Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,415
40,461



New discounts on a variety of Apple products have hit some of the major retailers this week, including sales on HomePod and the older 2017 models of the iMac and MacBook Pro.

HomePod

For the HomePod, Costco is now providing its members a chance to save even further on the recently discounted smart speaker, priced at $279.99 in Costco retail stores, down from $299.00 on Apple's website and all other major retailers at the moment.

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

You'll have to be a Costco member to purchase the HomePod, and if you opt for shipping a charge of $4.99 will be added onto the order. You can purchase the HomePod in both White and Space Gray from Costco, and it's unclear how long the discount will last.

iMac

For the iMac, both Amazon and B&H Photo are discounting select models of Apple's desktop computer from mid 2017. This includes the 21.5-inch and 27-inch models, with savings of as much as $400 off the computer. The prices listed below are the best available online for each respective model, and start as low as $1,099.00 for the 21.5-inch iMac.

mid-2017-iMac.jpg

Mid 2017 Retina iMacs
[*]21.5-inch iMac, 3.0 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB - $1,099.00, down from $1,299.00 [Amazon / B&H]
[*]21.5-inch iMac, 3.4 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion - $1,297.00, down from $1,499.00 [Amazon]
[*]27-inch iMac, 3.4 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion - $1,593.00, down from $1,799.00 [Amazon]
[*]27-inch iMac, 3.5 GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion - $1,699.00, down from $1,999.00 [Amazon / B&H]
[*]27-inch iMac, 3.8 GHz, 8GB RAM, 2TB Fusion - $1,899.00, down from $2,299.00 [Amazon / B&H]
MacBook Pro

Amazon is also discounting the 13-inch MacBook Pro from 2017 by $200 (this is the model without a Touch Bar). There are two models on sale, the first of which has 8GB RAM and a 128GB SSD priced at $1,099.99, down from $1,299.99.

2017-macbook-pro.jpg

The second MacBook Pro on sale has 8GB RAM and a 256GB SSD for $1,299.99, down from $1,499.99. Although they lack a Touch Bar, these MacBook Pros include a Force Touch trackpad, up to 10 hours of battery life, and two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports.

If you're on the hunt for even more discounts and bargains, be sure to head over to our full Deals Roundup.

Article Link: Deals: Save on 2017 iMac and MacBook Pro (Up to $400 Off), and Get HomePod for $280
 
As an Amazon Associate, MacRumors earns a commission from qualifying purchases made through links in this post.
Anyone has any feedback on a 2017 iMac?

Looking to go from a laptop to desktop just for regular use (email, web, and light photo editing).
 
  • Like
Reactions: JayMysterio
It would be great to see some UK Deals on here every now and then if possible. I'm sure the UK readers would be very grateful! :)
 
  • Like
Reactions: lavem
Is it worth considering the previous iMacs over the new ones out now for those prices?

Yes. It should serve you very well for 6 years. Use the savings to purchase a RAM upgrade on Amazon (or somewhere), and you should be happy, unless you are working with very large video files for editing and compositing.
Don’t let all the geekbench numbers and bars sway you too much. They don’t indicate real world usage. A bar that’s twice as long does not mean the time something takes is cut in half. Some smoke and mirrors there.
People are too impressed with numbers and saying they have the latest and greatest.
Think about how you will be using the machine.
 
  • Like
Reactions: EndersShadow
I could use a new MacBook Pro 13". My 2013 model is feeling a bit old. But my biggest problem with it is that my 8GB of RAM gets easily filled up and then the computer becomes unresponsive, and I have to wait for the spinning disc to eventually/temporarily un-spin, and let me manually close some browser tabs to free up memory again (or drastically force kill the browser altogether). So 16GB is a must for me.

I have a touchbar on my work-supplied 2016, and I wouldn't miss it if I didn't have it (and would prefer having a real escape key), but I think that model doesn't even offer a 16GB option. And I believe it also limits you to two (2) TB3 ports, which would be too limiting for my desktop with my two (2) external monitors. I'm also not a fan of the new keyboards, but I guess we'll be stuck with them for a while.
 
Anyone has any feedback on a 2017 iMac?

Looking to go from a laptop to desktop just for regular use (email, web, and light photo editing).
It is a great computer. It is a powerhouse, in my opinion. Make sure to get a model with a SSD. And if you think you might want to upgrade the RAM yourself, the 2017 model will easily allow you to do that, by just opening the external RAM door.

I haven't had any problems with mine, which was bought brand new in September of 2017.
 
The HomePod, even before Apple's price cut, often goes on sale so there's no reason to pay more than $250 for it.

I bought my first one the day it was release for full price, then added two more for $250 on a Black Friday sale. It turned out that sale lasted for a week or two beyond Black Friday, and it has returned to that price a few times since at Best Buy, Target, Microcenter, BH Photo, and others. Right now, OWC has it on sale for $248.88.

To sum it up: Get yourself a HomePod, and don't pay more than $250 for it.
 
Can the HomePod use Pandora?

I have 2 Homepods connected in stereo to my Apple TV, where my Apple TV outputs video to my projector. While Apple Music works from Apple TV to my homepods, Pandora does not. It comes out of my projector speakers, which stinks. Same goes for all in-between sounds on Apple TV other than shows themselves (moving cursor, previews of next episode following the episode itself, etc...)
 
Anyone has any feedback on a 2017 iMac?

Looking to go from a laptop to desktop just for regular use (email, web, and light photo editing).

I'm still using my late 2012 iMac and it runs like new with an SSD and some upgraded ram (16GB). The 27" is nice in that you don't have to take them apart to upgrade the ram modules. Needless to say - I'd have no problem getting last years model.
 
I’ve said it before in this forum, but I got my HomePod for $249, loved it, and got another one for the same price.

I wouldn’t take a non-condom covered keyboard MBP for free, however. Kind of a lie....but only kind of.
 
That’s one hell of a deal on the HomePod. I’m tempted to buy the second one I have been wanting.
 
Anyone has any feedback on a 2017 iMac?

Looking to go from a laptop to desktop just for regular use (email, web, and light photo editing).
Any iMac will cope with that easily. I'm doing this on my 2011 iMac and am not having any issues.
[doublepost=1555051962][/doublepost]
It would be great to see some UK Deals on here every now and then if possible. I'm sure the UK readers would be very grateful! :)
CostCo is basically selling off excess stock of old computer models. Nothing wrong with that but you do need to realise you're buying brand new two-year-old kit with a minimal discount.

(CostCo UK always has Apple items. It may be worth popping in to your nearest one and checking it out.)
 
Last edited:
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.