The best Apple deals this week: up to $500 off Pros

Looking for the best Apple deals this week? Shoppers can save up to $500 on select M5 MacBook Pro and M3 iPad Air configurations at Amazon and Best Buy, with extra cuts on AirPods, Apple Watch, unlocked iPhones, and accessories as of July 21, 2026. That matters because Apple recently raised list prices, so third-party discounts are one of the few ways to offset the hike without waiting for the next big sale event.

A month after Prime Day, deep tech markdowns are harder to find. Still, Mashable's July 21 roundup shows several MacBook Pro and iPad Air configs discounted by as much as $500, plus smaller savings across the rest of the Apple lineup. For readers who remember when Apple gear rarely left full price outside holidays, this week's cart looks different—and worth checking before list prices stick.

Key Takeaways

• The best Apple deals this week include up to $500 off select MacBook Pro and iPad Air models at Amazon and Best Buy.
• Top picks include a 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) for $2,999 ($400 off) and an 11-inch M3 iPad Air (1TB, Wi-Fi + Cellular) for $749 ($500 off).
• AirPods Max 2 and Apple Watch Series 11 are each $100 off; unlocked iPhone deals reach about $100–$160 off.
• Mashable advises skipping the Apple Store for these discounts and shopping Amazon or Best Buy instead.
• Deal pricing and availability can change after publication, so verify carts before you buy.

What are the best Apple deals this week on MacBooks and iPads?

According to Mashable's July 21 Apple deals roundup, the standout laptop pick is a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M4 Max chip, 36GB of RAM, and a 1TB SSD. It is listed at $2,999 at Best Buy, down from $3,399—a $400 cut aimed at creators who need serious power.

Other MacBook Pro configurations are also on sale. A 14-inch M5 model with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage is $1,849 ($150 off). A matching 14-inch M5 with 24GB RAM is $2,049 ($150 off). Sixteen-inch M4 Pro units save $250–$300, while a 14-inch M5 Pro (24GB/1TB) is $200 off at $2,299.

The deepest laptop cut listed is a 16-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 Max chip, 48GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage: $4,499 instead of $4,999, or $500 off. Mashable notes there were no notable discounts on MacBook Neo or Air models in this week's sweep.

On tablets, the top pick is a previous-generation 11-inch iPad Air with an M3 chip, 1TB storage, and Wi-Fi + Cellular for $749 at Best Buy—normally $1,249, so $500 off. Mashable argues the M3 Air remains close enough to the newer M4 that the discount is hard to ignore. A 13-inch M3 iPad Air (1TB, Wi-Fi + Cellular) matches that $500 savings at $949.

Smaller iPad cuts include the A16 iPad at $399 ($50 off), an 11-inch M4 iPad Air at about $690 ($59 off), other M3 Air configs at $50 off, and an 11-inch M5 iPad Pro (512GB, Wi-Fi) at $1,299 ($100 off).

Which AirPods, Watch, iPhone, and accessory discounts stand out?

Beyond computers and tablets, the best Apple deals this week also cover wearables and everyday add-ons. AirPods Max 2 are $449 at Amazon, down from $549 ($100 off). Mashable says the Max 2 keep a familiar design but add the same chip as AirPods Pro 3, unlocking stronger noise cancellation and smarter audio features.

Additional headphone cuts include AirPods 4 without ANC at $99 ($30 off), AirPods 4 with ANC at about $145 ($34 off), and AirPods Pro 3 at about $200 ($49 off).

For wrists, the Apple Watch Series 11 (42mm, GPS) is $299 at Amazon versus a $399 list price—$100 off. Mashable notes the Series 11 avoided Apple's recent price hikes and improves battery life over the Series 10. The 46mm GPS Series 11 is also $100 off at $329, while the Watch SE 3 (40mm, GPS) is $219 ($30 off).

Unlocked phone deals include the iPhone 16e (128GB) at about $500 ($100 off) and the iPhone Air (256GB) at about $840 ($160 off). Accessory highlights include MagSafe Charger and Apple Pencil USB-C for roughly $9 off each, Magic Mouse for $13 off, a second-generation AirTag 4-pack at $89 ($10 off), and Apple Pencil Pro at $99 ($30 off).

Why do these Apple discounts matter after price hikes?

Then-and-now context helps explain the buzz. Apple's recent price increases made full retail feel steeper overnight. Now, roughly a month past Prime Day, Mashable says strong tech deals are scarcer—yet several MacBook Pro and iPad Air configs are still seeing cuts as high as $500 on a random mid-July Tuesday.

That shift matters for anyone who used to wait only for holiday blowouts. Today's pattern is more fragmented: list prices climb at Apple, while Amazon and Best Buy still flash meaningful offsets on specific SKUs. If you need an upgrade now, those third-party carts can blunt the sticker shock without forcing a full wait for the next megasale.

Mashable is blunt about where to look: do not head to the Apple Store for these markdowns. The roundup's best finds came from Amazon and Best Buy after comparing both. Availability and prices can move after publication, so treat every figure as a snapshot, not a guarantee.

For more then-and-now tech shopping context and related coverage, browse BlasterPost's Nostalgia: Then & Now hub. Pair that perspective with the live listings above before you commit.

Bottom line: if you came here asking where the best Apple deals are this week, start with the $500-class MacBook Pro and M3 iPad Air cuts, then scan Watch, AirPods, iPhone, and accessory savings at Amazon and Best Buy while they last.