Apple sale live blog: the best iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch January sales live now

Hello! And welcome to our Apple January sales live blog. Earlier in the week we saw some decent Boxing Day deals across a range of Apple devices, however the new year sales are even bigger and better, and we've already spotted a number of excellent Apple offers to kickstart your new year. 

So if you're looking to get 2022 going with a new iPad, MacBook, Apple Watch, AirPods, Mac Mini, and even some great accessories to go with them, you're sure to find some deals of interest here. And if you were lucky enough to get a shiny new Apple device already this year, don't miss our round ups of the best iPad accessories, the best iPad cases, best MacBook Pro cases and best MacBook Air cases. 

We're going to get started with one of the best deals we've come across since the Black Friday weekend, which is $30 off the brand new 2021 10.2-inch iPad at Amazon, taking it down to just $299. Last time we saw this deal, it sold out super-fast, so if you're interested, don't delay. This particular model comes complete with Wi-Fi and 64GB storage. 

Sadly we couldn't find a similar deal on the same iPad model in the UK, but Amazon UK does £20 off the brand new 2021 11-inch iPad Pro if you're after something with more power. 

We called the MacBook Air (2020) "an absolutely fantastic laptop" when it was released just over a year ago, and we stand by that verdict today. So you'll be excited to known that in the UK, Currys has cut £60 off the 13.3-inch MacBook Air (2020) M1, bringing its price down to £889. 

That's the lowest price we've seen to date on this first-class laptop, which comes with the super-powerful M1 chip, 8GB RAM, 256GB of SSD storage and battery life of up to 18 hours.  (That said, if Currys run out of stock, then Amazon UK has it at the same price too.)

If you're in the US, there are also savings to be made, albeit not so dramatic. The best discount available right now on the 13.3-inch MacBook Air (2020) M1 is $20 at B&H, bringing the cost down from $999 to $979. Sure, that's not the biggest bargain we've ever seen, but it is a discount nonetheless.

Worried about losing your valuables? Then Apple AirTags are the perfect solution. You attach each AirTag to a beloved item and then pair it with your iPhone. If you can't find it, your phone can lead you to it, or if it's nearby, you can play a sound on the AirTag's built-in speaker. 

Best of all, there are some great discounts to be had on AirTags right now. In the US, Walmart has cut the price of AirTags from $29 to as low as $22.96, while in the UK, Amazon has discounted AirTags from £29 to as little as £16.43.

Looking to get the very latest and greatest iPad there is? Amazon UK has the 2021 iPad Pro (12.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 128GB version in Silver) reduced in price from the standard Apple price of £999 to £956.62. That's a saving of over £42, and will get you all the best iPad specs, including the latest M1 chip, the latest 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, and the latest top-flight cameras; namely a 12MP wide sensor, a 10MP ultra wide sensor, and LiDAR scanner for immersive AR. Considering this brand-new iPad Pro was only released this May, that's not bad at all.

In the US, meanwhile, we can't find any deals on the 12.9 inch version, but you can get the 11-inch version of the 2021 iPad Pro (Wi-Fi, 128GB) at Amazon for just $749, saving you $50 on the previous price of $799.

Is it time to update your worn and tired headphones? Why not give your ears a treat and buy some high-quality Apple AirPods? In the US, you can snag a pair of Apple AirPods (2nd generation) with Charging Case for a bargain $119.95 at Walmart right now; that's £40 off the original price of $159.95. If you're in the UK, meanwhile, the top-flight Apple AirPods Pro have been reduced from £239 to £187 on Amazon, saving £52. 

If you're interested in drawing, painting, sketching, or doing design work on the iPad, you need the Apple Pencil. This digital pen is optimised for Apple's tablet, and is also great for writing notes, brainstorming, making architectural drawings, and even photo editing. And great news! Right now, iPad users in the US can get $30 off a 2nd generation Apple Pencil at Amazon, where the price has dropped from $129 to $99, and $19 off the first generation Apple Pencil, which is now just $89.

Fancy the newest Apple Watch? The Series 7 is certainly the most usable Apple Watch yet thanks to its larger screen and improved always-on display. Despite it only being released in mid-October, Amazon's been cutting $50 off certain models on and off since before Christmas, reducing the price of the 41mm GPS version to £349 and the 44mm version to $379.99. It's often only the clover sportsband version that's reduced, but there are currently discounts on the abyss blue, midnight and starlight models too.

There are no discounts on the Series 7 in the UK, but John Lewis has £100 off the Apple Watch Series 6 GPS in red – now £279. Currys has £140 off the cellular version of the same watch – now £349. And Amazon has the Apple Watch SE for as low as £249, with £20 off various models.

Now's the time to buy a MacBook Pro if you're interested in its 2020 M1-chipped 13in version. Apple's since released two newer models, the 2021 MacBook Pro 14 and 16, but 2020's smaller laptop is the perfect size for those looking for something more portable, with Apple's own silicon inside its performance is more than enough for what most people will need. 

Adorama has $100 off a range of different configurations, now starting at $1,199 for 8GB memory and 256GB storage. It has $100 off higher-spec models too, but your best option for the 2020 MacBook Pro 13 with 512GB of storage is currently £1,349 at B&H Photo ($150 off)

In the UK? Then you can get  £140 off the 256GB MacBook Pro 13, now £1,159 at Amazon and at Very.

If you're not fussed about having Apple's own silicon in your machine, but you want a larger screen and a hefty amount of memory and storage, you can save even more on a MacBook. Best Buy has $500 off the 512GB storage 16GB memory 2019 MacBook Pro 16 with Intel's Core i7 processor, taking the price down to $1,899.99.

We've not found any comparable offer in the UK for the 16in device, but John Lewis has £450 off the 2020 iCore5 MacBook Pro 13 with the same storage and memory: now £1,359.

What about tablets, then? The iPad's been getting better and better every year, with the 2021 range featuring the most desirable tablets on the market. We've not seen any huge January sale iPad savings yet, but there are a few savings to be had.

For the entry-level 10.2in iPad, Amazon currently has $30 off in the US, taking what was a very reasonably priced tablet to just £299 for the 64GB version. If need higher specs and a tablet that can handle creative work and store it too, Amazon also has $50 off the latest iPad Pro 11in, now $849.99 for the 256GB version. 

No savings to be found on the 2021 12in tablet at the moment, but if you don't mind an older model, GameStop has $149 off the 2020 iPad 12 WiFi and cellular version – now from $1,299. It has that device's 11in sibling for $1,099 (also $149 off).

In the UK, John Lewis has £34 off the iPad Pro 12.9, taking it down to £965.

Apple's headphone options, despite being hugely popular, are perhaps among the most regularly discounted Apple products, and the January sales are proving to be no exception to that so far, with multiple retailers offering decent savings across the range, from the standard AirPods right up to the ludicrously expensive AirPods Max.

The basic AirPods 2nd gen are down to $124.95 at B&H Photo (a saving of $34), and the 2021 3rd gen AirPods are $167 ($10 off) at Amazon. However, pay just $30 more and you can get the active noise-cancelling AirPods Pro for $197 at Amazon – a saving of $52. And Apple's over-ear headphones? They're still going to set you back a handsome sum, but you can get $70 off the AirPods Max at Amazon and B&H Photo, bringing the price down to a more reasonable $479 – the colours that remain in stock at that price vary at each retailer so check both to find the colour you want.

You'll find similar deals in the UK, with 10 off the AirPods 3rd gen – now £157 at Amazon, which is has been running this deal on and off since November, and £52 off the AirPods Pro – now £187. But it gets better if you want Apple's luxury over-ear headphones. Laptops Direct has a very decent £110 off the AirPods Max, taking them down to £429 – the best price we've seen since Black Friday.

Happy New Year to anyone reading in the UK, where 2022 has just begun! We're expecting it to be another great year for new tech from Apple but if you're just checking in looking for the best Apple sale deals this January, he's a quick recap on what we've seen so far. 

The best deals by far are on MacBooks, particularly the 2020 M1-chipped MacBook 13, which has $100 off at Adorama for the basic configuration, and up to $150 off at B&H Photo for higher-spec models. In the UK, you can get £140 off the 256GB MacBook Pro 13, which is now £1,159 at Amazon and at Very.

Other than that the most interesting offers are on Apple Watch 6 and 7 (in the US). You can find the Apple Watch Series 7 from $349 at Amazon in the US, and in the UK, the Apple Watch Series 6 (in red only) for £279 at John Lewis and the Apple Watch SE from £249 at Amazon. 

See the last couple of entries below for some small savings on iPads, and also savings across the whole range of AirPods, including  £110 off the AirPods Max, taking them down to £429 at Laptops Direct in the UK. We'll be updating this blog throughout New Year's Day, so be sure to check back for more deals on both sides of the Atlantic.

Good morning to everyone in the UK – Happy New Year! Yesterday we saw some amazing early Jan sales across the globe, and they look to be continuing today, hurrah! 

If fitness is high on your agenda in 2022, don't miss this amazing deal to get the brand new 2021 Apple AirPods for the lowest price ever. Over at Amazon, 3rd gen Apple AirPods are now just £157, which is the cheapest you'll find them online right now. 

Over in the US, the holiday deals at B&H Photo are almost as good, with the same generation AirPods down to $169. 

If it's AirPods Max you're after and you're in the US, you'll probably want to check out Crutchfield. The price varies depending on which colour you want, but the cheapest and best offer we're seeing right now is on the AirPods Max in pink, which cost $369.69, a saving of $52.31. Crutchfield is also offering savings on various other flavours of AirPods, some of which are worth a look.

Here's an update on the latest deals on the iPad Pro. You can get a 12.9-inch 2020 iPad Pro (4th generation) at Best Buy for $989 right now. That comes with 256GB of storage and WiFi. 

On the latest, 2021 iPads, there are also a few deals to be had, although they're not that easy to find. The 12.9-inch latest version of the iPad Pro with 128GB memory is on sale at Amazon for  $999. This isn't its lowest price ever, it briefly dropped to $980 before Christmas, but it's pretty close. Note that there are other savings available on different iterations of this iPad, click through to choose a configuration.

In the UK, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is currently on offer at Amazon at £956.92. This isn't the cheapest we've ever seen it,  it dropped to £899 just before Christmas, but it's still a decent deal on a more than decent tablet (one of our top drawing tablets, too). Note that for roughly £10 more, you can get the same iPad at John Lewis (£965), and you get a two-year guarantee thrown in to the deal.

If it's a MacBook Air (2020) you're after, then we're seeing the same deals that we've been seeing for several months now. That's not to say these deals are to be sniffed at, or that you shouldn't take advantage of them. These are some decent savings. 

Make sure to double check which configuration you need, the offers listed below are on the 8GB RAM version, but there are some savings to be had with higher specced machines, too, so click through to find the right MacBook Air for you.

In the UK, we have:

• Get a MacBook Pro (2020) for £889 at Amazon – save £110
• Trade in your old MacBook and save at John Lewis - MacBook Airs from £899
• Save up to £80 on the MacBook Air at Very – from £949

In the US, there's:

• Get a MacBook Pro with 6 months free Apple Music for $999 at Best Buy (price match guaranteed)
• Save $49 on a MacBook Air at Amazon, now just $949
• Save $20 on a MacBook Air at B&H Photo - from $979
• Buy a MacBook Air (2020) at Adorama from $999

This is the best deal that we can find on the brand new Apple Watch Series 7. It was released in October 2021, so it's pretty new, and we've seen this discount before - over the Black Friday period, to be exact - but right now it's Amazon who it providing the current best deal out there, slashing $50 off the new Apple Watch 7, down from $379.99 to $349.99. 

As we mentioned before, there are still no deals in the UK that we can find, but John Lewis has £100 off the red Apple Watch Series 6 GPS – now only £279. So that's well worth checking out. 

Fancy a 2021 iPad for less than $300? In the US, the 9th generation iPad is down to $299, one of the cheapest prices we've seen for any iPad, let alone a current model. 

We're used to seeing savings of around $100 on MacBooks, but $500 is rare. That's the massive discount available on a 13-inch 2020 MacBook Pro at Best Buy right now. And this is a nicely souped-up model, complete with 512GB SSD and 16GB RAM. An awesome deal for creative pros. 

You can now save big bucks on Apple AirPods Max headphones over on Crutchfield. You can save up to $167.35 on the Sky Blue AirPods Max meaning you would pay $381.65 for pair. While the price sounds a little steep, we don't see these brilliant headphones for less than $400 very often, so if you were hoping for a pair now is the time to buy them. If you wanted to read more about the headphones then why not check out our Apple AirPods Max review?

This outstanding deal on Target means that you can save up some serious cash on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. When you trade in your current iPhone, Target will knock off up to $1000 off the brand new pro models. This deal is far too good to miss, but make sure you check the fine print before trading your phone in. 

Apple's latest addition to its accessory line up will be a god send to anyone probe to losing, well, anything really. The Apple Airtag is a super-easy way to keep track of your stuff. Connected to your Find My app, you'll never be at a loss as to whatever these nifty little things are attached to. Usually £29 per item, Amazon currently has a pack of four for £85, that's a little as just over £20 per item.

If you're kicking off 2022 with some fitness goals, some of your favourite tunes will almost certainly help. Right now you can get the 3rd gen Apple AirPods for the cheapest they've ever been – now just £157 at Amazon. 

In the US, you can get the 2021 AirPods at a steal too, now down to $169 at Amazon. 

Ok, the sales have been going for a while now and we've seen some great deals, so it feels now is a good time to recap. In the US, the best Apple deals available right now are: 

• 2021 3rd generation Apple AirPods now just $169 at Amazon
• $50 off M1 MacBook Air - now $949 at Amazon
• 2nd gen Apple AirPods down to $124.95 at B&H Photo
• $100 off M1 13-inch MacBook Pro, now $1,799 at B&H Photo
• $50 off Apple Watch series 7, now $379 at Amazon

And in the UK: 

• 2021 3rd generation Apple AirPods down to £157 at Amazon
• £100 off Apple Watch Series 6 – now just £279 at John Lewis
• £60 off M1 MacBook Air, now £889 at Currys