Quick Answers
There are a few ways to get 15% off a new Mac purchase. The main options are:
- Shop on Black Friday or Cyber Monday when retailers offer discounts
- Look for student discounts if you’re eligible
- Use coupon codes and cashback sites
- Buy refurbished from Apple
Timing your purchase around Black Friday or Cyber Monday is one of the easiest ways to get a good discount on a new Mac. Retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, and B&H Photo typically offer around 10-15% off Macs during these sale events.
If you’re a student or teacher, you may be eligible for Apple’s educational discount which gets you 10% off Macs and other Apple products. This can be combined with other promos for even more savings.
Using coupon codes and cashback sites like Rakuten can also help you stack on extra discounts. While individual coupon codes likely won’t get you 15% off, you may be able to combine a code with a retail sale promotion.
Finally, buying a refurbished Mac directly from Apple gets you 15% off retail pricing. Refurbished models are thoroughly tested and cleaned by Apple and come with a full 1-year warranty.
When to Buy a MacBook for the Best Deal
The best times of year to purchase a new MacBook to get the biggest discounts and promotions tend to be:
- Back to School Season (June – September): Look for educational discounts and free Beats headphones promotions.
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday (November – December): Retailers offer their best deals, around 10-15% off.
- After Christmas and New Years (December – January): Shop end of year clearance sales.
- Apple Refurbished Store: Get 15% off retail pricing year-round.
During the back to school shopping season between June and September, retailers will advertise educational discounts and promotions on MacBooks geared towards students and teachers. Apple itself offers a Back to School promotion each year that bundles free Beats headphones with the purchase of a qualifying MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, or iMac.
However, the best discounts on new MacBooks tend to be found during the Black Friday and Cyber Monday shopping weekend in late November. Retailers like Best Buy, B&H Photo, Adorama, and Walmart typically discount new model MacBooks between 10-15% off MSRP.
After the holidays in December and January is also a good time to find deals as retailers look to clear out older inventory before the release of updated models. Discounts may reach up to 20% off or more during this time.
Apple also sells refurbished, used MacBooks year-round in their Refurbished Mac store online. Refurb models are thoroughly tested and cleaned, come with a full 1-year Apple warranty, and are discounted roughly 15% compared to buying a brand new model.
How to Get Student Discounts on MacBooks
If you’re a current college or K-12 student, teacher, or faculty member, you can take advantage of Apple’s Education pricing for 10% off a new MacBook or other Apple device. Here’s how to claim the education discount:
- Shop at Apple’s Education Online Store
- Verify your current student or teacher status
- Receive instant 10% off at checkout
The Apple Education Store has the full range of MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, iMac Pro, and Mac mini models at reduced pricing for students and teachers. You’ll need to verify your eligibility by signing in with your school credentials or submitting proof of enrollment or employment.
Once verified, the 10% education discount will be applied instantly at checkout on both the device and any AppleCare+ warranty upgrades you select. Education pricing is available year-round for any in-stock models.
Retailers like Best Buy and B&H Photo also offer student deals on MacBooks, usually in the form of bundled gift cards and savings on accessories and software. Be sure to have your student ID card handy when shopping in-store to claim any discounts.
Combining the standard 10% education discount with other percent-off promo codes or retailer sales during Back to School season or Black Friday is a great way to maximize your savings on a new Apple laptop.
How to Use Coupon Codes and Cashback Sites for 15% off
While most individual coupon codes won’t get you a full 15% off a new MacBook, combining several discounts can get you close:
- Stack percent-off promo codes from deal sites
- Earn cashback through Rakuten and similar apps
- Take advantage of retailer student deals and holiday sales
Monitoring deal websites like RetailMeNot, Honey, and Capital One Shopping can help you find promo codes for 5-10% off select MacBook models at retailers like Best Buy and B&H Photo. While a single 10% code won’t get you to the full 15% off, stacking two or three codes on top of each other could potentially get you in the ballpark.
You can also earn cashback through shopping apps like Rakuten (formerly Ebates) to get up to 10% back as a statement credit or gift card. This essentially acts as another discount off your purchase price. Combining a 10% cashback offer with a 10% promo code would equal 15% off.
Finally, shopping on a day when retailers are already running site-wide sales for students, Black Friday, or the holidays can help boost savings. With a 10% student discount and 10% cashback, for example, you could potentially get a new MacBook 20% off.
Buying Refurbished from Apple for 15% Off
One reliable way to get a 15% discount on a MacBook is to purchase a refurbished model directly from Apple through the Apple Refurbished Store.
Apple offers a wide selection of the latest refurbished MacBook Airs, MacBook Pros, and Mac mini models at discounts of approximately 15% off the original retail price.
Here are some key advantages of buying refurbished:
- Each device is thoroughly tested, cleaned, and repackaged by Apple.
- Refurbs come with a full 1-year Apple warranty.
- Option to add AppleCare+ warranty protection.
- Supply includes current-generation models.
- Devices may have minor cosmetic blemishes.
Purchasing through Apple is the best way to buy a refurb, as their rigorous renewal process ensures you’re getting a like-new device backed by a warranty. Inventory fluctuates daily, so check back often if you don’t see the model you want.
Refurbished MacBooks can sometimes have minor scratches or dents, but otherwise function identically to brand new models. At 15% off plus a warranty, they are much more affordable than full-price.
Conclusion
Finding 15% or more off a new MacBook involves watching for sales during peak shopping seasons, taking advantage of education pricing, stacking coupons and cashback where possible, or purchasing a refurbished model directly from Apple.
Back to School deals in the summer, Black Friday and Cyber Monday in November, and post-holiday clearances in January are ideal times to find MacBook sales at authorized Apple retailers. Making sure you qualify for and apply any available student discounts can provide an additional 10% off as well.
While individual promo codes and cashback rarely total 15%, layering several discounts together can get you close. Or shop on a day when percent-off codes stack with existing sale prices for the biggest possible savings.
Purchasing a refurbished MacBook through Apple is a reliable way to enjoy 15% savings off retail pricing on current models, complete with a 1-year warranty and new accessories.
