How To Avoid Paying Full Price for Apple Products

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There’s no question that Apple is one of the leading brands when it comes to electronics, but the company’s sleek products don’t come cheap.

I’ve bought several Apple products over the years, from iPhones to MacBooks and even a few iPods back in the day. Because I love the Apple ecosystem (yep, I’m an Apple fanboy), I used to pay a premium to be a part of Team Apple – but not anymore.

7 Ways To Pay Less for Apple Products

This article was updated in November 2023 and I review it every six months. Detailed notes on all updates can be found here.

These days I enjoy late-model iPhones, MacBooks and more for less — and you can too.

In this article, I’m going to show you how to save money on Apple products. To help us, we’ll get some great tips from Sarah Jordan of ClarkDeals.com., who finds some of the best deals on Apple products and more on the daily.

“Buying used/refurbished is probably the best way to save on Apple products,” Sarah says.

Let’s go into more detail on refurbished items and more below. Let’s get started!

1. Get Discounts Via Apple’s Education Pricing

The households of students and teachers who use Apple products for educational purposes can get a discount on Apple.com purchases for things like computers and laptops.

On Apple’s website, it says, “Available to current and newly accepted college students and their parents, as well as faculty, staff, and homeschool teachers of all grade levels.”

How Much Is Apple’s Student/Teacher Discount?

When I viewed Apple’s Education Pricing page, I saw discounts on Apple products that were about 10% cheaper than the same products in its regular section.

For example, the Education Pricing page had a MacBook Air with M1 Chip from $899. In the MacBook section of the website, that same MacBook Air with M1 Chip starts at $999.

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Apple education pricing

Screenshot via apple.com

With that being said, Apple’s Sales Policy page says, “With regards to pricing, Apple reserves the right to change prices for products displayed at/on the Apple Store at any time.”

See Apple’s Education price list online.

2. Get Apple’s Military Discount

Like many companies, Apple supports service members of America’s armed forces by offering a discount on its products and accessories.

On Apple.com, it says, “A 10% discount is available to current and Veteran members of the US Military, National Guard and Reserve. Immediate family members who reside in the same household are also eligible.”

To get the discount, you’ll need to verify your veteran or active military status with the identity verification website ID.me.

3. Use Apple’s Credit Card

Everything you need to know about the Apple Card
Screenshot via apple.com

If you have the Apple Card, you get unlimited 3% Daily Cash back on everything you purchase from the company, from apps to iPhones, services like AppleTV+ and more.

Read up on whether the Apple Card is worth it.

4. Know Where To Shop

If you go to your local Apple store or Apple.com, you’ll pay top dollar for an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch. Fortunately, you can find Apple products at most of the big retailers that sell electronics. Want to save? Catch the sales.

As a Costco member, I get emails with exclusive sales. I recently received some advertised deals on an Apple MacBook Pro with 512GB storage for $2,249.99. That same model retails for $2,500 and more on Apple.com. That’s about a $250 savings!

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Costco Apple deals

Sarah agrees that Costco is a good place to look if you want to buy a MacBook.

“I think discounts on MacBooks are harder to find, but we see the best prices on new ones at Micro Center and Costco,” Sarah says. “Best Buy also offers student discounts in August, around the start of the new school year, with its student membership. They offered $200 off last year,” she says.

5. Buy at the Right Time

You also want to shop for Apple products at the right time of year.

Amazon Prime Day is a good time to catch discounts on AirPods, Sarah says. “Of course, we usually see the best deals on all electronics, especially AirPods and Apple Watches, around Black Friday,” she adds.

If you’re looking for Apple products for a lower price, remember to mark your calendar around these retail holidays:

Another option is to time your purchase after an Apple event when the company debuts new products or product features.

“If you’re willing to let the people who just gotta have the newest phone right then and there get theirs and you wait three weeks, you’ll likely find deals that they didn’t get,” money expert Clark Howard says.

Apple events drum up interest for the newest models, but that usually means older models start to drop in price.

If you don’t mind buying an Apple product one or two generations behind, you can save the most after an Apple event.

6. Buy Refurbished Items

Many electronics retailers sell refurbished Apple products including Walmart, Best Buy, eBay and Apple itself. Another place to look is Woot.com.

“Woot offers deals on refurbished iPhones and watches pretty frequently, but they’re daily deals so you have to keep an eye out for them,” Sarah says.

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One place I’ve found success when it comes to buying used Apple products is Amazon Renewed. I’ve bought a couple of iPhones and a MacBook Pro, all certified refurbished in like-new condition.

Interested in buying refurbished items? Read our in-depth guide on how to save with Amazon Renewed.

7. Trade In Older Electronics

Another way you can get Apple products for less is to use the trade-in value of other items.

“I remember Clark talking a long time ago about how a certain carrier was offering a really good discount when you traded in your old iPhone,” Sarah says. “I think he purchased an iPhone from eBay and then traded it in at the store for a bigger discount on a new model.”

You don’t even have to Google to find Apple’s biggest trade-in deals. Apple.com has a Carrier Deals Page that shows you all the current trade-in specials offered by the major cell phone carriers.

Final Thoughts

Apple products are durable and beautifully designed, but they can put a hurtin’ on the wallet!

Check out your favorite retailer’s refurbished section to get some great deals on Apple products. If you’re buying from a third-party seller on sites such as Amazon.com, make sure you buy only from sellers with the highest ratings.

And if you do choose to buy refurbished, make sure your Apple product comes with a money-back warranty.

Want more ways to save on your device? Read our in-depth guide on how to buy a refurbished phone.

Article Updates

  • May 12, 2023: Updated the screenshot of the Apple product image from Costco based on a newer ad from the wholesale store.
  • June 1, 2023: Added the military discount and Apple Card, both based on a tip from a reader.
  • November 14, 2023: Added Apple Education Pricing discount available from Apple.com.
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