21 Best Prime Day Apple Deals (2022): Amazon Prime Early Access Sale
From MacBooks to iPads to MagSafe accessories, we’ve rounded up the best discounts on the company’s finest….
There’s no denying that Apple devices are expensive. It doesn’t help that they hardly ever go on sale. Thanks to Amazon’s new Prime Early Access Sale, a number of Apple devices are currently discounted, including MacBooks, Apple Watches, MagSafe accessories, and more. We’ve rounded up all the best deals below.
The WIRED Gear team tests products year-round. We sorted through hundreds of thousands of deals by hand to make these picks. Crossed-out products are out of stock or no longer discounted. Our Amazon Prime Day coverage page has the latest stories, and our Prime Day Shopping Tips will help you avoid bad deals. Check out our live blog to find the best Lightning Deals. You can also get a one-year subscription to WIRED for $5 here.
Updated October 12: We’ve added more deals on wireless chargers and an AirTag case. We’ve also updated prices throughout.
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Apple Device Deals
Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro (8/10, WIRED Recommends) comes with upgrades on the inside and out. It has an industrial look, with a boxier chassis, tons of ports (including a MagSafe port for charging), a beautiful 14.2-inch display with ProMotion (increasing the frame rate to 120 Hz), and a 1080p webcam. Under the hood, the M1 Pro offers excellent performance that can handle nearly any task you throw at it. Apple is likely to announce next-generation versions of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros this month, but if you want to save money, this is a great option.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro (512 GB) offers the same features as the 14-inch version. But since it’s ginormous, it’s not the easiest MacBook to travel with and barely fits in most of my backpacks. Still, the extra screen real estate is great, especially if you spend most of your time staring at a computer for work on the go. This model frequently fluctuates in price and has dipped lower to $1,847, but this is still a solid deal.
The M1-powered MacBook Air (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is our favorite budget MacBook. Even though it came out in 2020, it’s still one of the most powerful laptops you can buy for this price. It not only comes with great performance and battery life (it’ll last you a full workday and then some), but it also has an improved keyboard (the one that doesn’t break). It’s lightweight and slim too, making it super ideal as a travel laptop.
Out of all the iPads in Apple’s lineup, the iPad Air (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is best for getting work done. It has the same M1 processor you’ll find in the aforementioned MacBook Air and iPad Pro—making it a powerful machine for anyone running intensive tasks like editing batches of RAW images or working with 3D objects. It also comes complete with support for sub-6 5G connectivity (so you can stay connected everywhere) and an upgraded 12-MP selfie camera. Check out our Best iPad Accessories guide to find a keyboard case to pair it with.
The iPad Mini (8/10, WIRED Recommends) remains my go-to choice for travel. Its compact size makes it easy to slip into my backpack or tote, while the 8.3-inch display is comfortable for reading ebooks or streaming Netflix shows. With the A15 Bionic processor (the same powering last year’s iPhone 13), it’s speedy enough to handle demanding apps and games too. It has second-generation Apple Pencil support, allowing you to use it as a sketchpad or notebook. It dips to this price often, but it’s still a good deal.
As with the iPad Pro, Apple is expected to announce a 10th-generation iPad this month. But if you don’t want to wait, the ninth-generation iPad (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is still a great and affordable choice—especially if you prefer the physical Touch ID-enabled Home Button. Other notable features include a 12-MP camera (with support for Center Stage, which keeps you in the frame during video calls), a True Tone display that adjusts the screen’s color temperature depending on the lighting in your environment, and 64 GB of storage. It’s the best iPad for most people.
The second-gen AirPods Pro (9/10, WIRED Recommends) offer great sound, improved noise canceling, and better battery life—with six hours in the buds and 24 hours in the case, it’ll easily get you through a full workday. The charging case also comes with new features, including the ability to charge it on an Apple Watch puck and sync it with Apple’s Find My app (the case will emit a beeping sound to help you find them).
They might not come in Cupertino White, but these Beats Fit Pro are associate editor Parker Hall’s favorite Apple-made headphones for most people. They come in many colors, are extremely comfortable, and sound great, plus they instantly pair with all of your Apple devices, just like standard AirPods would (but with a much cooler look). If you’re looking for more neutral color options, the Beats Fit Pro x Kim Kardashian earbuds are also on sale for $180 ($20 off).
The Apple Watch Series 8 (8/10, WIRED Recommends) holds the title of Best Apple Watch in our buying guide. In addition to a heart rate monitor, blood oxygen level sensor, and ECG reader, the Series 8 also has a wrist-based temperature sensing feature that tracks your skin temperature—which can be useful to track your period and fertility. There’s Crash Detection too, which leverages two new motion sensors, an improved gyroscope, and a high G-force accelerometer to detect when you’ve been in a severe car crash and connect you to emergency services, even if you’re unresponsive.
The Apple TV 4K (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a great streaming device for those who are loyal to the Apple ecosystem. It packs an A12 Bionic chip for faster performance (and support for HDR up to 60 frames per second), with easy-to-navigate menus and a redesigned remote that’s much more intuitive. The 64 GB version is also on sale for $129 ($61 off).
Apple Wireless Chargers
If you have a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, along with an Apple Watch and AirPods, charging all three every day can be a hassle. We highly recommend investing in a 3-in-1 wireless charger to make your life easier. Below, we’ve rounded up a few WIRED-approved options, 3-in-1 and otherwise, that are on sale.
This wireless charging stand from Satechi is runner-up in our buying guide of Best Apple 3-in-1 Wireless Chargers. It doesn’t offer the fastest charging speeds, but it’s perfect for juicing up your devices overnight. With an attractive aluminum design, it also makes a great addition to your nightstand. You’ll have to use your own 20-watt power adapter though—we recommend Anker’s if you don’t already have one.
Ugreen’s wireless charger is a fully certified charging station that delivers up to 15 watts of power, which means it’ll charge your iPhone quickly (in addition to your Apple Watch and AirPods). However, it’s important to note that it doesn’t come with a power adapter, so you’ll have to purchase one separately.
The HaloLock wireless charger comes equipped with both a status light and a built-in fan to keep your phone cool while charging (both of which can be turned off when you’re going to sleep). It charges at only 7.5 watts, but the power adapter and cable do come included. However, you’ll need to use your own Apple Watch charging puck.
Anker’s 623 MagGo is a compact cylinder-shaped charger—there’s a phone platform that flips up, allowing you to snap your phone in place with room to charge your AirPods too. It comes with a cable and adapter in the box. The below two Anker chargers are solid as well.
This Anker is a cute little orb that you can stick your iPhone to to charge it. On the back, there’s two USB-C ports, two USB-A ports, and three AC outlets. It’s a good way to tidy up your desk.
Along with the above two Anker chargers, the 633 is the most ingenious of them. You can charge your phone right there and adjust it for your ideal viewing angle, or you can charge on the go. The attachment point doubles as a 5,000-mAh battery, so just slide it out and take it with you. The base can charge AirPods Pro wireless too.
With the iOttie Velox, you can magnetically charge your phone in the car without risking it flying off if you hit a pothole or the curb (it happens, OK?). We’ve been using it for months and haven’t had it fall off even once. It installs right onto your air vent.
We think Apple’s MagSafe Charger’s cord is far too short. This one is 6.5 feet, which we appreciate. It charges a bit slowly though, but there are fun colors and designs to choose from.
Cases and Accessory Deals
Choose your iPhone model on this page and peruse Sonix’s dozens and dozens of case designs to find one that suits your tastes. We like Sonix cases—they support MagSafe, are made of biodegradable materials, and the packaging is 100 percent recyclable.
These cases aren’t very protective, but they’re some of the thinnest around. That means you won’t get much drop protection, but the case won’t add much bulk to your iPhone and it’ll still keep your phone safe from everyday scuffs. You can find models for a variety of iPhones.
We have complicated feelings about AirTags and how people can use them to grossly track other people. But if you already own one and want to attach it to your keys or a bag, this makes it easy. It comes in nice colors too.
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