Everyone wants a deal. We all wait for November, hoping the tech gods—specifically the ones in Cupertino—will finally drop the price on the best streaming box ever made. But honestly, if you went into Apple TV Black Friday 2024 expecting a massive, 50% off price tag on the hardware itself, you probably felt a bit of a sting.
Apple doesn't really "do" sales. Not in the way Roku or Amazon does. While a Fire Stick might drop to the price of a sandwich, Apple protects its margins like a hawk. Still, 2024 was a weirdly great year for people who knew where to look. It wasn't about the MSRP on the box; it was about the ecosystem play.
The $99 Unicorn and Why It Vanished
Let’s talk about the Costco situation. If you were browsing Reddit or DealLabs during the peak of the 2024 holiday rush, you saw it. The "Holy Grail." Costco members briefly saw the Apple TV 4K (128GB Wi-Fi + Ethernet) for $99.99.
That’s a $50 drop. For Apple hardware, that's basically a miracle.
But here’s the thing: it lasted for about ten minutes. Okay, maybe a few hours, but it felt like seconds. Most people who tried to snag that deal ended up with an "Out of Stock" notification or had to settle for the 64GB Wi-Fi-only model. This is the first thing people get wrong about Apple TV Black Friday 2024. They see a headline about a sub-$100 price point and think it’s a nationwide standard. It wasn't. It was a targeted strike by one or two retailers to get you in the digital door.
The Gift Card "Discount" Trap
Apple’s own store didn't lower the price of the Apple TV 4K at all. Not a cent. Instead, they did their classic move: buy the device at full price ($129 or $149) and get a $25 Apple Gift Card.
Is it a deal? Sorta.
Is it a discount? No.
You’re still out the full cash amount upfront. You’re just getting "Apple credit" back, which basically ensures you’ll spend more money on movies or apps later. It’s a brilliant business move, but for a consumer looking to save on their monthly budget, it’s a bit of a letdown.
Why 2024 Was Actually the Year of the Service
If the hardware deals were a bit stingy, the service side was the complete opposite. This is where Apple TV Black Friday 2024 actually delivered for the average person.
Apple slashed the price of Apple TV+ to $5.99 a month for six months.
Usually, this service is $12.99. That’s more than a 50% discount. For a service that traditionally avoids ads and keeps a high-quality (if smaller) library, this was a massive play for subscriber growth. They even let returning subscribers in on it, which is rare. Usually, these deals are "New Customers Only" to juice the growth metrics. By opening it up, Apple admitted they just wanted people back on the platform before the big 2025/2026 slate hits.
The Hardware You Actually Bought
Since there was no "new" Apple TV released in 2024—despite a mountain of rumors—everyone was buying the 3rd Gen (2022) model.
- The 64GB Model: This is the "budget" pick. No Ethernet port. No Thread support for smart homes.
- The 128GB Model: This is the one you actually wanted. It has the Ethernet port for stable streaming and acts as a Thread Border Router.
During the Black Friday madness, Amazon and Best Buy mostly hovered around $119 for the base and $139 for the 128GB version. A $10 discount is better than nothing, but it’s not exactly a "doorbuster."
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What Most People Get Wrong About the Specs
I see this all the time on forums: "Why should I pay $130 for an Apple TV when a Chromecast is $30?"
Honestly? Performance. The A15 Bionic chip inside the 2024-available models is overkill for just playing a Netflix video. It’s there so the UI never stutters. It’s there so you can play NBA 2K or Oceanhorn 2 without the device melting.
The biggest misconception during Apple TV Black Friday 2024 was that people were buying "old" tech. While the 3rd Gen came out in late 2022, it’s still significantly faster than almost every "new" 2024 smart TV interface. If your Samsung or LG TV feels sluggish, the Apple TV is the cure, even if the deal was only $10 off.
A Quick Reality Check on the Remote
The Siri Remote (USB-C) is miles better than the old glass one that everyone hated. But even in 2024, it still doesn't have an AirTag-style "Find My" chip inside. You can use your iPhone to find it via a proximity sensor, but you can’t make it beep. People were hoping for a "Find My" remote refresh this Black Friday. It didn't happen. Maybe 2026.
The Strategy for Late Shoppers
If you missed the November window for Apple TV Black Friday 2024, don't panic. History shows us that these devices often hit their lowest prices in the "hangover" period—early January or right before the Super Bowl.
Retailers like B&H Photo and Adorama often have "Open Box" units from holiday returns that go for significantly less than the Black Friday sales. I’ve seen 128GB models go for $105 in "Like New" condition. It’s not a flashy sale, but it’s the smartest way to buy.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Upgrade
If you're still sitting on an older Apple TV HD (the 1080p one) or a 1st Gen 4K, here is how you should handle the current market:
- Check your router location. If your TV is far from your Wi-Fi, ignore the 64GB deals. You need that Ethernet port on the 128GB model. It’s the difference between 4K HDR and a blurry mess.
- Stack your discounts. If you find the Apple TV on sale for $125 at Amazon, check if you have "Shop with Points" offers. Sometimes using 1 Amex or Chase point can trigger an extra 15-40% off.
- Verify the "New" status. Be careful with "Renewed" listings on third-party sites. Some "Black Friday Deals" are actually refurbished 2nd Gen models (the ones with the lightning-charging remote). Look for the USB-C port to ensure you're getting the latest tech.
- Subscribe to the Service Separately. Don't feel obligated to buy the box just to get the Apple TV+ deal. The $5.99/month offer worked on almost any device with the app.
The reality of Apple TV Black Friday 2024 was simple: the hardware didn't move much, but the value of the ecosystem grew. Whether you snagged a rare Costco discount or just settled for a $25 gift card, you're still getting the best streaming experience on the market. Just don't lose that remote in the couch—it still doesn't beep.
If you’re looking to maximize your setup now that you’ve got the hardware, your next step should be auditing your HDMI cables. To actually see the benefits of the Apple TV 4K, you need an Ultra High Speed (HDMI 2.1) cable. Without it, you’ll likely see "flicker" when the device tries to switch to HDR or Dolby Vision. Check your cables before you blame the box for a bad picture.