Essentials

100 Most Wanted Holiday Gifts: Apple AirTags are on sale ahead of Black Friday

By Lily Rose

Updated on: November 4, 2022 / 3:30 PM EDT / Essentials

CBS Essentials is created independently of the CBS News editorial staff. We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.

cbsn-essentials-holiday-100-2022-apple-airtag-option1.jpg — CBS Essentials; Apple

Apple AirTags are on sale at Amazon ahead of Black Friday. These little Apple tracking devices keep track of your important items and are especially handy during holiday travel. Plus, they make a great gift or stocking stuffer for the Apple fan in your life.

Keep reading to see why Apple AirTags are one of the most-wanted holiday gifts this season, and our top stocking stuffer pick for 2022. Plus, shop tons of discounted Apple tech -- including Apple AirTags -- ahead of Black Friday.

Top products in this article:

Apple AirTags (4 pack), $89 (reduced from $99)

$89 at Amazon

Apple Watch Series 8 (red or midnight aluminum, 41mm), $399

$399 at Amazon

Apple AirPods Pro 2, $240 (reduced from $249)

$240 at Amazon

Why we picked Apple AirTags as a top gift

Apple AirTags fit all our criteria for a great stocking stuffer. First, they're small enough to actually fit in a stocking. They're rated 4.8 stars on Amazon and a CBS Essentials bestseller, so we know they're popular. But besides that, they're incredibly handy -- you can use an Apple AirTag to find your lost luggage, keep track of your belongings and more.

Apple AirTags may be the most useful gift they'll get this year. For all these reasons, Apple AirTags are our pick for the best stocking stuffers of 2022. You can give one or gift a pack of four and save ahead of Black Friday.

The best stocking stuffer of 2022: Apple AirTags

Your friend or family member who is constantly losing their keys, wallet or Apple AirPods could really use some Apple AirTags this Christmas. These tiny trackers work by sending out a Bluetooth signal that can be anonymously detected by nearby devices. Then, even if your own phone isn't handy, you (and only you) can locate these trackers on an Apple "Find My" map.

If your iPhone is handy, then it can lead you straight to the AirTag via the phone's "Precision Finding" feature (found on the Apple iPhone 11 and newer models).

Apple AirTags are water-resistant, and designed to last for up to one year on a standard, replaceable battery.

Apple AirTags (4 pack), $89 (reduced from $99)

$89 at Amazon

You'll get the best per-AirTag price when you buy a four pack. But if you only need one, single Apple AirTags are available at Amazon.

Apple AirTag, $29

$29 at Amazon

Apple AirTag leather key ring

Don't forget to accessorize!

Slip one of your Apple AirTags into a colorful leather key ring. Then hang the key ring from your backpack, purse or suitcase so you can keep track of your stuff.

The key ring is available in eight colors.

Apple AirTag leather key ring, $35 and up

$35 and up

Shop Apple tech at Amazon

There are tons of great deals on Apple products ahead of Black Friday. Score huge discounts right now on new Apple MacBooks, AirPods and more.

Apple AirPods Pro 2: $239

The latest Apple AirPods Pro 2 earbuds offer 30 hours of listening time with the included charging case. They have an upgraded wireless chip for improved audio functionality, a new low distortion driver for clearer audio and improved active noise cancellation. The Apple AirPods Pro 2 provide truly custom sound: You can use your iPhone's camera to analyze your unique ear anatomy and find the perfect audio settings for you.

The design of the AirPods Pro 2 is fairly similar to the previous generation, but Apple has introduced touch control to the AirPods Pro 2 to help users more seamlessly control their AirPods. Users will also get a new extra-small tip with their AirPods. The case did get a notable design upgrade with a new lanyard loop and a built-in speaker to help track the location of your AirPods case.

Apple AirPods Pro 2, $239 (reduced from $249)

$239 at Amazon

Apple AirPods with MagSafe case (3rd generation): $170

The latest generation of Apple AirPods are a nice upgrade over the second-generation model. They support 3D spatial audio with dynamic head tracking. You get more listening time, too -- up to 30 hours with the included MagSafe charging case.

Apple AirPods (3rd generation), $170 (reduced from $179)

$169 at Amazon

Apple AirPods Max: $450

Apple AirPods Max use active noise-cancellation technology to block out unwanted noise and feature a transparency mode so you can hear what you need to. These headphones feature 20 hours of listening. They come in a variety of colors including blue, green, red and silver. They're also compatible with Siri.

Apple AirPods Max, $450 (regularly $549)

$450 at Amazon

Best Apple iPad deals

Find these iPads on sale now at Amazon and Walmart.

Apple iPad 9: $299

The 10.2-inch iPad 9, released in 2021, is the most affordable of Apple's iPad offerings. It offers a 8 MP wide-angle back camera, and a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle front camera. It boasts stereo speakers, too. This iPad is powered by a A13 Bionic chip. It boasts up to 10 hours of battery life, and is compatible with the Apple Pencil ($99) for drawing or note-taking.

Available in two colors; prices vary.

Apple iPad 9 (64 GB) (silver), $299 (reduced from $329)

$299 at Amazon

Want to protect your new tablet investment? Get the 64 GB Apple iPad 9 bundled with a two-year subscription to Apple's protection plan, Apple Care+. That bundle's on sale on Amazon, too.

Apple iPad 9 (64 GB) (silver) bundled with Apple Care+, $368 (reduced from $398)

$368 at Amazon

Apple iPad Air 5: $520

Introduced in 2022, the 10.9-inch Apple iPad Air 5 is the latest in the lightweight iPad Air line. The iPad Air 5 offers performance up to 60% faster than the prior model, thanks to Apple's turbo-charged M1 chip. The device boasts a 12 MP wide-angle back camera that supports 4K video. It also offers touch ID, and Apple's Liquid Retina display.

Available in five colors; prices vary.

Apple iPad Air 5 (64 GB) (pink), $520 (reduced from $599)

$520 at Amazon

The 256 GB iPad Air 5 is also available in five colors; prices vary. The best deal we saw was for the space gray model (pictured) with Wi-Fi-only connectivity.

Apple iPad Air 5 (256 GB) (space gray), $670 (reduced from $749)

$670 at Amazon

Apple iPad Mini 6: $459

The iPad Mini 6 is a compact tablet with an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display screen. Released in 2021, the Apple tablet is powered by an A15 Bionic chip. It features a 12 MP wide-angle back camera, and a 12 MP ultra-wide-angle front camera. It boasts landscape stereo speakers. Available in four colors.

Note that the Apple iPad Mini is not compatible with Apple's external Magic Keyboard. It can, however, be used with other Bluetooth-enabled external keyboards.

Apple iPad Mini (64 GB), $459 (reduced from $499)

$459 at Amazon

Amazon also has a good deal on the Wi-Fi and cellular model with 64 GB of storage. Choose from four colors.

Apple iPad Mini 6 with celluar connectivity (64 GB), $549 (reduced from $649)

$549 at Amazon

Apple iPad Pro 5: $800

Apple's high-end tablet, the iPad Pro, features an 11-inch Liquid Retina XDR display, a pro camera system and a Thunderbolt port for lightning-speed data transfers. Looking for a traditional laptop experience? It's compatible with Apple's Magic Keyboard.

Available in two colors; prices vary. The sale prices listed below are for the space gray iPad Pro 5 with Wi-Fi-only connectivity.

As with other iPad models, the iPad Pro 5 with cellular connectivity is more expensive than the Wi-Fi-only device. But if 5G is the connection you're craving, then the extra expense may be worth it.

Apple iPad Pro 5 (256 GB) (silver), $800 (reduced from $899)

$800 at Amazon

Best Apple Watch deals

The newest Apple Watch lineup was just released in September and it's already on sale on Amazon. You can also score deals on slightly older models.

Not sure how to pick out an Apple Watch? Check out our guide on how to pick the right Apple Watch size.

Apple Watch Series 8

Apple Watch Series 8, the latest addition to the Apple Watch lineup, features the new S8 chip for improved performance. It also includes an always-on display and new watch face options. The Apple Watch 8 will has a larger battery than previous models: Battery life can be extended to 36 hours when in low-power mode. The Apple Watch 8 features a durable design and is swim-proof, dust-proof and crack-resistant.

The Apple Watch 8 has a number of health-tracking features, including an optical heart sensor, electrical heart sensor for ECG, blood oxygen sensor and a new body temperature sensor.

The Apple Watch 8 is available in 41mm and 45mm sizing options. Shoppers can choose between stainless steel or aluminum casing and several different colors.

Apple Watch 8 GPS (41mm) (red), $389 (reduced from $399)

$389 at Amazon

Apple Watch Series 8 GPS (45mm) (red), $419 (reduced from $429)

$419 at Amazon

Apple Watch Series 7: $267

Right now, you can save on the GPS version of the 41mm Apple Watch Series 7. At Apple, the model lists for $399 -- and up. On Amazon, you can get it for as low as $267. Pricing varies by color

Apple Watch Series 7 GPS (41mm), $267 and up (reduced from $399)

$267 at Amazon

$319 at Walmart

The larger, somewhat weightier 45mm Apple Watch Series 7 is also on sale at Walmart and Amazon.

Apple Watch Series 7 GPS (45mm), $308 and up (reduced from $429)

$308 at Amazon

$329 at Walmart

Apple Watch Series 7 (45mm) GPS + cellular, $420 and up (reduced from $529)

$420 at Amazon

$449 at Walmart

Apple Watch SE (40mm) 1st generation: $239

The water-resistant 1st generation Apple Watch SE is a budget-friendly Apple Watch that's even more affordable now that it's on sale.

Apple Watch SE GPS + (40mm), $248 (reduced from $329)

$248 at Amazon

Best Apple MacBook deals

Get a new MacBook for a great deal ahead of Black Friday at Amazon.

13" MacBook Air (2020)

This is one of the best deals you're going to be able to find on a MacBook. This lightweight MacBook features Retina display, an impressive 18-hour battery life and fast performance. There is a 2022 edition out, so this is a slightly older model -- however, it is unbeatable deal for a new MacBook.

13" MacBook Air (2020, space gray), $800 (reduced from $999)

$800 at Amazon

14" MacBook Pro

A step up from the MacBook Air, the slightly weightier (3.0 pound) 14-inch MacBook Pro boasts a powerful active cooling system, which helps keep the 8-core CPU running fast. It delivers up to 21 hours of battery life on a single charge, and features a Retina display that's brighter than the MacBook Air.

14" Apple MacBook Pro (Apple M1 Chip, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD)(space gray), $1,859 (regularly $1,999)

$1,859 at Amazon

14" Apple MacBook Pro (Apple M1 chip, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD)(silver), $2,000 (regularly $2,499)

$2,000 at Amazon

16" MacBook Pro

Is the 14-inch MacBook Pro not powerful, or big enough for you? Then try its sibling, the 16-inch MacBook Pro. On Amazon, you can get a deal on the 16-inch MacBook Pro with a 10-core CPU, as well as 16GB of unified memory, and 512GB of storage. All of that is more than enough for you to be able to edit 8K videos on the machine. You also get four Thunderbolt ports, an HDMI port and a SDXC card slot.

With its size and more powerful guts, the 16-inch MacBook Pro is aimed at professionals who need a seriously powerful laptop for graphics-intensive applications, such as video-rendering and design. Just keep in mind, this is a machine that comes with a professional-level price tag.

16" Apple MacBook Pro (Apple M1 Pro, 16 GB RAM, 512 GB SSD), $2,100 (regularly $2,499)

$2,100 at Amazon

13.6" MacBook Air (2022)

Save $100 on the new-for-2022 Apple MacBook Air at Amazon. The laptop features a 13.6-inch Retina display, 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage and a backlit keyboard. Designed for portability, it weighs just 2.7 pounds and lasts for up to 18 hours on a single charge thanks to the Apple M2 chip.

13.6" MacBook Air (2022 model, 8GB), $1,099 (reduced from $1,199)

$1,099 at Amazon

More stocking stuffers to consider

You don't have to gift Apple products to have a merry Christmas. Check out these other top-rated stocking stuffer ideas.

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II

Bose products are known for their excellent sound quality, and the new Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II are no exception. They claim to offer the world's best active noise cancellation, and have a new CustomTune technology that auto-adjusts music to your ears' liking. They also have an "aware mode" that pauses noise cancellation for when you need to hear your surroundings.

If you disliked how bulky the original Bose QuietComfort Earbuds felt, there's good news: The QuietComfort Earbuds II are one-third smaller than their predecessor. They're water- and sweat-resistant, too, so you can wear them to the gym. The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II offer six hours of battery life in a single charge, and come with a charging case that holds three additional charges (24 hours of battery life in total).

Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, $299

$299 at Amazon

Amazon gift card

Amazon.com Gift Card in a Premium Holiday Gift Box — Amazon

Reload any Amazon gift card with $100 or more in a single transaction and you'll get $12 credited to the card for free.

This reload offer only works once, and is limited to Amazon Prime members. The $12 award will appear in your account within three days. See the site for more details and eligibility.

Amazon gift card promo offer: reload $100, get $12 for free

Get $12 in free money

Santa's Naturals candles

These responsibly sourced, non-toxic and natural holiday-themed candles will infuse the room with Christmas spirit for more than 30 hours. Choose from three scents.

Santa's Natural Candles, $15

$15 at Amazon

Poo-Pourri bathroom spray

Filling stockings with light-hearted gifts can make Christmas morning much more fun. Poo-Pourri, a scented before-you-go spritz for the toilet, offers equal parts entertainment and functionality.

Poo-Pourri bathroom spray, $10

$10 at Amazon

Beekman 1802 goat milk hand creams

The Beekman 1802 goat milk hand cream moisturizes hands leaving them soft and smelling fresh. Find scents like honeyed grapefruit, lavender and honey and orange blossom.

Beekman 1802 goat milk hand creams, $15 (reduced from $22)

$15 at Beekman 1802

Kellogg's cereal boxer shorts

Do you have a tradition of putting socks, underwear and other basics in stockings every year? Check out this three-pack of fun boxer short prints by Swag that includes a pair of Fruit Loops boxer shorts, Frosted Flakes boxer shorts and Honey Smacks boxer shorts.

Kellogg's cereal boxer shorts (3 pack), $33

$33 at Walmart

Funko Pop! Deluxe: Star Wars Duel of The Fates

This Amazon-exclusive Duel of the Fates Qui-Gon Jinn bobblehead is one of three collectibles from "Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace." Combine all three bobbleheads to create a cohesive shelf display that sets the scene.

Funko Pop! Deluxe: Star Wars Duel of The Fates, $30

$30 at Amazon

Tag Your Bags protective handbag covers

If an expensive handbag is under the tree, think of Tag Your Bags protective covers as an insurance policy. Each box comes with ten individual waterproof covers that can protect purses, backpacks and laptop bags from spillage, germs, mud, sweat and other undesirables.

Tag Your Bags, $19

$19 at Tag Your Bags

Stojo collapsible reusable coffee cup

Stojo collapsible reusable cup with straw — Stojo/Amazon

Stojo silicone coffee cups collapse, accordion-style, to fit anywhere -- including a Christmas stocking. This environmentally friendly cup (with a reusable straw) makes a great gift for coffee lovers.

Stojo collapsible silicone travel cup with straw, 16 oz., $20

$20 at Amazon

UNO Jurassic World Dominion card game

Pop this classic UNO card game in their stocking. It has themes inspired by "Jurassic World: Dominion" on it. Play with two to 10 friends.

This item is featured on Amazon's 2022 Toys We Love list, a collection of what the retailer thinks will be the hottest gifts this holiday season.

UNO Jurassic World Dominion card game, $11

$11 at Amazon

Wikki Stix

Bendable, twistable and sticky Wikki Stix are made out of yarn that's covered with food-grade, non-toxic wax. The brightly hued sticks twist together to create art, games and more, making them a great gift for preschoolers.

Wikki Stix (72 count) plus activity book, $16 (reduced from $22)

$16 at Amazon

Spongellé holiday star ornaments

This holiday-themed body wash-infused sponge is an inexpensive self-care indulgence. Plus, it comes packaged as a Christmas ornament, so it belongs on your Christmas tree as much as it belongs in a stocking.

Spongellé holiday star ornaments, $14

$14 at Spongelle

Roku Express HD streaming media player

A small piece of technology that can majorly up the TV-watching experience, the stocking stuffer-sized Roku Express Streaming Stick is $5 off right now. It doesn't support 4K resolution, but it's ideal for HDTVs.

Roku Express HD streaming media player, $18 (regularly $30)

$18 at Amazon

More early Black Friday 2022 deals to shop now

While there's still some time to wait until the official Black Friday 2022 sales start, there are plenty of great deals you can get right now. Check out our early Black Friday deal articles.

100 Most Wanted Holiday Gifts: The best gifts to give this Christmas

It may seem early to start shopping for Christmas and Hanukkah gifts, but trust us, it's not. Last year's holiday season was riddled with supply-chain issues, and CBS News is anticipating more of the same in 2022. Plus, there's inflation -- unfortunately, prices may rise even more before December comes.

So it's time to shop for holiday gifts now. Pick out a great hiding spot and check out CBS Essentials' 100 Most Wanted Holiday Gifts of 2022. We've based our top 100 gift picks on our own bestsellers, owner reviews and our own extensive research into the most-buzzed-about gifts of 2022, such as this I am Groot Lego set, a guinea pig toy that gives birth and this pooping purple turtle.

Stay tuned to the CBS Essentials 100 Most Wanted Holiday Gifts Series for our picks of the hottest gifts to give in 2022. Our list includes some of Apple's newest products, the top toys of 2022, game-changing kitchen appliances (such as this air fryer) and so much more.

Lily Rose

Lily Rose is a senior writer for CBS Essentials and the site's expert in home appliances such as washers, dryers, refrigerators and ranges. When she's not writing about how you can upgrade your laundry room, she's writing about home and kitchen essentials that will transform your space. Her favorite appliance is her air fryer. She firmly believes that it can make the crispiest sweet potato fries.