Apple Ipad Mini Black Friday 2016

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Nov 17, 2016, 08:20am EST |

Apple 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals: How Good Are They?

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This article is more than 4 years old.

Black Friday is fast approaching but, just like last year, Apple isn't playing ball. Thankfully Apple retailers are stepping up, however, so here is my guide to the best Black Friday deals and those you should treat with caution…

Note: my thanks to BestBlackFriday.com which has worked with me to collate these deals and create order from the inevitable annual chaos

My full Black Friday 2016 roundup showing the best deals across all the major retailers:

Read more - Best 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals Roundup: Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Target And Walmart

Star Buys

These are the standout deals for Apple kit on Black Friday 2016. Retailers are expected to set these deals live on Friday 25th November morning, but keep an eye on their websites because it is a long established tradition to let some deals loose early as a publicity win.

There are standout deals on all iPhones this Black Friday. Image credit: Target via BestBlackFriday

Relevant retailers are highlighted in italics for each deal:

iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus - get up to a $250 Best Buy Gift Card with an installment billing agreement with Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T
iPhone 7 or iPhone 7 Plus - $0 Down + $250 Target Gift Card for well-qualified guests at Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T

iPad Pro 9.7" - starting at $449 (save $150.99) - Target

iPad Air 2 (All Models) - $125 Off - Best Buy

iPad Air 2 - from $274 (save $125.99) - Target
Apple Watch Series 2 38mm + $105 in Kohl 's Cash for $369 - This is the same price that other stores are selling the Apple Watch Series 2 for, but it also includes the $105 in Kohl's Cash, which is valid for a future purchase.

Apple Watch Series 1 starting at $198 (save $71.99) - Target (this beats Best Buy's Black Friday offer which is $219, more below)

Read more - Walmart 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals: How Good Are They?

Solid Deals

While Star Buys can lead to impulse purchases, I would argue Solid Deals should only attract you if you're already in the market for one of these devices. The Black Friday deals here are good, but not game changers:

Apple Watch Series 2 starting at $369 - Best Buy

Apple Watch Series 2 Nike+ starting at $369 - Best Buy

Apple Watch Series 2 starting at $369.99 - Target

iPhone 5s 16GB (Straight Talk) for $99 (save $50) - Walmart (an ageing model but it will still do a job at this price)

Apple iPhone SE starting at $9.99/mo. for 24 months, 0% APR for qualified Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T customers - Best Buy

Treat With Caution

Not all Black Friday 2016 deals are worth pursuing. Here are some deals which may appear good on paper, but do not live up to their billing:

Any iPhone - $0 Down + $250 Walmart Gift Card for qualifying AT&T Next or Verizon Payment (a good deal, but Target offers the same deal for AT&T, Verizon and Sprint)

iPad Pro 9.7" Tablet (All Models) for $125 Off - Best Buy (in isolation a decent deal, but Target is offering it for $150.99 off so avoid this)
Apple Watch Series 1 38mm + $75 in Kohl's Cash for $269 - More expensive than deals elsewhere so only for those really invested in Kohl's Cash.
Apple Watch Series 1 starting at $219 (save $50) - Best Buy (Target has this for $198, so you need to be a real Best Buy loyalist to choose this)
iPad Mini 2 starting at $199.79 (save $70.20) - Target
iPad Mini 2 32GB for $199 (save $70) - Walmart

The iPad Mini 2 deals are flagged here because these are recycled deals from 2015. The iPad Mini 2 is also over three years old and I would not recommend it as a good investment at this stage. Apple will refresh the iPad lineup in early 2017 and software support for the iPad Mini 2 is unlikely to last much longer.

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Black Friday On Forbes

Walmart 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals: How Good Are They?

Best Buy 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals: How Good Are They?

Amazon 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals: How Good Are They?

Target 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals: How Good Are They?

Samsung 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals: How Good Are They?

Microsoft 'Black Friday' 2016 Deals: How Good Are They?

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