Looking to save some cash on Apple hardware? Lucky for you, we’ve sniffed out awesome bargains at Amazon, Best Buy, and Verizon: The AirPods, AirPods Pro, Apple Watch Series 5, iPad 10.2, HomePod, and MacBook Air are all on sale for up to $100 off. We don’t know how long these Apple deals will last, though, so you better act fast before they’re gone.
Apple AirPods (2nd Gen) – from $136
The second-generation AirPods carry the H1 chip which ushers in a whole range of upgrades over the first generation. In addition to solid range and stable wireless connection, the chip also promises 50% more talk time, better battery life, quick Siri access, and lower gaming lag. It can also eliminate distortions to ensure clear call quality even in windy environments.
When it comes to audio quality, the AirPods 2 sound just OK compared to most rivals. They are nothing to write home about, but anyone who liked the original AirPods will be happy with how these buds sound. They can deliver plenty of power even at a medium volume level, with the sound accompanied by powerful bass and pleasant instrumentals. You’ll also appreciate the softness and warmth they lend to certain songs. And since they sit well on the ears, expect minimal intrusion from background noise.
These earbuds can last for up to five hours on a single charge. Combined with the reserve juice of the charging case, total battery power is estimated to be more than 24 hours. Both the AirPods 2 with Charging Case and Wireless Charging Case are on sale right now on Verizon.
Apple AirPods with Charging Case – $136, was $160
Apple AirPods with Wireless Charging Case – $170, was $200
Apple HomePod – $200, was $300
The HomePod is Apple’s entry in the smart speaker arena. Its sleek mesh design consists of a bass woofer that allows for a wide range of powerful and deep beats. Surrounding the core are six microphones that ensure the speaker never misses a voice command regardless of the direction it comes from. It even has an internal bass-EQ microphone that analyzes the bass response in the room to optimize the speaker’s sound quality. All these, together with the 360-degree speakers that analyze where to direct to the music, make for an exemplary sound performance.
Those who love using Siri will appreciate that her integration in this smart speaker is Apple’s best yet. Siri will play what you want to hear and can even tell information about the music or musicians if asked. She can also answer a long list of questions and respond to commands like setting timers and making phone calls. The downside in playing music, however, is that it doesn’t have a Bluetooth and auxiliary port which means you’ll have to use Apple Music or rely on AirPlay to stream from Spotify and other music or video apps. Other than that, it’s practically an excellent smart speaker for Apple fans.
Apple AirPods Pro – $225, was $250
The AirPods Pro carry the best features of the original AirPods combined with numerous enhancements, beating all the previous models in all respects. In terms of design, the California-based tech giant decided to stick to the same golf-tee look although it’s a bit shorter now. Another noticeable improvement is the addition of a silicone ear tip. It works to effectively seal the entrance of the ear canal, resulting in better sound delivery, bass response, and blockage of noise.
With the AirPods Pro, Apple gives users the option to either shut the noise out or let it all in. The latter is called “Transparency Mode,” which is perfect if you want to stay aware of what’s happening around you. Their noise-canceling technology is equally impressive. Unwanted background sound is blocked completely, giving out an effect almost similar to the capacity of the Sony WH-1000XM3 and Bose QuietComfort 35 II. For sound performance, the earbuds are able to deliver audio with amazing clarity as well as tuneful and punchy bass.
The Pro model keeps the same Siri connectivity, accelerometers, and intuitive touch controls that Apple fans have come to rely on with the previous generations of the AirPods. Battery life remains unchanged at five hours of music streaming on a single charge, complete with a wireless charging case that carries more than 24 hours of reserve juice.
Apple iPad 10.2 – $250, was $330
The seventh-generation model of the standard iPad is one of the best tablets out there. We at Digital Trends even dubbed it the “culmination of Apple’s experience,” a tablet that offers a great all-around experience. It’s not a match for the bells and whistles of the beefier 2018 iPad Pro, but it’s a great entry-level, budget-friendly machine that you can count on for productivity.
Apple built this iPad with the A10 Fusion processor inside complete with an embedded M10 co-processor and 3GB of RAM. This chip may not be as fast as the A12X used by the iPad Pro, but all you need to know is that it does a fine job of running tasks smoothly. Whether you’re skipping in and out of apps, surfing the web, watching movies, or playing the latest games, the tablet can handle it all with zero lag. The larger screen just makes the experience better, offering more space for multitasking, multimedia consumption, and productivity.
In addition to its beefed-up support for Apple Pencil, this iPad’s compatibility with the Smart Keyboard (accessories sold separately) is what makes it a capable productivity machine. You’ll also be able to experience desktop-grade experience, thanks to the new iPadOS that brings in a whole lot of improvements compared to the altered version of iOS previously used by iPads.
Apple Watch Series 5 – from $349
Anyone who wants the very best smartwatch doesn’t need to look any further than the Apple Watch Series 5. This model flaunts the same iconic look of its predecessor, but with several new features tossed in. One of the most noticeable upgrades is the always-on display, which lets the user take a quick glance at a time, just like what you would do on a traditional timepiece. The Series 5 has also been beefed up with a more precise positioning capability, thanks to the compass acquired from the latest update.
Fitness enthusiasts looking to track their active lifestyle will also appreciate the Apple Watch Series 5. It offers a heart rate sensor, GPS, and an electrocardiogram feature, complete with pre-built workout plans for yoga, swimming, hiking, cycling, and other activities. A new noise app that can warn you when you’re at risk of damaging your hearing, the ability to track period cycles for women, and activity trends that can display your progress and warn you if you’re less active have been added as well for further fitness and health coverage.
With the new S5 processor at its core, the Apple Watch Series 5 ensures super-smooth operation and greater efficiency over the older models. You’ll also be able to install apps directly as the App Store is now available on the watch, courtesy of WatchOS 6.
Apple Watch Series 5 GPS (40mm) – $349, was $399
Apple Watch Series 5 GPS (44mm) – $379, was $429
Apple MacBook Air – $950, was $1000
Apple managed to make the new MacBook Air thinner and lighter than ever without sacrificing on build quality. It’s crafted with an eco-friendly aluminum chassis and the same clean, sleek aesthetic as the rest of the MacBook family. Although it looks almost exactly as the previous one, Apple claims it boasts significant upgrades under the hood.
Although both the old and new MacBook Air have a 13-inch LED-backlit screen, the latter’s display is further elevated by Apple’s True Tone technology. This enables the screen to adapt to the environment, which in return makes images look more natural and with accurate colors. It’s not a match to the MacBook Pro, but it’s nonetheless fantastic.
Inside this MacBook Air is a tenth-generation dual-core Intel Core i3 processor, complete with 8GB of RAM and a fast 256GB solid-state drive (SSD). This combo enables a speedy performance on the usual daily workflow, including working in PhotoShop, streaming videos, web browsing, and word processing. There can be a tiny bit of slowdown with programs, multiple browsers, and apps open all at once, but not so much that it would ruin the computing experience.
If you have your heart set on a MacBook but don’t want to shell out too much cash, the MacBook Air is for you. It’s a well-rounded laptop with solid performance and great build quality.
