Everyone thinks they know the drill. It’s February, the weather is miserable, and suddenly every retailer on the planet is screaming about "historic" savings because a few dead presidents have a birthday. But here’s the thing about an Apple Presidents Day sale—Apple itself basically ignores it. If you walk into a sleek, glass-fronted Apple Store on Monday expecting 30% off an iPhone 16 or a shiny new MacBook Pro, you’re going to be disappointed. They don't do that.
Retailers like Amazon, Best Buy, and B&H Photo are a different story.
They use this holiday to clear out inventory. Honestly, it's a bit of a shell game. You’ve got to know which chips are actually on the table and which ones are just leftovers from three years ago that nobody wanted. If you’re looking for the M4 iPad Pro or the latest Apple Watch Ultra 2, the discounts are usually "blink and you'll miss it" type deals. We're talking maybe $50 off if you're lucky. But if you’re hunting for the "sweet spot" models—the ones that are a generation old but still incredibly fast—that’s where the real money is saved.
Where the Apple Presidents Day sale actually happens
Apple is famously protective of its brand. They’d rather melt down unsold iPhones than slap a "Clearance" sticker on them in their own stores. Instead, they offload that pressure to big-box retailers. Best Buy is usually the leader here, especially if you have their "My Best Buy Plus" membership. It’s a paid tier, which kinda sucks, but it often unlocks an extra $50 to $100 off on top of the public sale price.
Amazon is the wild card. Their prices fluctuate by the hour. One minute a MacBook Air is $200 off, and the next, it’s back to MSRP because a specific color sold out. You have to be fast.
Then there's Costco. Don't overlook them. Their Apple Presidents Day sale prices often match Amazon, but they throw in a second year of warranty for free. That’s worth more than a $20 discount in the long run. Plus, their return policy is legendary. If you buy an iPad and realize two weeks later that you actually wanted the bigger screen, they don't give you the third degree about it.
The MacBook Trap
Listen, don't buy the 8GB RAM models. I don't care how cheap they look during a sale.
In 2026, 8GB is barely enough to run Chrome and a couple of Slack windows without the system swapping to the SSD and slowing down. Even if the price tag on an M2 MacBook Air looks like a steal, you’ll regret it in eighteen months. Look for the 16GB (or the newer 24GB) configurations. They rarely go on deep discount, but during an Apple Presidents Day sale, you might find a "Renewed" or "Open Box" version at a specialized retailer like Back Market or Gazelle.
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The M3 and M4 chips are powerhouses. If you find an M3 Pro MacBook Pro for under $1,700, pull the trigger. That’s a "buy now" price. Anything higher, and you’re just paying for the privilege of owning it today.
Why the iPad is the real star of February
The iPad lineup is currently a mess. You have the iPad 10th Gen, the iPad Air (in two sizes now), and the M4 iPad Pro. Because there are so many models, retailers get confused. This is great for you.
Historically, the iPad Air is the most discounted item during these February windows. It’s the "middle child." It’s too expensive for students on a budget but not powerful enough for professional video editors. So, it sits. And when inventory sits, the price drops. Expect to see the Air hovering around $499 or $549. At that price, it's the best tablet on the planet. Period.
The iPad Mini is a different beast. People who love the Mini really love the Mini. It rarely goes on sale because the supply is usually lower. If you see $50 off a Mini 7, take it. You aren't going to find $100 off unless it’s a refurb.
Don't forget the accessories
Apple's margins on cables and cases are ridiculous. They rarely discount them. But during an Apple Presidents Day sale, third-party brands like Satechi, Anker, and Nomad go absolutely wild. You can get a high-quality GaN charger or a leather iPhone case for 40% off.
- Apple Pencil: Check for the USB-C version; it's often dropped to $69.
- Magic Keyboard: Look for open-box deals at Best Buy. People buy them, realize they don't like the weight, and return them immediately.
- AirPods Pro: If they are $189 or lower, that is a winning price. Do not pay $249.
The truth about Apple Watch discounts
The Apple Watch Series 10 and the Ultra 2 are the current kings. Since the legal battles over the blood oxygen sensor have settled into a "new normal" with disabled features in the US, the pricing has stabilized.
The best deals aren't on the newest ones, though. It’s the SE. If you’re buying a watch for a kid or a grandparent, the SE usually hits $199 during February. It does 90% of what the Series 10 does for less than half the price. Honestly, unless you need the ECG or the always-on display, the SE is the smarter buy.
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The Ultra 2 is a "flex" purchase. It’s tough, the battery lasts three days, and it looks cool. But it's rarely discounted more than $50. If you see it for $729, that's about as good as it gets until Prime Day in July.
Avoiding the "Fake" Sales
Some retailers are sneaky. They’ll raise the price in January just so they can "discount" it back to the normal price for the Apple Presidents Day sale. It’s an old trick, and it works because people get caught up in the holiday hype.
Use a price tracker. CamelCamelCamel is perfect for Amazon. Honey or Keepa work well too. If the "sale" price is the same price the item was in November, it’s not a sale. It’s just marketing.
Also, be wary of "bundles." A retailer might offer a MacBook with a "free" sleeve and a cheap mouse. Usually, that sleeve is worth five dollars and the mouse is junk. Don't let a $20 bundle distract you from a $50 price difference at another store. Focus on the hardware price. Everything else is noise.
Is it worth waiting for the March event?
Apple usually does something in March. Sometimes it’s a new color for the iPhone, sometimes it’s a refreshed iPad or a new MacBook Air.
If you are looking for the absolute latest and greatest, waiting might be smart. If a new model drops in March, the models currently on sale for Presidents Day will drop even further in price as "clearance" items. This is the ultimate gamble. Do you buy the M3 now at a known discount, or wait four weeks to see if the M4 Air launches and pushes the M3 price into the basement?
My advice? If you need the tool now, buy it now. The performance gap between generations is getting smaller. An M2 to an M3 jump isn't life-changing for most people. An M1 to an M4? Okay, that's a different story. But if you’re already on an M-series chip, these incremental updates aren't worth losing sleep over.
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Key takeaways for the savvy shopper
Don't just click "buy" on the first sponsored ad you see. The market is fragmented.
- Check the "Education Store": If you're a student or teacher (or have a .edu email), Apple's education pricing is often better than the Presidents Day sales at other retailers. They don't check IDs as strictly as you'd think online.
- Refurbished is King: The Apple Certified Refurbished store is the best-kept secret in tech. You get a new shell, a new battery, and the same one-year warranty. The discounts are usually 15% to 20% year-round.
- Trade-ins: Sometimes the best "sale" is just getting a better trade-in value. During February, companies like Gazelle or Decluttr often run promos where they give you an extra 10% on your old device trade-in.
Your Presidential Sale Action Plan
If you’re serious about saving money this February, you need a strategy. Stop browsing aimlessly and do this instead:
First, identify the exact model and specs you need. Write down the current price at three different stores today. This is your baseline. If the price doesn't drop at least $100 on a MacBook or $50 on an iPad, it's not a real sale.
Second, check the ship dates. Sometimes Amazon will show a massive discount, but the item won't ship for three weeks. If you need a laptop for a project starting Monday, that "deal" is worthless. Best Buy usually offers same-day pickup, which is a massive advantage.
Third, look at the financing. If you have an Apple Card, you get 3% back, but only if you buy from Apple. If Amazon is $100 cheaper, the 3% back is irrelevant. Do the math. Don't let "Rewards Points" blind you to actual cash savings.
Finally, keep your receipt. Most of these sales have a price-match guarantee. If you buy a MacBook on Friday and the price drops another $50 on Monday, call the store. They will almost always refund the difference to keep you from returning the item and buying it again at the lower price. It takes five minutes and saves you fifty bucks. That’s the easiest money you’ll make all year.
The Apple Presidents Day sale isn't a single event; it's a battle between retailers. Let them fight for your money. Stay patient, use a price tracker, and ignore the "Limited Time Only" timers designed to make you panic. The deals will still be there on Tuesday, but the smartest ones are found by those who did their homework on Sunday.