Best MacBook Deals for October 2022

With multiple configurations and different models to choose from, finding a deal on an M1-equipped MacBook or Mac Mini isn’t that hard. It’s sometimes a slightly different story for the MacBook Pros with the beefier M1 Pro and M1 Max CPUs, but any savings you can make on those Pro models are well worth it. As for the newer 13-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air with M2 processors, it may take some time to realize significant savings.

Here we’ll run through the discounts currently available for current MacBooks, as well as any offers for the Mac Mini. And with the Amazon Prime Early Access sales event about to kick off, hopefully some extra special deals will pop up on all kinds of M1 Macs.

Of course, you can still find older Intel-based configurations, with some heavy close-out sales. While those are compatible with macOS Monterey and the upcoming macOS Ventura, we highly recommend opting for a newer model now that Apple has its M1 and M2 chips across the MacBook Air and Pro lines. There’s really no downside to opting for Apple’s proprietary silicon, except for Windows Boot Camp holdouts.

Alternatively, buying refurbished is another way to save money on an Apple computer. Apple’s refurbished store offers a one-year warranty on all products and generally has discounts of 15 to 20 percent off the price of a new unit. However, if you are looking for a new model, here are the best MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac Mini deals available.

The MacBook Air is Apple’s entry-level laptop. It’s best suited for typical productivity work, with a comfortable keyboard, excellent trackpad, and all-day battery life. The newly designed M2 version of the MacBook Air is out now, but even with the arrival of that more expensive model, the 2020 version with an M1 processor and a fanless design remains in the lineup as the budget option. For most people, the M1 Air ticks all the right boxes when it comes to performance and price, which is why it’s the one we recommend for budget-conscious MacBook seekers in our best laptop money can buy, even with the M2 available now. is.

The base MacBook Air with the M1 chip has 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. It usually sells for $999, but we’ve rarely seen it go as low as $799.99. Currently, Amazon has it for $949.99 (about $50 off) in all three color options. That’s not much of a discount, unfortunately, so unless you need one urgently, it might be best to wait until another $50 or more drops.

As for the newer, much more exclusive MacBook Air with the M2 processor, it’s $100 off in the base 256GB configuration at Amazon and B&H Photos in both starlight and the beautiful, yet fingerprint-sensitive midnight color. That modest discount drops the price of the MagSafe-equipped laptop to $1,099.

The new MacBook Air is a super thin and light laptop, with a 1080p webcam that’s really usable and that handy magnetic charger that frees up one of its precious two USB-C ports. The M2 processor didn’t revolutionize like the M1 generation, but it’s a great performer for any user beyond the more discerning creatives.

It has some minor drawbacks, such as slower storage in the base configuration and a notch in the otherwise excellent screen. Still, there hasn’t been a more travel-friendly laptop offered by Apple since the days of the polarizing 12-inch MacBook, and this one is good enough to be the No. 1 laptop we now recommend in our buying guide.

The MacBook Pro line is split into two different segments for now. The 2020 M1-powered MacBook Pro and the new 2022 replacement with the M2 processor remain the Touch Bar holdouts. These are siblings of the 2020 MacBook Air, with similar designs except for a fan that allows them to stay at peak performance for longer.

At this point, it’s best to avoid the older 13-inch M1 MacBook Pro and opt for the newer M2 version with its exceptional battery life. Yes, it’s still plagued by the Touch Bar, and the base model has its shortcomings in terms of speed, but we occasionally see discounts on this new laptop.

Right now the only common deal is a significant $150 off the 256GB model at Best Buy. That drops the price from $1,299 to $1,149. If you need more storage space, Best Buy also has it with a 512GB SSD for $1,299 ($200 off). Some people who do intensive creative work might still be better off spending more on the more capable 14-inch MacBook Pro (see below), but at least this is a good deal.

As for the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros announced in October, these come with the M1 Pro or optional M1 Max CPUs and are likely to be the pick of discerning creative professionals. The 14-inch M1 Pro equipped 512GB base model currently best price, selling for $1,599 ($400 off) at Best Buy. That $400 in savings is a common thread here, because the 1TB configuration with the M1 Pro is $2,099 (normally 2,499).

As for the 16-inch MacBook Pro with 512 GB of storage and the M1 Pro, both Amazon and Best Buy got it for $2,099 ($400 off). Likewise, you can also save $400 if you switch to the 16-inch model with 1TB SSD on both Best Buy or Amazon. These discounts are about as high as the 14- and 16-inch models – unless the Prime Early Access Sale soon proves us wrong – so if you’re in the market for a workhorse laptop, you should definitely take advantage.

Our reviews of the latest MacBook Pro line were absolutely beaming with praise. Whether it was the beautiful display or the remarkable performance and battery life they showed, these premium laptops are investments we can wholeheartedly recommend. As soon as there’s a sharp price break for these impressive laptops, we’d recommend anyone looking for a new laptop to get one, as they’re likely to sell out quickly.

While not an Apple laptop, the Mac Mini is an affordable desktop computer running macOS. It doesn’t include a display, keyboard, or mouse (so you’ll have to provide your own), but this compact machine does a great job if you’re not worried about portability. It is fast, efficient and is equipped with Wi-Fi 6.

Like the 2020 MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro, the Mac Mini is equipped with Apple’s M1 processor. It starts at $699, with the price varying based on your RAM and storage configurations. We often see it selling in its base configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage for $659, and often much less. At the moment, however, the large stores do not offer sales. Costco has it for $669.99 (a paltry discount of about $30) but it’s not worth it if you’re not a member yet and have to pay a 5 percent fee of $33.50. If you’re lucky enough to live near a microcenter, you might be able to get a basic M1 Mac Mini for store pick up for $649.99 ($50 off), though that depends on location. Now might not be the right time to buy this computer if you want a deal.

The new Mac Studio may be getting all the recent praise, but that’s a much more expensive machine. The tiny M1 Mac Mini is still a very capable desktop for everyday users doing some creative work, even if general deals on it have gone a bit quiet recently.