With multiple configurations and various models to choose from, including some equipped with Apple’s new M1 processor, finding a deal on a MacBook or Mac Mini is not all that difficult, especially with Black Friday and Cyber Monday just on the horizon.
Here, we’ll run through the discounts that are currently available for the latest MacBook models, as well as any deals to be had on the Mac Mini. Of course, there are also frequent discounts available for older Intel-based configurations — which are compatible with the recently-released macOS Monterey — and we’ll highlight those when we find them.
Alternatively, purchasing refurbished is another way to save money on an Apple computer. Apple’s refurbished store provides a one-year warranty on all products and generally has discounts of 15- to 20-percent off the price of a new model. Two other retailers to look at for refurbished MacBooks are Best Buy and Amazon. For now, however, these are the best MacBook and Mac Mini deals you can take advantage of.
The best MacBook Air deals
The MacBook Air is Apple’s entry-level laptop. It’s best suited for typical productivity work, with a comfortable keyboard, excellent trackpad, and all-day battery life. The most recent model includes the Apple-designed M1 processor and lacks a fan for quiet, efficient performance. It ticks all right boxes when it comes to performance and price, which is why it’s our number one pick for the best laptop of 2021.
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MacBook Air with M1
The MacBook Air is Apple’s entry-level laptop, which comes outfitted with the company’s new M1 chip and in one of three different colors (silver, space gray, and gold).
The base MacBook Air with the M1 chip has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It typically sells for $999, however, it’s currently available at Amazon and Best Buy for $900. The $1,249 512GB configuration is also on sale in all three colorways at Amazon and Best Buy for $1,150, its second-best price to date. These deals can come and go quickly, though, but we expect more to come as the holiday shopping season draws near.
The best MacBook Pro deals
During Apple’s “Unleashed” event last month, the company introduced a new M1 line of CPUs as well as updates to both the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. There are multiple variants of both models, though, we haven’t seen any noteworthy discounts on any configuration yet outside of Amazon’s $50 discount on the 14-inch model. But with the largest shopping event of the year just around the corner, anything is possible.
Our reviews of the latest MacBook Pro line were absolutely beaming with praise. Whether it was the beautiful display or the remarkable performance and battery life they exhibited, these premium laptops are investments that we can wholeheartedly recommend. As soon as there’s a price break on these impressive laptops, we’d suggest that anyone in the market for a new laptop consider purchasing one, as they’re likely to move fast.
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14-inch MacBook Pro (2021)
The 14-inch MacBook Pro can be equipped with either the new M1 Pro or M1 Max CPU and can be configured to have up to 64GB of unified memory.
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16-inch MacBook Pro (2021)
The new 16-inch MacBook Pro is a creative powerhouse equipped with Apple’s latest silicon. Configurable with either the M1 Pro or M1 Max, the 16-inch screen can be lent out to up to three external displays and a 4K TV simultaneously thanks to its vast array of ports.
The Touch Bar-equipped MacBook Pro comes in more sizes and options than the Air, and it’s geared more toward demanding use cases. The base model is the 13-inch, M1-powered variant, which includes a brighter screen, longer battery life, and an internal fan designed to maintain performance under increased workloads. The M1 MacBook Pro 13 normally starts at $1,299, but the base model with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is on sale for nearly $200 off at Amazon, bringing it down to $1,100. The larger, 512GB variant is also on sale at Amazon for $1,349, its second-best price to date.
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MacBook Pro with M1 (13-inch)
The MacBook Pro 13 has the same M1 processor as the Air but includes a brighter screen, longer battery life, and a fan for better sustained performance.
Of course, you can also buy some older MacBook Pro models, including the 13-inch, mid-2020 model. The older, Intel-powered device features four Thunderbolt ports, Windows bootcamp-ready Ice Lake processors, the current scissor-switch keyboard, increased RAM, and various storage configurations. Right now, the 13-inch model is available in several configurations at Amazon, including one with a 10th Gen Intel Core i7 processor and 512GB of storage for $1,999 and one with 1TB of storage and a 2.0GHz 10th Gen Intel Core i5 processor for $1,500, which is almost $500 off the list price.
If you want a bigger laptop with more horsepower, the last-gen MacBook Pro 16 from 2019 is still on sale, but has been outpaced in nearly every category with the release of the new MacBook Pros that use the M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs. However, you can still grab the 16-inch model with an Intel Core i9 CPU and 1TB of storage for $2,299 at Best Buy. Outside of that, deals are few and far between.
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MacBook Pro 16 (late-2019)
The fifth-gen MacBook Pro features a better keyboard, processor, and speakers when compared to its predecessor. That said, its performance likely can’t match that of Apple’s newest MacBook Pro models.
The best Mac Mini deals
While it is not an Apple laptop, the Mac Mini is an affordable desktop computer with macOS. It does not include a display, keyboard, or mouse (so you’ll have to supply your own), but this compact machine is an excellent performer if you aren’t concerned about portability. It’s fast, efficient, and comes outfitted with Wi-Fi 6.
Like the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro 13, the Mini features Apple’s new M1 processor. It starts at $699, with the price varying based on your RAM and storage configurations. The outright best deal on the base Mac Mini is at Amazon, where you can pick up the 256GB model for $649 and the 512GB configuration for $750. Costco members can also purchase the 512GB model for the same price, though, no other retailers are offering the discount.
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Apple Mac Mini with M1
Apple’s most affordable Mac desktop computer is now powered by the custom M1 chip. It comes with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage in its base model but can be configured with up to 16GB RAM and 2TB of storage.
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