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Black Friday Preview: Get Ready for the Best Deals on HomePod, iPad, Hue Lights, Audio Accessories, and More

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We're now one week away from Black Friday holiday shopping, which will take place on Friday, November 23. Of course Black Friday isn't just one day any more, and sales have already kicked off today at numerous online and physical retailers. To help plan and organize your shopping, we've created this overview of the best deals you can expect to find while you're out and about next Friday, as well as the ones you can get online with a bit less hassle.

As you read, remember that most of these deals are not yet live, and you can find the specific opening times for each store in our full Black Friday Roundup.

Apple

Although Apple itself doesn't offer great Black Friday discounts, Apple devices and accessories will see many discounts this Black Friday.

black-friday-1116-image.jpg
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

iPhone
If you're on the hunt for an iPhone, Walmart will offer a $400 Walmart gift card when you buy the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, or X; and a $300 Walmart gift card when you buy the iPhone XS, XS Max, or XR. All iPhones must be purchased on qualifying AT&T Next, Sprint, or Verizon device payment plans, and this offer is valid in Walmart's retail stores only.

At T-Mobile, you'll be able to get the iPhone XR at no cost if you add the smartphone onto an existing line and trade in an eligible device towards the XR.

Those shopping for older model iPhones should keep an eye on Best Buy's iPhone 6s deal, which will discount the 2015 smartphone to $199.99 on both Simple Mobile and Total Wireless. At Walmart, you'll be able to buy the iPhone SE for just $79.00 on Walmart Family Mobile plans. Meijer will match this offer for the 32GB iPhone SE on Simple Mobile.

iPad
Target and Best Buy will discount the 128GB iPad mini 4 to $249.99 this Black Friday, savings of $150 from its regular price of $399.99.

2018-9.7-inch-ipad.jpg

Another popular iPad discount is for the sixth-generation 9.7-inch iPad (32GB) from earlier this year (with Apple Pencil support), which will be available for $249.99, down from $329.99 at Target, Walmart, Costco, and Jet. If you want the same iPad with a little bit more storage, check out Best Buy's Black Friday discount on the 128GB 9.7-inch iPad, available for $329.99, down from $429.99.

For the brand new iPads, MacMall has already kicked off a sale today, offering the 11-inch iPad Pro (64GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular) for $899.00, down from $949.00; and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro (64GB, Wi-Fi) for $949.00, down from $999.00. Otherwise, we haven't seen any indication of other discounts on the latest iPad Pros on Black Friday.

Apple Watch
Target and Macy's have the best deal for Apple Watch Series 3 this year, with the GPS models starting at $199.99 for the 38mm Aluminum version, down from $279.99. 42mm models will run for $229.99.

If you prefer GPS + Cellular, both retailers will also offer savings on the upgraded Series 3 models, starting at $299.99 for the 38mm models and $329.99 for the 42mm models.

apple-watch-series-3-trio.jpg

Best Buy has an inferior deal of only $50 off Apple Watch Series 3 instead of $80, but it will have 25 percent off select Apple Watch bands, which should provide a great combo deal if you buy a new Apple Watch elsewhere.

Also of note for Meijer shoppers, if you buy one Apple Watch Series 3 for $279.00 (full price for the 38mm Aluminum) or more, you'll get one Meijer coupon worth $100 to put towards your next purchase (expiring December 24, 2018). While not a straight discount, frequent Meijer shoppers may find a preference for the in-store credit.

Mac
Best Buy has a few notable MacBook sales, starting with the 2017 MacBook Pro (8GB RAM, 128GB HD) at $1,149.99, down from $1,299.99. One of the best deals in this sale is for the MacBook Pro (16GB RAM, 256GB HD) at $2,149.99, down from $2,399.99.

2017-macbook-pro-sales.jpg

The MacBook Air (2017, 8GB RAM, 128GB HD) will be on sale for $799.99, down from $999.99. Lastly, the 21.5-inch iMac (2017, 8GB RAM, 1TB HD) will be marked down to $899.99 from $1,099.99.

MacMall has the new 13-inch MacBook Air (1.6 GHz, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) for $1,149.00, down from $1,199.00, and the Mac mini (3.6GHz, 8GB RAM, 128GB SSD) for $764.00, down from $799.00. These sales are already live.

HomePod

homepod-and-itunes-gift-cards.jpg

The best deal on Apple's smart speaker this Black Friday -- not to mention of all time -- will be at Best Buy. You'll be able to pick up Apple's HomePod for $249.99, down from $349.99.

AirPods
In one of the only Black Friday discounts known so far on Apple's AirPods, Newegg will have the wireless headphones for $139.99, down from $159.99, with the promo code BFAD155.

App Store and iTunes Gift Cards
[*]Buy one get one 30 percent off at Target
[*]Get the $50 iTunes gift card for $40 at Best Buy
[*]Save 10 percent on select iTunes gift cards at Staples
[*]Get the $25 iTunes gift card for $21.25 at Meijer


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Article Link: Black Friday Preview: Get Ready for the Best Deals on HomePod, iPad, Hue Lights, Audio Accessories, and More
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2018/11/16/black-friday-preview/
That MacBook Pro deal on Best Buy is not available yet. Probably going for it.
 
Last edited:
OldSchoolMacGuy said:
Remember that Black Friday prices have been shown to rarely be the best deal of the year.
Click to expand...
Although that is true, the HomePod price is without question, the best deal for a brand new HomePod. I was going to pick up a Sonos One (my first Sonos purchase ever) - in need of an Airplay 2 compatible speaker, since they are going for $175 on Black Friday, but for $75 more? I'm strongly considering getting another HomePod, instead.
 
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@MacRumors

At T-Mobile, you'll be able to get the iPhone XR at no cost if you add the smartphone onto an existing line and trade in an eligible device towards the XR.
Click to expand...

This is incorrect.

Existing customer - must add the phone to a new line
New customers - must add the phone to a plan with at least two lines ($120/month).

Also, they stick you with 36 months of bill credits, so you're locked in for 3 years.

Eligible devices start at the iPhone 6s.
 
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the 256GB of the iPad Pro 11 inch is also 899 at macmall but will wait for an even better deal to come along
 
I have seen several sites report that T-Mobile is offering the XR free for current customers, with trade in. However, their site says the free XR is only when you add a new line. Current lines get up to half off with an eligible trade in.
 
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Hmmm I wanted to replace my 1st gen Apple Watch with a Series 4, but the price on the series 3 is really tempting.
 
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Mike MA said:
Having a stereo pair in the living room and a third one in the kitchen, the difference in sound quality of two paired HomePod is just awesome. Yet, I will equip more rooms soon.
Click to expand...
I’m excited to test it out. I would be using it as a desktop set up, as I already have a pair of JBLs for my home theater set up.
 
Does anyone know if Best Buy's Black Friday deals are online and in store? The legalese just says "...prices [are] valid during ad dates in our U.S. Stores and may vary online." I don't want to freeze my ass off Thanksgiving night if I don't have to.
 
swingerofbirch said:
Is there some catch on the Walmart iPhone SE that right now (before black friday) is 139 for a 32 GB model?

It's prepaid so no contract. I'm guessing you can't use it with other carriers? Even still, it's far cheaper than an equivalent iPod touch with better specs (A9 chip, 4k video, etc.).
Click to expand...
Would love to know if you can use this for other carriers as well. Would keep this as a backup phone. Would need to work for Verizon.
 
I tried to get iphone X at walmart last year with $300 off. Impossible! The store said that they had never even seen one since it was released, and never got any for the sale. They got mostly 6s & 7 and maybe a couple 8s. I called most of the walmarts in state and none of them had the phone. Biggest fake ad ever! So don't expect to have any luck getting that deal. And its definitely in store only.
 
I'm not seeing that Walmart $400 gift card deal anywhere on their website, is it still on?
 
Ethan Coohill said:
Would love to know if you can use this for other carriers as well. Would keep this as a backup phone. Would need to work for Verizon.
Click to expand...
You can use the prepaid ones except that they charge you a $100 fee or something to activate it on a plan that isn't prepaid. I looked into that earlier this year. If you check ebay there are tons of prepaid iphone SEs for cheap, but then that fee makes it as much as other places.
 
I had my sights set on the discounted iPad Mini 4, but the tech is almost geriatric at this point. Is this a good deal? I may just stick with my new Kindle Paperwhite.
 
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Ronald Schoedel said:
I have seen several sites report that T-Mobile is offering the XR free for current customers, with trade in. However, their site says the free XR is only when you add a new line. Current lines get up to half off with an eligible trade in.
Click to expand...

Yeah I have a family plan with my brother in law..currently have the Samsung Galaxy S6..can get 250 for trade in with tmobile..but don't want to add a line to get the phone for free so thats the catch
 
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