Apple’s Prime Day Deals vs Price Hikes: What’s Still Worth It

Prime Day vs Apple’s Price Hikes: Is It Worth Buying Now?

Apple Prime Day deals are limited-time discounts on current Macs and iPads that have become much more valuable because Apple has already raised prices across most of its product line, including MacBooks, iPads, HomePods and the MacBook Neo, while notably leaving iPhones and AirPods largely unchanged for now. In plain terms: yes, this is a good moment to buy if you were already planning an upgrade. Entry-level laptops such as the MacBook Neo have jumped from a base price of USD 599 (approx. RM2,760) to USD 699 (approx. RM3,220), and broader Mac and iPad price increases are now rolling out to retailers. With Prime Day 2026 winding down and stock varying during the event, the real value of these deals is that they let you lock in pre-hike pricing on new and refurbished machines before the higher MSRPs fully settle in.

MacBook Air M4 and M5: The Strongest Laptop Discounts

If you want a modern Mac laptop, the standout Apple Prime Day deals are on the MacBook Air. A 15.3-inch MacBook Air M4 with a Liquid Retina 2880×1864 display, 500-nit brightness, wide color and True Tone is down to USD 721.65 (approx. RM3,320) from a USD 949 (approx. RM4,360) RRP, a 24% discount that drops it well below any previous price tracked on this model. It includes Apple’s M4 chip, 16GB of unified memory, 256GB SSD storage, a 12MP Center Stage camera, three-mic array, six-speaker audio, Touch ID, MagSafe charging and Thunderbolt/USB‑C ports. According to one deal tracker, “the deal brings the price down to USD 721.65 from an RRP of USD 949” and is far under prior lows. At the higher end, M5 MacBook Air and MacBook Pro configurations are up to USD 450 (approx. RM2,070) off, with 13-inch and 15-inch Air models and 14-inch and 16-inch Pro models discounted heavily during Prime Day.

iPad Air M3 and Other iPad Deals Before Prices Climb

On the tablet side, the iPad Air M3 sale is one of the largest current-generation discounts. The 13‑inch iPad Air with the M3 processor, 128GB storage, 5G cellular connectivity, Wi‑Fi 6E, Touch ID, USB‑C charging and dual 12MP cameras has dropped from £849 to £650 for Prime members, a saving of nearly £200 on a tablet that only launched last year and remains in the active lineup. This model keeps Apple’s modern design, 13‑inch Liquid Retina display, support for Apple Intelligence, Apple Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard compatibility, and performance that will easily beat older A‑series iPads. Meanwhile, the wider iPad family is seeing markdowns from USD 299 (approx. RM1,370) on an A16 iPad with 128GB Wi‑Fi, plus substantial savings on iPad mini 7, M4 iPad Air and M5 iPad Pro, including up to USD 300 (approx. RM1,380) off some Pro configurations.

Refurbished MacBook Neo: How to Beat the New MSRP

The clearest example of the MacBook price hike is the MacBook Neo. Apple increased this entry‑level machine from a USD 599 (approx. RM2,760) base price to USD 699 (approx. RM3,220), and broader MacBook price increases have been signposted around Prime Day. However, there is a way around it: Apple is now listing refurbished MacBook Neo models in all four colorways in its Certified Refurbished store, starting at the same USD 599 (approx. RM2,760) the laptop originally cost at retail. You can buy a refurbished base model with 256GB of storage for USD 599 (approx. RM2,760), or an upgraded version with Touch ID and 512GB for USD 679 (approx. RM3,130), which sits USD 120 (approx. RM550) under its current USD 799 (approx. RM3,680) MSRP. Apple’s refurbs are fully restored and include original accessories and cables, making them a practical way to dodge the MacBook price hike without waiting for unpredictable future sales.

Other Apple Prime Day Deals and When to Walk Away

Beyond Macs and iPads, Prime Day is also discounting accessories and wearables that sit outside the latest price increases. AirPods Max 2 are down by USD 150 (approx. RM690), AirPods Pro 3 by USD 70 (approx. RM320), and standard AirPods have dropped to as low as USD 99 (approx. RM460). AirTag 2 has its first meaningful reduction, including a 4‑pack at USD 89 (approx. RM410). Apple Watch deals start from USD 199 (approx. RM920), with Series 11 models cut by up to USD 160 (approx. RM740) depending on size and connectivity. These discounts matter more now that Apple has raised prices on many existing devices, driven by higher component costs and tariffs. Prime Day pricing is still available for a limited time and stock can change, but with the event winding down and Mac and iPad increases hitting major retailers, this is a short window to buy before higher price tags become the norm.

• Buy the MacBook Air M4 if you want a thin, quiet laptop with a 24% discount and below‑historical pricing during Prime Day.
• Skip the MacBook Air M4 if you prefer to pay more later for potential future models rather than buying at today’s sale price.
• Buy the iPad Air M3 if you want a modern 13‑inch tablet with cellular, M‑series performance and nearly £200 off the usual price.
• Skip the iPad Air M3 if having the absolute newest chip matters more to you than saving money on a current‑generation device.
• Buy the MacBook Neo if you are happy with a certified refurbished laptop at USD 599 (approx. RM2,760) instead of the higher new MSRP.
• Skip the MacBook Neo if you strongly prefer a brand‑new machine and can accept the higher post‑hike price.
• Buy the Apple accessories on Prime Day if you were planning to upgrade AirPods, AirTags or Apple Watch and want meaningful discounts.
• Skip the Apple accessories on Prime Day if you do not need them now and would rather keep cash aside for a future hardware upgrade.