Apple's Back to School promotion is in full swing, offering college students a free gift card worth up to $150 when they buy a new MacBook or iPad directly from Apple. While that's a solid deal—especially when combined with Apple's usual $100 education discount—many shoppers aren't eligible. Fortunately, there are plenty of other great Apple deals available from third-party retailers this week, many of which rival or even beat Apple's own offers.

This week's standout discounts are focused on premium "prosumer" devices like the MacBook Pro, iPad Pro, and Apple Watch Ultra 2. Amazon and Best Buy, for instance, are both selling a 14-inch MacBook Pro with a 15-core M5 Pro chip, 24GB of RAM, and 2TB of storage for $2,499—a hefty $500 off its list price. That's particularly notable because Apple raised prices on many MacBook Pros earlier this summer, and even Apple's refurbished store currently sells this configuration for $2,539. For anyone who needs serious computing power, this is one of the best prices we've seen in weeks.

If you're on a tight budget, you might also consider Apple's new Upgrade program, which launched in the U.S. this week. Through Klarna, customers can rent a new MacBook, iPad, Apple Watch, or iPhone for as little as $11.99 per month for up to 36 months. It's a tempting option for those who want a new device without a huge upfront cost, but it's important to understand the fine print: you won't automatically own the device at the end of the lease. You'll need to upgrade, return it, or pay the difference between your leasing fees and the MSRP to keep it. In the long run, this won't save you money if you plan to buy your rental eventually, so for actual savings on a new device, the discounts below are the better path.

Best iPad Deal

The M5 iPad Pro remains the top choice for professional creatives and power users who demand the best performance and display quality in a tablet. Mashable's tech editor was particularly impressed by its Tandem OLED display, which delivers stunning brightness and contrast. Amazon is currently offering the 13-inch Space Black model with 512GB of storage for $1,549, which is $150 off the $1,699 list price. That discount almost completely offsets Apple's recent $200 price increase on the iPad Pro lineup, making this an opportune moment to upgrade. The Silver version was slightly more expensive at the time of writing, so if color doesn't matter, the Space Black deal is the one to grab.

More iPad Pro deals

• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,139.99 (save $59.01)
• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,327.50 (save $71.50)
• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 256GB) — $1,424 (save $75)
• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 1TB) — $1,710 (save $89)
• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 1TB) — $1,994 (save $105)
• Apple iPad Pro, 11-inch (M5, WiFi, 2TB) — $2,181 (save $118)
• Apple iPad Pro, 13-inch (M5, WiFi, 2TB) — $2,464 (save $135)

iPad Air deals

• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $689 (save $60)
• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 128GB) — $902 (save $47)
• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 256GB) — $979.99 (save $69.01)
• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,011 (save $38)
• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,196 (save $53)
• Apple iPad Air, 11-inch (M4, WiFi, 1TB) — $1,299.94 (save $49.06)
• Apple iPad Air, 13-inch (M4, WiFi, 512GB) — $1,472 (save $77)

iPad deals

• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 128GB) — $426.99 (save $22.01)
• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 256GB) — $522 (save $27)
• Apple iPad, 11-inch (A16, WiFi, 512GB) — $712 (save $37)

iPad mini deals

• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 128GB) — $569 (save $30)
• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 256GB) — $664 (save $35)
• Apple iPad mini (A17 Pro, WiFi, 512GB) — $874 (save $25)

Best MacBook Deal

The M5 Pro-powered MacBook Pro is absolute overkill for the average user, but for video editors, graphic designers, and programmers, it's a dream machine. Spec highlights include a super-bright 3K mini-LED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, Apple's latest N1 wireless chip, and three Thunderbolt 5/USB-C ports. This is a laptop that can handle just about any demanding workload you throw at it, from 4K video rendering to complex software development. At $2,499, it's a rare $500 discount that makes this high-end configuration almost affordable. Both Amazon and Best Buy are offering this deal, so you have options when it comes to where to buy.

More MacBook Pro deals

• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,849 (save $150)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,046 (save $153)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,259.99 (save $239.01)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,799 (save $300)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $2,799 (save $200)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Pro, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,399 (save $300)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Pro, 48GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $3,419 (save $180)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 14-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,599 (save $500)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 36GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $3,999 (save $400)
• Apple MacBook Pro, 16-inch (M5 Max, 48GB RAM, 2TB SSD) — $4,499 (save $500)

MacBook Air deals

• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,199 (save $100)
• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,349 (save $150)
• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,499 (save $100)
• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,499 (save $200)
• Apple MacBook Air, 13-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,699 (save $100)
• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD) — $1,399 (save $100)
• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 16GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,699 (save $100)
• Apple MacBook Air, 15-inch (M5, 24GB RAM, 1TB SSD) — $1,899 (save $100)

Best AirPods Deal

Somehow, the entry-level AirPods 4 are still holding at their Prime Day price of $99, which is 23% off the regular $129. Our audio experts have praised these earbuds for their excellent sound quality, clear microphones, and effortless connectivity with other Apple devices. They provide up to five hours of listening time on a single charge, and with the charging case, you can get up to 30 hours away from an outlet. If you're still using older AirPods, this is a fantastic upgrade, especially at this price.

More AirPods deals

• Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation — $144.99 (save $34.01)
• Apple AirPods Pro 3 — $199.99 (save $49.01)
• Apple AirPods Max — $449 (save $100)

Best Apple Watch Deal

Best Buy has the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 2 with a premium Black Titanium Milanese Loop on clearance for only $629.99—that's 30% off its $899 sticker price. Compared to the newer Apple Watch Ultra 3, which costs $244 more with the same wristband, the Ultra 2 only has a slightly smaller display, a slightly worse battery life, and a missing feature: Emergency SOS via satellite. For most people, these differences won't matter much, making the Ultra 2 an incredible value for those who need a durable, feature-packed smartwatch for outdoor adventures or intense workouts.

Apple Watch Series 11 deals

• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 42mm) — $299.99 (save $99.01)
• Apple Watch Series 11 (GPS, 46mm) — $329.99 (save $99.01)

Apple Watch SE 3 deals

• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 40mm) — $219.99 (save $29.01)
• Apple Watch SE 3 (GPS, 44mm) — $249.99 (save $29.01)

Apple Accessory Deals

In addition to the headline discounts on iPads, MacBooks, AirPods, and Apple Watches, there are also some great deals on accessories this week. If you're an Apple user looking to round out your setup, these are worth checking out.

• Apple AirTag (2nd Generation), 4-Pack — $89 (save $10)
• Apple Pencil Pro — $99 (save $30)
• Apple Magic Keyboard Folio for iPad (A16) — $224 (save $25)
• Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Air (11-inch) — $242 (save $27)

All of these deals are subject to availability and pricing changes, so if you see something you like, it's wise to act quickly. Discounts of $500 on MacBook Pros and $269 on Apple Watch Ultras don't come along every day, and once inventory clears out, these prices are likely to vanish. Whether you're a student gearing up for the fall semester, a creative professional in need of an upgrade, or just someone who appreciates a good bargain, this week's Apple deals are among the best we've seen all summer.

Source: Mashable News