Will Apple Products Be Discounted on Black Friday 2026?
Yes, usually, but mostly at retailers. In the US, Apple's own Black Friday event has given Apple Gift Cards rather than price cuts, while Best Buy, Walmart and Target tend to cut prices outright. Black Friday 2026 is November 27. Compare prices, look for a promo code, go through ShopBack US, then pay.
Published: 8 October 2026 · Last updated: 8 October 2026 · Author: Jean Goh, Travel Destinations Editor, ShopBack
Yes, Apple products are usually discounted on Black Friday in the US, but mostly at retailers rather than at Apple. Apple's own Shopping Event has given Apple Gift Cards with eligible purchases instead of price cuts (in 2025, up to $250 on some products from November 28 to December 1, according to MacRumors and Macworld coverage), while Best Buy, Walmart and Target tend to cut prices outright. Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27.
ShopBack US is a free cashback site and app. You tap through to a store like Best Buy, Walmart or Target from ShopBack, buy as normal, and part of what you spend comes back to you as cash. Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. You can join ShopBack US free here.
Will Apple products be discounted on Black Friday?
Usually yes, though the type of discount depends on where you buy. There are two kinds of Black Friday Apple deal in the US:
| Where you buy | What Black Friday usually looks like | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Apple (apple.com and Apple Stores) | A Shopping Event that gives an Apple Gift Card with eligible purchases; in 2025, up to $250 on some products | The price stays the same; the gift card can only be spent at Apple |
| Best Buy, Walmart, Target | Outright price cuts on selected Apple products, often starting before the Friday | You pay less today, on any payment method |
So if you want the lowest upfront price, compare the retailers. If you were going to buy more from Apple anyway, a gift card can still be worth something to you.
For reference, here are Apple's starting list prices in the US at the time of writing, according to Apple's online store:
| Product | Apple list price |
|---|---|
| AirPods 5 | $129 |
| AirPods Pro 3 | $249 |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | From $399 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | From $799 |
| MacBook Neo | From $699 |
| MacBook Pro | From $1,999 |
| iPad Pro | From $1,199 |
Any Black Friday price is only a deal if it is below these numbers for the same model and configuration.
Apple Black Friday deals: what Apple itself usually offers
Apple's Black Friday offer is usually a gift card, not a lower price. In 2025, Apple's Shopping Event ran for four days, Friday, November 28 to Monday, December 1, in the US and several other countries, and gave Apple Gift Cards of varying amounts with eligible iPhone, Mac, iPad, Apple Watch and other purchases, up to $250 on some products, according to MacRumors and Macworld.
Apple sets the eligible products and gift card amounts each year, so check Apple's site in late November 2026. Apple also runs two programs that lower the price year round:
- Apple Certified Refurbished: products include a one-year warranty and full functional testing, with savings of up to 15%, according to Apple.
- Apple Education Store: special pricing for eligible students and staff on selected products. Check each product, since not every item is discounted (AirPods 5 are listed at $129 in both stores at the time of writing).
If you buy from Apple directly, Apple is on ShopBack US. Open it before you pay and read the terms there.
Apple Black Friday deals 2026: dates and timing
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30; Thanksgiving is Thursday, November 26. Thanksgiving falls on the fourth Thursday in November, which sets the other dates.
Retailers start earlier. According to Best Buy's 2026 holiday preview, published September 14, 2026, its holiday savings start in October, across gaming, computing and home theater, and My Best Buy Plus and Total members get exclusive offers through the season. Walmart and Target usually announce their own Black Friday events in November.
What to do now:
- Pick the exact model and configuration you want (chip, storage, size, color).
- Note Apple's list price and the current price at Best Buy, Walmart and Target.
- Watch early November deals. If you see a strong price early, Target matches its own lower price within 14 days of purchase, which takes some of the risk out of buying early there.
- Buy when the price you want is live at Walmart, which does not match later Black Friday prices.
For how the November sales compare with Prime Day and Cyber Monday, see Black Friday vs Prime Day vs Cyber Monday.
Apple Black Friday deals in the US 2026: what usually gets discounted
In past years, the deepest Black Friday cuts on Apple at US retailers have usually landed on AirPods, Apple Watch, iPads and outgoing Mac models, while products launched just before Black Friday tend to see smaller cuts. Specific 2026 deals are announced by each store in November, so treat this as a guide to where to look, not a promise.
- AirPods: often among the most discounted Apple products at retailers. Compare against Apple's $129 (AirPods 5) and $249 (AirPods Pro 3) list prices.
- Apple Watch: retailers often discount previous and current models; check the case size and whether it is GPS or cellular.
- iPad and Mac: look closely at the configuration. A lower price on a base model is only a deal if the storage and memory suit you.
- iPhone: Black Friday iPhone deals are often tied to activating with a carrier or a trade-in. Read the activation terms and compare the total cost over the plan.
Once you have found the store with the best price on your model, go through ShopBack right before you pay there, so you get a cash rebate on that same order.
Best Buy vs Walmart Apple Black Friday deals: price comparison 2026
Best Buy and Walmart often price the same Apple product close to each other on Black Friday, so compare the exact model on the day; the lasting differences are range, membership perks and price rules. According to each store at the time of writing:
| Best Buy | Walmart | |
|---|---|---|
| Apple range | Wide range of Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods models and configurations | Popular Apple models; check the exact model and seller |
| Free shipping | My Best Buy (free) includes free standard shipping | Orders of $35 or more |
| Paid membership | My Best Buy Plus at $29.99 a year, Total at $199.99 a year | Walmart+ at $98 a year or $12.95 a month |
| Member rewards | Plus and Total earn 1% back in Best Buy rewards on eligible purchases, or 6% back in rewards with the My Best Buy Credit Card | Walmart+ includes free shipping and delivery on eligible orders |
| Returns | 15 days for most products, 60 days for Plus and Total members | Check Walmart's policy for electronics |
| Price drops | Read Best Buy's Price Match Guarantee before Thanksgiving week | Walmart.com does not price match; stores do not match special event prices such as Black Friday |
How to choose. For a specific Mac or iPad configuration, Best Buy's wide range is a good place to start. For a popular model, Walmart is worth checking on the same day. Then go through ShopBack before you pay: open Best Buy or Walmart on ShopBack US and tap through. For more on Best Buy, see how to save at Best Buy.
Best Buy, Walmart and Target Apple Black Friday deals in the US: how to buy step by step
At Best Buy, Walmart and Target, the same four steps get you the lowest price on an Apple product.
- Step 1: compare prices. Check the exact model at Best Buy, Walmart and Target on the same day, against Apple's list price.
- Step 2: look for a promo code. Use codes from the store's own app or emails, or the store's ShopBack page. See how to get the most from mega sales.
- Step 3: go through ShopBack. Open the store's page on ShopBack US (Best Buy, Walmart or Target), read the terms and tap through.
- Step 4: pay with your best rewards card. Pay in the same session.
Each store's own program can also lower what you pay, according to each store at the time of writing:
- Best Buy: My Best Buy is free; Plus and Total members earn Best Buy rewards and get a 60-day return window on most products.
- Walmart: Walmart+ covers free shipping and delivery on eligible orders.
- Target: the Target Circle Card takes 5% off Target purchases at checkout, in store and online, and Target's Price Match Guarantee matches its own lower price within 14 days. Clearance prices are excluded, and Target coupons cannot be combined with a price match.
How ShopBack lowers the price of an Apple product
Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. It does not change the store's Black Friday price; it applies to what you actually pay.
An illustrative example: on a $999 laptop at an illustrative 2%, about $20 comes back as cash, so the effective price is about $979. On $249 AirPods Pro 3 at the same illustrative rate, about $5 comes back. These rates are only examples; check the live rate on the store's ShopBack page, because rates change and some Apple products may be excluded, especially during November. Walmart works differently: ShopBack pays a fixed cash amount on eligible Walmart orders, so your effective price there is what you pay at checkout minus that amount; the live amount is on Walmart's ShopBack page.
Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. An Apple Gift Card, Best Buy rewards and Target Circle earnings can only be spent at that store.
To help the cash track, tap through right before checkout, avoid other coupon sites or browser extensions in between, and read the store's exclusions. See how to activate cashback before buying.
Using a credit card and ShopBack on the same Apple order
You can usually earn ShopBack cashback and your credit card's rewards on the same Black Friday purchase, because they come from different places. Store cards are worth a closer look: Target's Circle Card takes 5% off at checkout, and Best Buy's credit card earns Best Buy rewards for members. Whether a store card, a promo code or a payment method changes what ShopBack can pay out is set in each store's terms, so check the merchant's terms on ShopBack before you pay. For more detail, see stacking ShopBack with credit cards in the US.
Other US stores selling Apple products
Other US electronics and department stores on ShopBack US include Newegg, Kohl's and Macy's, alongside Best Buy, Walmart, Target and Apple. Apple ranges vary by store, so confirm the exact model before you compare.
Frequently asked questions
Does Apple have a Black Friday sale?
Apple runs a Black Friday Shopping Event, but it usually gives an Apple Gift Card with eligible purchases rather than cutting prices. In 2025 the event ran for four days, from November 28 to December 1, with gift cards of up to $250 on some products, according to coverage by MacRumors and Macworld. Apple announces each year's terms and eligible products itself.
When is Black Friday 2026?
Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27, the day after Thanksgiving on Thursday, November 26. Cyber Monday 2026 is Monday, November 30. Retailers usually start Black Friday pricing earlier; Best Buy's 2026 holiday preview says its holiday savings start in October.
Where are the best Apple Black Friday deals?
Outright price cuts on Apple products during Black Friday usually show up at big US retailers such as Best Buy, Walmart and Target rather than at Apple itself. Compare the exact model number at each store on the day, including shipping, and go through ShopBack US before you pay.
Is Best Buy or Walmart better for Apple Black Friday deals?
Neither is always cheaper. Best Buy usually carries a wider range of Apple models and configurations, and its My Best Buy Plus and Total members earn 1% back in Best Buy rewards on eligible purchases. Walmart is worth checking on popular models; note that Walmart.com does not price match and Walmart stores do not match Black Friday prices. Compare the exact model on both.
Which Apple products get the biggest Black Friday discounts?
Older or outgoing models and products such as AirPods often see the deepest retailer discounts, while products launched shortly before Black Friday usually see smaller cuts. Exact 2026 deals are announced by each store in November, so compare the model you want against Apple's list price.
Are iPhones discounted on Black Friday?
iPhone deals on Black Friday are often tied to activating the phone with a carrier, so the headline saving may depend on a plan or trade-in. Read the activation terms before you buy, and compare the total cost over the plan, not just the upfront price.
Is refurbished Apple cheaper than Black Friday prices?
Sometimes. Apple Certified Refurbished products come with a one-year warranty and full functional testing, with savings of up to 15%, according to Apple. During Black Friday, a new product at a retailer can cost less, so compare both.
Can I get cash back on Apple products bought on Black Friday?
Usually, yes. Going through ShopBack gets you a cash rebate on the same order, at the same store. Best Buy, Walmart, Target and Apple are on ShopBack US, and each store's ShopBack page shows the live rate and terms, including any excluded products.
Is cashback the same as an Apple Gift Card?
No. Cashback lowers what you actually pay for an order. It comes back as cash, so it works like a discount on the price, not like points or miles. An Apple Gift Card can only be spent at Apple.
Can I use my credit card rewards and ShopBack on the same Apple order?
You can usually earn ShopBack cashback and your credit card's rewards on the same purchase, because they come from different places. Some store cards, promo codes or payment methods can change what tracks, so check the merchant's terms on ShopBack before you pay.
Key takeaways
- Apple products are usually discounted on Black Friday in the US, but mostly at Best Buy, Walmart and Target; Apple itself usually gives a gift card instead.
- Black Friday 2026 is Friday, November 27; Cyber Monday is Monday, November 30.
- Compare the exact model and configuration against Apple's list price before calling anything a deal.
- Step 1: compare prices. Step 2: look for a promo code. Step 3: go through ShopBack. Step 4: pay with your best rewards card.
- Cashback comes back as cash, so it works like a discount, not points or a gift card.
Ready for November? Open Best Buy, Walmart or Target on ShopBack US before you pay.
Related reads
- Black Friday vs Prime Day vs Cyber Monday
- How to get the most from mega sales
- How to save at Best Buy
- Stack ShopBack with credit cards in the US
- How to activate cashback before buying
Disclaimer
The views and recommendations expressed in this article are those of the author. Prices, gift card offers, membership fees, return windows, price match rules and sale dates are set by Apple and each retailer and can change at any time; figures above are taken from Apple, Best Buy, Walmart and Target publications and from press coverage of Apple's 2025 Shopping Event, at the time of writing. Cashback rates and exclusions are shown on each store's ShopBack US page and may change during sale events. Illustrative rates in examples are not current offers. Apple, AirPods, iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch are trademarks of Apple Inc.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be considered professional or financial advice.
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