The short answer
Apple Black Friday 2026 is still unannounced: as of November 10, 2026, Apple has not posted its annual Shopping Event, which gives an Apple Gift Card with eligible purchases instead of a price cut. In 2025 that event ran from Black Friday through Cyber Monday (November 28 to December 1) with gift cards up to $250. However, Apple has already started its 2026 holiday return window, so eligible Apple Store Online products received November 6 to December 25 can be returned through January 8, 2027.
- Apple Shopping Event 2026: Not announced as of November 10, 2026. Black Friday falls on Friday, November 27, and Cyber Monday on November 30.
- What Apple gives: In 2025, a gift card worth $25 to $250 for future purchases, not a discount on the item itself.
- Holiday returns: Received November 6 to December 25, 2026, returnable through January 8, 2027 (Apple Store Online policy).
- Cash discounts: Retailers set their own prices. Amazon (November 19 to 30), Best Buy (from November 19) and Costco (an Apple Savings Event, November 27 to 30) have announced Black Friday windows.
Not yet
Apple Shopping Event 2026 announced
Jan 8, 2027
Apple holiday return deadline
Up to $250
Top 2025 gift card tier
Nov 27
Black Friday 2026
In this article
Apple, the Cupertino, California, maker of the iPhone, iPad, Mac and AirPods, does not run a classic Black Friday sale. Instead, Apple has run a Shopping Event over the Thanksgiving weekend in recent years (four days in 2025), when buying an eligible product earns an Apple Gift Card (store credit for Apple hardware, apps and services). As a result, the best Apple Black Friday 2026 prices in cash usually come from retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy and Costco, not from Apple itself.
This guide tracks what Apple has confirmed for the 2026 holidays, what it offered in 2025, and which retailers have announced Black Friday windows. Every 2026 fact comes from Apple’s own pages or a retailer’s own announcement, checked November 10, 2026. For every other store, see our Black Friday sale dates by store tracker.
Does Apple Have a Black Friday Sale in 2026?
Apple has not announced a 2026 Black Friday sale as of November 10, 2026. Neither the Apple Newsroom nor the Apple Store gift pages mention a Shopping Event, Black Friday offer or gift card promotion yet. In fact, last year the offer surfaced only about a week before Black Friday.
Even then, the 2025 event did not lower Apple’s own prices. In 2025, MacRumors reported on November 20 that Apple’s Black Friday Shopping Event would run Friday, November 28, through Monday, December 1, with an Apple Gift Card of up to $250 on eligible products. Shoppers could use the card only on a future purchase, so it did not reduce the price of the product you bought.
| Item | 2026 status (checked November 10, 2026) | 2025 (as a guide) |
|---|---|---|
| Apple Shopping Event (gift card offer) | Not announced as of November 10, 2026 | Friday, November 28 to Monday, December 1, 2025 |
| Announcement date | Not announced | Reported Thursday, November 20, 2025 |
| Top gift card amount | Not announced | Up to $250 (MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max) |
| Holiday return window | Received November 6 to December 25, 2026, returnable through January 8, 2027 | Bought November 12 to December 25, 2025, returnable through January 8, 2026 |
| Black Friday / Cyber Monday | Friday, November 27 / Monday, November 30, 2026 | Friday, November 28 / Monday, December 1, 2025 |
When Is Apple Black Friday 2026?
Apple Black Friday 2026 dates are not announced as of November 10, 2026. However, if Apple repeats its 2025 pattern, the Shopping Event would run from Black Friday, November 27, through Cyber Monday, November 30, 2026. That is our inference from last year’s calendar, not an Apple date.
Meanwhile, last year’s timing offers a useful clue. In 2025, Apple’s Black Friday offer surfaced on November 20, eight days before Black Friday. So, if Apple follows the same rhythm, expect details around Thursday, November 19, 2026, the same day Amazon and Best Buy start their Black Friday events. We will update this page when Apple posts its offer.
Will the Apple Shopping Event include Canada, the UK and Australia?
In 2025, MacRumors listed the Apple Shopping Event as running in many countries, including the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. However, Apple has published no 2026 country list yet, so check your local Apple Store site once the offer goes live.
How Did Apple’s Black Friday Gift Card Offer Work in 2025?
In 2025, Apple gave a one-time Apple Gift Card worth $25 to $250 when you bought an eligible product, according to MacRumors’ breakdown of the US offer. Overall, Macs earned the largest cards, while accessories and the cheapest audio products earned the smallest.
| 2025 gift card | Eligible US products (2025) |
|---|---|
| $250 | 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro or M4 Max) |
| $200 | 15-inch MacBook Air (M4) |
| $175 | 13-inch MacBook Air (M4) |
| $150 | iMac |
| $100 | Mac mini; 11-inch and 13-inch iPad Air |
| $75 | iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, AirPods Max |
| $50 | iPhone 16e, iPad (A16), iPad mini, Apple Watch SE 3, Apple Watch Series 11, AirPods Pro 3, HomePod, select Beats |
| $25 | AirPods 4, Apple TV 4K, Apple Pencil Pro, select Magic Keyboards, Beats Pill |
What did the 2025 offer exclude?
Apple left its newest products out in 2025. For example, MacRumors reported that the iPhone 17 lineup, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Ultra 3, the M5 iPad Pro, the M5 MacBook Pro and the M5 Vision Pro were not eligible. In addition, Apple left out refurbished products, and shoppers could not combine the offer with education pricing.
Apple Black Friday 2026: gift card or cash discount?
A cash discount is worth more than a gift card of the same size, because you keep the cash and the card only pays off if you buy from Apple again. For example, here is our own illustrative arithmetic: on a $1,999 Mac, a $250 gift card equals 12.5% of the price, but only if you later spend all $250 at Apple. By contrast, a retailer cutting $200 off the same Mac saves 10% immediately, with no further purchase needed.
Pro tip. Choose the Apple gift card when you already plan to buy something else from Apple soon, such as AirPods, an Apple Pencil or other accessories. Otherwise, a retailer’s cash discount is usually the better deal.
Which New Apple Products Launched Before Black Friday 2026?
Apple launched several new products between September and November 2026, and all of them sell at full list price. Based on the 2025 exclusions, Apple is least likely to include the newest models in any gift card offer, although that is an inference, not an Apple statement.
| Product | US starting price | Available |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone Duo | $1,999 | October 23, 2026 |
| HomePod mini 2 | $149 | October 30, 2026 |
| iPad mini (A20 Pro) | $699 Wi-Fi; $849 Wi-Fi + Cellular | November 6, 2026 |
| 14-inch MacBook Pro with M6 | $1,999 | November 6, 2026 |
| iMac with M6 | $1,499 | November 6, 2026 |
| MacBook Pro with PROLED XDR Display | $2,899 (14-inch, M5 Pro) | November 6, 2026 |
| Apple TV 4K (4th generation) | $299 | November 13, 2026 |
| Apple HomeView | $299 | November 13, 2026 |
Watch out. If a listing shows a big markdown on an Apple model that launched this fall, check the exact model, chip and storage first. Older generations often look similar, so a deep discount may be on last year’s version.
Where Are Apple Black Friday Deals in 2026?
Retailers, not Apple, offer the cash discounts on Apple products. As of November 10, 2026, Amazon, Best Buy and Costco have announced Black Friday windows, but none has published specific Apple product prices in its announcement.
| Retailer | 2026 Black Friday window | Apple-specific detail published |
|---|---|---|
| Amazon | Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday: November 19 to 30 (announced November 9, 2026) | None named in the announcement |
| Best Buy | Black Friday Doorbusters and Deals: 10 days from November 19; Early Black Friday deals from November 6 | None named in the October 27 calendar |
| Costco | Apple Savings Event: November 27 to 30, 2026, warehouse and online | Event listed, limit 2; no products or prices shown yet |
Walmart and Target also sell iPhone, iPad, AirPods and Apple Watch, and they run their own Black Friday events. For their dates, see our Walmart Black Friday guide and Target Black Friday guide. In its 2025 coverage, MacRumors also noted that Amazon and other resellers frequently beat Apple’s gift card with larger immediate discounts, so compare both before you buy.
What about iPhone Black Friday deals?
Apple’s own 2025 offer covered only older iPhones, with a $75 gift card on iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus and $50 on iPhone 16e. Carriers and retailers run separate iPhone promotions, often tied to a trade-in or a new plan, so read the fine print, especially how many months you must stay to receive the full credit.
Is the Apple Store Open on Thanksgiving and Black Friday?
Apple has not published nationwide Thanksgiving or Black Friday 2026 hours for its US stores as of November 10, 2026. So check your local store’s page on apple.com or in the Apple Store app before you go, because holiday hours can vary by location.
Meanwhile, online orders through apple.com and the Apple Store app do not depend on store hours, so you can still shop on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. For a list of chains that have confirmed their holiday hours, see what stores are open on Thanksgiving 2026.
What Is Apple’s Holiday Return Policy for 2026?
Apple’s 2026 holiday return policy is already live: according to Apple’s US returns page, eligible products from the Apple Store Online that are received between November 6 and December 25, 2026, may be returned through January 8, 2027. After December 25, purchases fall back to Apple’s standard 14-calendar-day window from the date you receive the item.
- Start date: November 6, 2026, six days earlier than the 2025 window, which began November 12, 2025, according to MacRumors.
- Deadline: January 8, 2027, the same calendar date as last year’s January 8, 2026 deadline.
- Exclusions: Apple says iPhones financed through T-Mobile or Verizon, and iPads financed through Verizon, follow the standard policy instead.
- Never returnable: Apple Gift Cards, opened software and electronic software downloads.
- Bought elsewhere: Apple products bought from another retailer follow that retailer’s return policy, not Apple’s.
Does Apple refund the difference if the price drops?
Only for regular price cuts. Apple’s US retail sales policy says that if Apple lowers the price of an Apple-branded product within 14 calendar days of the date you receive it, you can ask for a refund of the difference. However, the same policy excludes limited-time price reductions and special sales events, such as Black Friday.
How long do retailers give you to return Apple products?
Best Buy says shoppers can return most purchases made October 30 through December 31, 2026, through January 15, 2027, or January 31, 2027, for My Best Buy Plus and Total members. Amazon’s 2026 holiday window covers purchases from November 1 to December 31, 2026, returnable through January 31, 2027, except Apple-brand products, which must go back by January 15, 2027. The trade site PPC Land reported that Amazon detail from an Amazon seller notice, and we could not open Amazon’s customer return page to confirm it.
Tips for Buying Apple Products on Black Friday
The best Apple Black Friday strategy is to compare Apple’s gift card value with the retailer’s cash price for the exact same model. After that, factor in return windows and any extras you actually want.
- Match the model exactly. Chip, storage, screen size and generation all change the price, so compare like for like.
- Value the gift card honestly. Count it at full value only if you will spend it at Apple; otherwise, treat it as worth less than cash.
- Check education pricing. Apple lists lower education prices for new Macs and iPads, such as $1,899 for the M6 14-inch MacBook Pro, but in 2025 the gift card offer could not be combined with education pricing.
- Buy early if you are unsure. Because Apple’s holiday window started November 6, an eligible Apple Store Online order you receive now is still returnable through January 8, 2027.
- Know the price-drop rule. Apple’s 14-day price adjustment does not cover Black Friday event pricing, so Apple will not refund you if a gift card offer appears after you buy.
- Plan for Cyber Monday. Amazon’s event runs through Cyber Monday, November 30, and Costco’s Apple Savings Event ends that day too; see our Cyber Monday 2026 guide.
Our verdict
Apple Black Friday 2026 is still unannounced, and if it follows 2025, it will be a four-day gift card offer from November 27 to 30 rather than a sale. Therefore, it suits shoppers who already plan to spend more at Apple. For everyone else, a retailer’s cash discount on the same model is usually worth more, so compare both before you buy.
Either way, the 2026 holiday return window is the safety net: Apple Store Online purchases received from November 6 to December 25 can go back until January 8, 2027. We will update this page as soon as Apple posts its 2026 Shopping Event.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Apple have Black Friday deals in 2026?
Apple has not announced 2026 Black Friday deals as of November 10, 2026. In past years Apple has run a Shopping Event instead of a sale, giving an Apple Gift Card with eligible purchases. In 2025 it ran November 28 to December 1 with cards up to $250. Cash discounts on Apple products usually come from retailers such as Amazon, Best Buy and Costco.
When does Apple Black Friday 2026 start?
Apple Black Friday 2026 dates are not announced as of November 10, 2026. However, if Apple repeats its 2025 pattern, the Shopping Event would run from Black Friday, November 27, through Cyber Monday, November 30, 2026. In 2025, details surfaced on November 20, about a week before Black Friday, so watch for news around November 19.
Does Apple discount iPhones on Black Friday?
Apple does not usually cut its own iPhone prices on Black Friday. In 2025, Apple offered a $75 gift card with iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus and $50 with iPhone 16e, while it left out the new iPhone 17 lineup. Carriers and retailers run their own iPhone promotions, often tied to a trade-in or a plan.
What is Apple’s holiday return policy for 2026?
Apple says shoppers can return eligible Apple Store Online products they receive between November 6 and December 25, 2026, can be returned through January 8, 2027. The policy leaves out iPhones financed through T-Mobile or Verizon and iPads financed through Verizon. Purchases after December 25 follow the standard 14-calendar-day return window from the date you receive the item.
Is an Apple gift card better than a retailer discount?
Usually not. A retailer discount saves cash immediately, while an Apple Gift Card only pays off if you spend it at Apple later. For example, a $250 card on a $1,999 Mac is worth 12.5% only if you use all of it. Pick the gift card when you already plan to buy AirPods or accessories from Apple.
Will Apple refund the difference if the price drops on Black Friday?
No. Apple’s US sales policy offers a refund of the difference if Apple lowers the price of an Apple-branded product within 14 calendar days after you receive it. However, the policy specifically excludes limited-time price reductions and special sales events, such as Black Friday, so event pricing does not qualify for an adjustment.
