Apple’s take on Black Friday is not to cut prices. Instead, it offers Apple Gift Cards when purchases of eligible products are made. Here are the details and why this is an event worth watching.
First of all, even if it isn’t actual price cuts, those gift cards can work out just as good. If you’re buying an iPhone, say, you might want a MagSafe charger or AirPods to go with it. A gift card can go a long way to getting that indispensable accessory.
The full details of how much the gift card will be worth for each item won’t be revealed until nearer the time — an iPad with higher storage will likely attract a higher-value gift card than one with lower storage, for instance. Here’s what we know so far.
Apple Shopping Event
This year’s event will run from Thursday Nov. 28 through to Monday, Dec. 1. It usually runs from midnight at the beginning of the first day through to midnight at the end of the last.
iPhone: Up to $75 gift card with iPhone 16 or iPhone 16e
As usual, there are no gift cards when you buy the very latest model of iPhone, that is, the iPhone 17 series or iPhone Air. But the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus and iPhone 16e all attract a gift card.
iPad: Up to $100 gift card with iPad (A16), iPad Air or iPad mini
The most recent iPad release was the iPad Pro and that’s not in this offer, but all other models are. I’m not sure why Apple specifies it’s the iPad with A16 processor as it’s the only one it sells, but there we are. Up to $100 may mean that the iPad Air and mini attract that gift card value, likely less for the iPad.
Mac: Up to $250 gift card with MacBook Pro (M4 Pro or M4 Max), MacBook Air, iMac or Mac mini.
No sign of the just-released MacBook Pro with M5 chip, but most other models are here. Expect the full $250 gift card to be with MacBook Pro, with possibly lower values on the entry-level MacBook Air or Mac mini, for instance.
Apple Watch: $50 gift card with Series 11 or SE3
Two of the latest Watch releases, Series 11 and Apple Watch SE3, are included, and note there’s no “up to” here. Every model gets the same gift card. That means the SE3 costing from $249 will have a $50 card for you to spend on other stuff.
AirPods: Up to $75 gift card
More details as they emerge but it looks like there will be a gift card with AirPods 4, AirPods Max and even the latest release, Apple AirPods 3.