Every year, Apple puts together a beautiful-looking holiday gift guide on Apple.com, packed with the latest iOS devices, Macs, and accessories people would love to receive as gifts. The hitch is that Apple’s prices are almost always full retail, with no discounting, so it’s easy to spend anywhere from $5 to $300 more per item than if you just shopped around.
This year, gadgetnewsonline and 9to5Mac have done the bargain hunting for you. We’ve found savings on virtually every item on Apple’s holiday shopping list, which this year is organized into 6 sections: Gaming, Photography, Music, Fitness, Learning and Travel. Using the links below, you can save up to $350 on a new 12″ MacBook, between $20 and $80 on many third-party accessories, and up to $130 on a pair of Beats headphones…
Gaming
Apple’s Gifts for Gamers page is fairly heavy on apps this year, all of which can only be purchased through the iOS App Store. We’ve provided links to save on Apple hardware, several major accessories, and high-value alternatives.
- Apple TV 4 for $139 — save $10 off Apple’s price
- Battle Supremacy: Evolution App for $5 — iOS App Store download
- SteelSeries Nimbus for $50 — no savings off Apple’s price, but consider Mad Catz’ excellent $41 Micro C.T.R.L.-i instead
- Guitar Hero Live for $60 — save $40 off Apple’s price
- iPad Air 2 for $375 — save $124 off Apple’s price
- iTunes Gift Card for 10-25% off — follow gadgetnewsonline for these brief pop-up deals, saving cash on apps, videos, music + more
- iPad Air 2 Smart Cover for $20 — save $19 off Apple’s price
- Gamevice Controller for $100 — no savings off Apple’s price, but consider Mad Catz’ excellent $41 Micro C.T.R.L.-i instead
- Beats Studio Wireless Headphones for $250 — save $130 off Apple’s price
- iPod touch 6G for $190 — save $10 off Apple’s price
- Parrot Bebop (Quadcopter) Drone for $437 — save $62 off Apple’s price
- FreeFlight 3 App for free — iOS App Store download
- BB-8 App-Enabled Droid by Sphero for $150 — no savings off Apple’s price
- Parrot MiniDrone Airborne Cargo for $100, no tax outside NYS — $7+ savings off Apple’s price
Photography
Apple’s Gifts for Photographers page offers everything from add-on camera lenses and microphones to apps and carrying cases. Only one item in here is an Apple Store-exclusive bundle, and there are a couple of apps, too; everything else can be had at a savings.
- iPhone 6s for $1 (16GB with 2-year Verizon or Sprint contract) — buy one get one free (!!) with AT&T Next, or go with an unlocked 64GB for $719, no tax
- iPhone 6s Silicone Case for $34.99 — save $0.01 off Apple’s price, or save $21 and get this much better case
- Olloclip Active Lens for $100 — no savings off Apple’s price, but consider Olloclip’s superior Telephoto/Wide-Angle/Macro CPL bundle for $96 instead
- Instagram app for free — iOS App Store download
- JOBY GripTight GorillaPod Video for $23 — save $17 off Apple’s price
- Photography Kit for iPhone 6/6s and 6 Plus/6s Plus for $200 — custom Apple Store bundle, no savings
- MeFOTO Sidekick360 for $30 — save $10 off Apple’s price
- iPad Pro for $769, no tax outside NYS — save $37+ off Apple’s price
- iPad Pro Smart Cover for $59, no tax outside NYS — save $4 off Apple’s price
- Shure MOTIV MV5 Digital Condenser Microphone for $99, no tax in NYS — save $8+ off Apple’s price
- iMovie App for free or $5 — no charge if downloaded with new iPhone or iPad purchase
- MacBook (12″ Retina) for $999 — save $300 off Apple’s price, or $350 with an .edu email address (.edu details here)
- Incase Neoprene Sleeve for $35 — save $5 off Apple’s price
- HISY Camera Remote for $23 — save $2 off Apple’s price
Music
Apple’s Gifts for Music Lovers page notably leaves out any mention of iPods — amazing, right? — to focus on Beats, Bose, and B&O audio accessories. We found an awesome 12″ Retina MacBook deal for this section, as well.
- iPhone 6s for $1 (16GB with 2-year Verizon or Sprint contract) — buy one get one free (!!) with AT&T Next, or go with an unlocked 64GB for $719, no tax
- Beats Solo2 Wireless Headphones for $220 — save $80 off Apple’s price
- Beats Pill+ for $184 — save $46 off Apple’s price
- Apple Music Gift Card — same as the iTunes Gift Card for 10-25% off — follow gadgetnewsonline for these brief pop-up deals
- Bose SoundLink Mini Bluetooth Speaker II for $199, no tax outside NYS — save $14+ off Apple’s price
- B&O BeoPlay A2 for $345 — save $55 off Apple’s price
- MacBook (12″ Retina) for $999 — save $300 off Apple’s price, or $350 with an .edu email address (.edu details here)
- Apogee MiC for $229, no tax outside NYS — save $16+ off Apple’s price
- IK Multimedia iRig Pads for $110 — save $40 off Apple’s price
- GarageBand App for free or $5 — iOS App Store download, no charge if downloaded with new iPhone or iPad purchase
- Apple TV 4 for $139 — save $10 off Apple’s price
Fitness
Apple’s Gifts for Fitness Enthusiasts page leans heavily on the Apple Watch, accessories, and apps this year. We found some nice savings on the Apple Watch and Beats audio gear, plus some other bonuses.
- Apple Watch Sport for $249 (38mm) or $299 (42mm), no tax outside NYS — save $107+ off Apple’s prices
- Beats Powerbeats2 Wireless Headphones for $130 — save $70 off Apple’s price
- Strava for free, Pocket Yoga for $3 — no savings off Apple’s prices
- Wahoo Fitness KICKR SNAP Bike Trainer for $699, no tax — save $50+ off Apple’s price
- iPhone 6s for $1 (16GB with 2-year Verizon or Sprint contract) — buy one get one free (!!) with AT&T Next, or go with an unlocked 64GB for $719, no tax
- Beats Pill+ for $184 — save $46 off Apple’s price
- iTunes Gift Card for 10-25% off — follow gadgetnewsonline for these brief pop-up deals, saving cash on apps, videos, music + more
- iPhone 6s Silicone Case for $34.99 — save $0.01 off Apple’s price, or save $21 and get this much better case
- Nike+ Running App for free — no savings off Apple’s price
- Apple EarPods for $22 — save $7 off Apple’s price
- Wahoo TICKR X Heart Rate Monitor for $100, no tax — save $7+ off Apple’s price
- Incase iPhone 6s Sports Armband for $37 — save $2 off Apple’s price
Learning
Apple’s Gifts for Learners page is heavy on science education tools and toys. If you’re interested in saving money on an iPad or MacBook, this is a good section; apps are inexpensive but not discounted.
- Sphero SPRK for $130 — no savings off Apple’s price
- SPRK App for free — no savings off Apple’s price
- iPad Air 2 for $375 — save $124 off Apple’s price
- Osmo Genius Kit for $100 — no savings off Apple’s price, but save $20 by getting Osmo’s regular Game System instead
- iPod touch 6G for $190 — save $10 off Apple’s price
- Quick Fractions App for $2 — iOS App Store download
- Algebra Touch App for $3 — iOS App Store download
- Plants by Tinybop for $3 — iOS App Store download
- iTunes Gift Card for 10-25% off — follow gadgetnewsonline for these brief pop-up deals, saving cash on apps, videos, music + more
- Apple TV 4 for $139 — save $10 off Apple’s price
- Star Walk Kids for $3 — no savings off Apple’s price
- MacBook (12″ Retina) for $999 — save $300 off Apple’s price, or $350 with an .edu email address (.edu details here)
- Pages App for free or $10 — no charge if downloaded with new iPhone or iPad purchase
- Numbers App for free or $10 — no charge if downloaded with new iPhone or iPad purchase
- Keynote App for free or $10 — no charge if downloaded with new iPhone or iPad purchase
- Twelve South BookArc (MacBook) for $50, no tax outside NYS — save $3+ off Apple’s price
- LaCie Fuel 1TB Wireless Storage for $171 — save $9 off Apple’s price
Travel
- Apple’s Gifts for Travelers page has a lot of Apple Watch gear, audio and power accessories, as well as the list’s only mention of the iPad mini, and a shoehorned Apple TV section as well.
- Apple Watch Sport for $249 (38mm) or $299 (42mm), no tax outside NYS — save $107+ off Apple’s prices
- iTranslate App for free — iOS App Store download
- Apple Watch Sport Band for $49, no tax outside NYS — save $3 off Apple’s price
- Apple Watch Leather Loop for $149 — no savings off Apple’s price, but consider JETech’s highly-rated $40 alternative
- Apple Watch Link Bracelet for $449 — no savings off Apple’s price, but consider MoKo’s highly-rated $90 alternative
- Apple Watch Modern Buckle for $249 — no savings off Apple’s price, but consider HappyCell’s highly-rated $40 alternative
- Apple Watch Milanese Loop for $149, no tax outside NYS — save $10 off Apple’s price, or consider JETech’s highly-rated $27 alternative
- Apple Watch Classic Buckle for $149 — no savings off Apple’s price, but consider MyCell’s highly-rated $40 alternative
- iPad mini 4 for $300 — save $99 off Apple’s price
- iPad mini 4 Smart Cover for $39, no tax outside NYS — save $3+ off Apple’s price
- Bose QC25 / QuietComfort 25 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones for $269 — save $31 off Apple’s price
- UE Boom 2 (360) Wireless Speaker for $180 — save $20 off Apple’s price
- Mophie Powerstation Plus 2x With Lightning Connector for $80 — no savings off Apple’s price, but Mophie’s more powerful sequel is only $60
- Apple TV 4 for $139 — save $10 off Apple’s price
- Airbnb App for free — iOS App Store download
Load up your new Apple devices with discounted apps/games, as hundreds of top notch titles are dropping in price for the holidays.
More From This Author
Check out more of my reviews, How-To guides and editorials for 9to5Mac here! I’ve published a lot of different topics of interest to Mac, iPad, iPhone, iPod, Apple TV, and Apple Watch users, as well as a last-minute holiday gift guide for Apple fans, a great holiday gift guide for iPhone users, a detailed holiday gift guide for Mac users, and a separate holiday gift guide for Apple photographers.
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