Apple’s flagship AirPods Pro 3 have dropped to $179 during Amazon’s October Prime Day event, marking their first price drop below $190 since June and offering significant discounts alongside across-the-board markdowns on M5 MacBook Air models and iPads.
Shoppers hunting for tech bargains are finding rare markdowns on current-generation hardware as Amazon’s fall shopping event rolls out. While Apple rarely runs direct sales on its own platforms, major retailers have rolled out sweeping price cuts on laptops, tablets, and audio gear. These markdowns arrive just weeks after Apple introduced new audio hardware, changing prices for buyers looking to upgrade before the winter holiday shopping season.
Prime Big Deal Days runs for two days, specifically from October 6 through October 7, 2026. This limited time frame gives Prime members less time to plan purchases and make informed shopping decisions, making it necessary to act quickly. Amazon continues to offer discounts on AirPods, Apple Watches, iPads, and MacBooks, with select items falling to all-time lows. In addition to Amazon, other retailers such as Target are participating in the sales event.
Price Reductions on AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods 4
The standout audio discount belongs to the AirPods Pro 3, which are available at Amazon for $179, down from their standard $249 list price. This $70 savings marks the first time the current-generation earbuds have fallen below $190 since summer sales in June, according to industry trackers. For buyers comparing options within Apple’s lineup, the entry-level AirPods 4 have also seen deep discounts, dropping to $79 at Walmart or $124 CAD in Canada, sitting significantly below the newly announced AirPods 5. The base AirPods 4 are 39% cheaper than the AirPods 5 that Apple announced the month prior, while the newest AirPods 5 feature active noise cancellation at a $129 price point.
The price drop for the Pro model comes just weeks after Apple pushed out a software update via iOS 27 that added Custom EQ features. According to reporting from 9to5Mac, the update lets users customize how AirPods represent any audio played to match personal listening preferences.
“AirPods are designed and engineered by Apple to faithfully represent music, TV shows and movies, and calls…If you prefer a different sound profile, you can customize how AirPods represent any audio played.”
Apple Inc., via 9to5Mac
Amazon Cuts M5 MacBook Air Prices by $200
Laptops across Apple’s newly refreshed portable lineup are also seeing substantial relief following summer price hikes. Amazon has slashed $200 off nearly every configuration of the 13-inch and 15-inch M5 MacBook Air. The 13-inch model with 16GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD now starts at $1,099, erasing the extra costs added to the hardware earlier this year. Additional 13-inch configurations include the 16GB/1TB and 24GB/1TB models for $200 off. For the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air models, prices start with the 16GB/512GB configuration for $1,299.00 down from $1,499.00, alongside the 16GB/1TB model for $1,599.00 down from $1,799.00.
Higher-end professional machines are receiving even steeper cuts. The 14-inch M5 Max MacBook Pro configured with 36GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD is discounted by $600 down to $3,499 on Amazon. Other pro configurations, including M5 Pro and M5 Max setups ranging up to 48GB of RAM, see price reductions between $250 and $500, starting at $2,749.00 for the 24GB/1TB M5 Pro configuration and reaching up to $4,499.00 for the 48GB/2TB M5 Max device. The M5 Max Mac Studio featuring 36GB of RAM and a 512GB SSD is on sale for $2,299.99 down from $2,499.00, while the Mac mini is available in a 16GB RAM and 256GB SSD configuration for $779.99 down from $899.00, and a 24GB RAM and 512GB SSD model for $1,549.99 down from $1,699.00.
Canadian Retailers Lower Prices for Apple Devices
While U.S. shoppers enjoy these headline figures, international buyers face a more mixed pricing environment. In Canada, retail trackers list the AirPods Pro 3 at $259 CAD down from $329 CAD, while the 15-inch M5 MacBook Air sells for $1,890 CAD on Amazon Canada, down from $2,090 CAD. Additional Canadian offers include the Apple AirTag 4 Pack for $108 CAD down from $129 CAD, the Apple Watch Series 11 for $407 CAD down from $549 CAD, and the Apple Watch SE 3 for $279 CAD down from $329 CAD.
Shoppers browsing the event should expect stock levels to fluctuate rapidly. Bethany Allard of Mashable warns that their availability may be limited as we get further into the shopping season.
