Everyone knows that Apple products tend to cost a pretty penny, and MacBooks and iMacs are no exception. Thanks to the global memory crisis, they got even more expensive in 2026, making deal-shopping essential.
If you'd rather avoid spending over $1,000 on entry-level specs, we have great news: You can save hundreds on an Apple laptop or computer multiple times a year. While Black Friday is right around the corner and tends to offer some of the best discounts of the year, it's not the only time you can upgrade without hurting your bank account.
We track Apple deals year-round, so we know what tends to go on sale and when. Plus, we know what MacBook deals are actually worth jumping on, and which "markdowns" are basically the regular price. Read on for our guide to the top three times of year to find the best prices on a MacBook or iMac, based on our historical deals knowledge. (Shopping for a new Windows laptop? We can tell you when to buy those, too.)
We know, shopping holidays are a great time to save money, groundbreaking. However, we're not talking about Apple's annual Black Friday deal, which is the same every year: Buy a laptop or iMac, get a free gift card to use on a future purchase. It's a little lackluster and not all that great for saving money upfront.
If you want real savings during shopping holidays, you'll want to look to retailers like Amazon and Best Buy during Black Friday and Prime Day seasons. At first glance, that may seem like you have to keep your eye on the calendar for a few select days throughout the year, but these retailers have decided that time is meaningless when it comes to sales. That means you'll start to see Black Friday savings as early as October, and Prime Day savings for a week or so in June or July. (Amazon shifted the official Prime Day dates in 2026 to June for the first time, but the shopping event typically falls in early to mid-July).
Amazon upped Prime Day from two to four full days in 2025. But even if you don't want to shop on those four specific dates, Amazon and its competitors usually feature deals in the weeks leading up to it. During both sales, it's not uncommon to see MacBooks from the cheapest Airs to the most souped-up Pros on sale for $150 off or more.
They're worthwhile deals, but they can also be harder to score because the general public knows these are the times to shop for a Mac. If you see a good deal, don't hesitate too much. Our advice? Know what models you're interested in before these sale events kick off, and keep your eye on them.
As a final note, Black Friday season is a reliable time to catch the initial sales on any fall Mac releases. Last fall, Apple dropped the M5 MacBook Pro in October, and by Black Friday in November, it was already on sale for $200 off. While these may not be the steepest discounts you'll ever see in the year or so lifespan before a newer chipset and Mac come out, they're pretty dang impressive considering how recent the releases are.
