go to pay, alongside the personal information you provide at the point of the fake purchase. Scammers know that Black Friday is coming and know that people are vulnerable to impressive deals, and that could lower their guard.
What To Remember When Shopping For Your MacBook Pro
Some solid deals for the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are available in the run-up to Black Friday, but very few are for the new MacBook laptops. Knowing what you want before looking for a deal is just as important as the deal itself. And always remember that if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is.
Stay safe out there in the sales.
Now read the latest MacBook Pro, iPhone and iCloud headlines in Forbes’ weekly Apple news digest…
