September is coming to a close, and we know that Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days sale is less than two weeks away.
The fall sale — also known as October Prime Day — runs from Oct. 7-8. We expect to see Apple deals available not just on Amazon, but also across other major U.S. retailers looking to compete. And, considering Apple revealed the new iPhone 17 at the tech giant’s recent keynote, you can expect sales on legacy products, including older iPhones, the Apple Watch range, and AirPods, in a matter of weeks.
Also: The best Prime Day deals live now
I, along with other ZDNET authors, have covered Amazon’s sales events for years. We keep an eye on popular product lines — including AirPods, iPhones, iPads, and more — and track any notable price changes in the lead-up to these events.
While substantial discounts on Apple products are rare, this doesn’t mean you can’t save on your new device, especially when you know where to look. Here are the best early October Prime Day Apple deals I’ve found so far. Bookmark us for more Apple deals leading up to and on Prime Day.
Also: I tested the best iPhones in 2025: Should you buy the 17, Air, or Pro Max?
Best Apple deals for Prime Day 2025 overall
- Current price: $Free with trade-in
- Original price: $1,100
If you’re debating upgrading your older iPhone to the new iPhone 17 Pro, now is the best time. Why? Because U.S. carriers always have promotional deals to lure new customers or re-contract with existing ones. Some of our favorite promotions come from Verizon, T-Mobile, and AT&T, which are offering a free device with a suitable trade-in or other bonuses — such as free NFL Sunday tickets and credit toward new lines.
Review: Should you upgrade to an iPhone 17 Pro from last year’s model? I am – here’s why
- Current price: $799 (20% off)
- Original price: $999
Apple MacBook Airs are top-tier portable laptops, and I always use one when I travel. That’s why this deal should be spotlighted from Best Buy — an M4-powered laptop that will suit you for day-to-day browsing, travel, and productivity. This PC comes with a 13-inch display, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage.
Review: Why I highly recommend the M4 MacBook Air to most people
- Current price: $299 (14% off)
- Original price: $349
If you’re on the hunt for a budget-friendly iPad, we have you covered. You can save $50 on an 11-inch Apple iPad. While it’s not the latest and greatest on the market, its specifications include 128GB of storage and a Liquid Retina display, making it a great companion for day-to-day tasks.
- Current price: $329 (17.5% off)
- Original price: $399
It’s a great time to pick up a discounted Apple Watch Series 10, especially as the Apple Watch Series 11 has recently been announced. This is one of our reviewers’ favorite wearables, considering its lightweight design and decent battery life. You can pick up a discounted 42mm, GPS model at Amazon.
Review: The Apple Watch Series 10 is one of my favorite wearables in 2025
- Current price: $119 (8% off)
- Original price: $129
Many eyes are on the new Apple AirPods Pro 3, but this doesn’t mean that Apple’s existing lines aren’t worth exploring. One of our favorite deals is for the Apple AirPods 4, which, while only a marginal discount, is still cheaper than usual. These USB-C earbuds offer personalized spatial audio and are powered by an H2 chip.
- Current price: $519 (5% off)
- Original price: $549
The price tag is steep, but Apple’s answer to over-ear headphones still maintains a popular following. It’s rare for these headphones to be heavily discounted, but we’ve still found a $30 price cut over at Amazon if you are happy with the steel blue color. There’s also a smaller discount available at Best Buy if you would prefer a different finish.
Review: Should you buy AirPods Max in 2025? A long-awaited upgrade will entice professionals
- Current price: $1,299 (28% off)
- Original price: $1,799
Apple’s iMacs often appear during sales events, and ahead of Amazon’s October sale, you can save $500 on a 2023 model powered by an M3 chip, featuring 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage at Best Buy.
Best Apple iPad, MacBook deals
- Current price: $699 (12.5% off)
- Original price: $799
Looking for a lightweight MacBook to take with you on your travels? Best Buy is offering an Apple MacBook Air with a 13-inch display at a $100 discount. This laptop, powered by an M2 Pro chip, offers users 16GB of RAM and 256GB of SSD storage.
- Current price: $999 (17% off)
- Original price: $1,199
Another Apple MacBook Air deal we like is for a model with a larger display than the standard 13.3 inches. If you want a mid-sized but still portable laptop, this device comes with an M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of SSD storage. Even better, it’s $200 off.
- Current price: $896 (10% off)
- Original price: $999
You can save just over $100 on one of Apple’s latest iPads, the iPad Pro. Available at Amazon, this Wi-Fi model comes with an 11-inch Ultra Retina XDR display, M4 chip, Apple Intelligence, 256GB of SSD storage, and 8GB of RAM. A discount is also available for its Wi-Fi and Cellular version.
- Current price: $449 (25% off)
- Original price: $599
Thinner and lighter than the traditional iPad or the iPad Pro, the iPad Air is a perfect companion to anyone who needs a thin, powerful tablet suitable for travel and work. The Wi-Fi-only option is the most affordable at $499 and is equipped with an M3 chip, an 11-inch Liquid Retina Display, and 128GB of storage.
- Apple MacBook Pro (renewed): $520 (save $2,280 at Best Buy): If you don’t mind a refurbished model, Apple’s MacBook Pro is on sale at Best Buy, equipped with a 15-inch display, M3 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 512GB of SSD storage.
- Apple MacBook Pro: $1,499 (save $300 at Amazon): Powered by an M4 chip, you can also save $300 on a 2024 version of the MacBook Pro set with a 14.2-inch Liquid Retina Display, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage.
- Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4): $1,723 (save $176 at Amazon): If you want one of the best iPads money can buy, this option is powered by Apple’s M4 chip and comes with a 13-inch Ultra Retina XDR display, 1TB of storage, and plenty of power to see you through work and creative tasks.
Best Apple Watch, accessory deals
- Current price: $189 (24% off)
- Original price: $249
Over at Amazon, you can pick up an affordable smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE, for only $189. This GPS, 44mm model in Midnight provides you with mobile connectivity, fitness tracking, sleep monitoring, a heart rate monitor, and more.
- Current price: $749 (6% off)
- Original price: $799
It’s expensive, true, but if you’re looking for a smartwatch that can handle tough environments, the discount available for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 at Best Buy might interest you. As our reviewer found, even years later, this smartwatch still goes strong — and offers fantastic connectivity, apps, and health trackers.
Review: I’ve worn my Apple Watch Ultra for 2 years – here’s what it looks like now
- Current price: $75 (24% off)
- Original price: $99
Apple AirTags can be attached to your keys, slipped into your bag, or kept in your suitcase to help you track down your items if they should ever be lost. You can save $24 on a four-pack of these trackers at Amazon.
- Current price: $199 (20% off)
- Original price: $249
A saving of $50 is something we often see with the Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds, and on the run-up to Amazon’s October event, it’s appeared again. You will pay $199 for these earbuds, which come with active noise cancellation, USB-C connectivity, and an H2 chip.
- Current price: $99 (23% off)
- Original price: $129
The Apple Pencil Pro is a stylus you can use with a variety of iPads, including the traditional iPad, iPad Air, and iPad Pro. Apple has improved the precision of this model over time, and it could be a great gift for creative minds. Be sure that your existing Apple device is compatible before purchase.
- Apple Pencil (USB-C): $69 (save $10 at Amazon): You can pick up a USB-C version of the Apple Pencil stylus with a discount.
- Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS): $240 (save $159 at Best Buy): Another Apple Watch model on sale is the Series 9, a 41mm, GPS renewed model in Starlight.
- Apple Magic Keyboard: $119 (save $10 at Amazon): If you would like to use an Apple-branded keyboard with your iPad, you can save $10.
- Apple 20W USB-C Compact Power Adapter: $15 (save $4 at Amazon): Power adapters sometimes break or go missing, and if you need to replace yours for use with your USB-C devices, you can save $4.
- Apple AirTag: $22 (save $7 at Amazon): While we’ve highlighted the sales price of a four-pack of Apple AirTags, you can also enjoy a discount if you just want a single tracker.
- Apple AirPods 2 with charging case (renewed): $84 (save $13 at Amazon): If you don’t mind a renewed option, you can save $14 on a pair of Apple AirPods 2 earbuds.
- Apple 240W USB-C to USB-C woven charge cable: $22 (save $7 at Amazon): Another Apple accessory is a USB-C to USB-C, which could come in handy if yours is damaged.
- Anker MagGo Power Bank: $63 (save $17 at Amazon): While not Apple-branded, I tend to recommend Anker as an option if you want a power bank for charging your iPhone on the road. This 10,000mAh model is 22% off.
- USB-C SD card reader: $9 (save $5 at Amazon): Another Apple accessory you might like is a card reader with a USB-C connector, suitable for use with your MacBook and other compatible devices.
When is October Prime Day 2025?
This year, Amazon’s October Prime Day sale runs from October 7 to 8. The annual sale will last for two days in the fall, and you can expect to see a range of deals on household goods and electronics.
Are Apple devices really cheaper on Prime Day?
Apple, directly, rarely offers significant sales and discounts on its products. But this doesn’t mean that sales events, including October Prime Day, shouldn’t be on your radar for Apple tech such as iPads, iPhones, and the Apple Watch — as retailers such as Amazon and Walmart might have a deal or two that will save you at least 5% – 20% off the typical retail price.
How did we choose these October Prime Day deals?
ZDNET authors only write about deals that interest us personally and include products that we own, have tested, or want to buy. Our experts looked for deals that were at least 20% off (or are hardly ever on sale, as is often the case with Apple devices), using established price comparison tools and trackers to determine whether the deal actually represents value for your money.
We also considered customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the deals we’re recommending. Our recommendations may also be based on our own testing — in addition to extensive research and comparison shopping. The goal is to deliver the most accurate advice to help you shop smarter during limited-time events.
What are the best early Prime Day deals?
ZDNET’s experts have been searching through early Prime Day and other sales to find the best discounts by category. These are the best deals live now:
And the best deals from other retailers:
