Apple hardware hits new price lows ahead of Amazon Prime Day

At a glance:

• AirPods Pro 3 have hit an all-time low of $169 at Walmart and Amazon.
• Apple Watch Ultra 3 is seeing a $100 discount, matching its best price to date.
• M5-powered MacBook Air models are seeing significant price cuts of up to $149.

Early Prime Day discounts arrive for Apple ecosystem

While Amazon's official Prime Day event is not scheduled to kick off until June 23rd, the retail landscape is already shifting. Major retailers including Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy have begun rolling out significant discounts on Apple hardware, offering consumers a chance to secure premium devices before the official shopping frenzy begins. These early deals suggest a highly competitive summer sales season, particularly for the audio and wearable segments.

Retailers are currently seeing high volatility in stock levels, particularly for high-demand items like the AirPods Pro 3. While some discounts are stable, others—such as the $169 price point for the latest AirPods Pro—have been fluctuating as inventory moves through various channels. For consumers, this means the window to snag "all-time low" pricing may open and close rapidly in the days leading up to the official event.

Audio and earbud deals

Apple's audio lineup is seeing some of the most aggressive price cuts, ranging from entry-level models to premium over-ear headphones. The AirPods Pro 3 have emerged as a standout value proposition, currently available for $169. These latest earbuds feature improved noise cancellation, richer bass, and integrated heart sensors that sync with the Apple Fitness app to monitor calories burned across more than 50 different workout types.

For those looking at other options in the earbud category, several models are currently on sale:

• AirPods 4: Available at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $99 ($30 off). These offer improved bass and an IP54 rating but lack active noise cancellation.
• AirPods 4 (with ANC and wireless charging): Available at Amazon, Walmart, and Best Buy for $148.99 ($30 off).
• Beats Powerbeats Fit: On sale for $169.95 ($30 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart.
• Beats Powerbeats Pro 2: On sale for $199.95 ($70 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart, featuring the H2 chip and wireless charging.
• Beats Studio Pro: Priced at $160, offering improved noise cancellation and lossless audio over USB-C.
• Beats Solo 4: Gray models are $118.95 at Macy's, while other colors are $129.95 at Amazon and Walmart.
• Beats Studio Buds Plus: On sale for $99.95 ($80 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Target.

Wearables and smartwatches

The Apple Watch lineup is also seeing notable movement, particularly for the high-end Ultra series and the latest standard models. The Apple Watch Series 11 has returned to one of its most competitive price points, currently sitting at $299. This model features a display that is twice as durable as its predecessor and includes a 5G modem on cellular versions.

For professional and outdoor enthusiasts, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is seeing a major discount. Amazon is offering the Ultra 3 with an Ocean Band for $699.99, a $100 reduction that matches its best price to date. Key features of this rugged wearable include:

• Up to 42 hours of battery life.
• A wide-angle OLED display with a refresh rate as low as 1Hz.
• Support for both satellite connectivity and 5G.
• Slimmer bezels compared to previous generations.

Additionally, the Apple Watch SE 3 is available for $219, offering an always-on display and the S10 chip for on-device Siri requests. For those looking to customize their existing hardware, Woot is offering various Apple Watch bands starting at $14.99 through June 26th.

Tablets and computing hardware

In the iPad and Mac categories, the discounts target both casual users and power users. The entry-level iPad remains a budget-friendly option at $299, suitable for media consumption and light productivity thanks to its A16 processor. However, the more significant value lies in the M4-powered iPad Air models, which are seeing their second-best prices to date.

The iPad Air deals include:

• 11-inch M4 iPad Air: $559 ($40 off) at Amazon, Best Buy, and Walmart. This model includes 12GB of RAM, Apple Intelligence support, and Wi-Fi 7.
• 13-inch M4 iPad Air: $749 ($50 off) at Amazon and Walmart, ideal for multitasking on a larger canvas.

Computing performance is also being addressed with discounts on the MacBook Air line. The 13-inch MacBook Air, equipped with the M5 chip, 16GB of RAM, and a 512GB SSD, is currently $949.99 at Amazon—a $149 discount that brings it within $50 of its all-time low. The 15-inch model is also available at Amazon and Best Buy for $1,149. Both models feature Wi-Fi 7 and high-speed SSD performance that rivals the MacBook Pro line.