Christmas gift guide 2022: Best Apple gifts including iPad, Apple Watch 8, AirPods and more
Christmas is quickly approaching, which means it's time to wrap up your holiday shopping. Thankfully, Amazon and Walmart still have tons of popular Apple items in stock and available for delivery before Christmas.
Top products in this article:
Apple iPad 10th generation (Wi-Fi, 64GB), $449
Apple AirPods Pro 2, $229 (reduced from $249)
The new Apple Watch 8, Apple Watch Ultra and Apple AirPods Pro 2 are all sure to be big holiday hits this year. But before you sift through our top picks for the best Apple tech gifts, there are a few things you should know.
First: The Apple Store in your local mall (or the Apple website) is rarely the best place to go for Apple products. That's because the best deals on Apple tech, including the Apple AirPods Pro 2, are at Walmart and Amazon right now. So before you run out to buy a new Apple iPad, Apple iPhone, MacBook or Apple Watch for a loved one, read our Apple gift guide to find the best products and the best prices.
Best Apple Watch gifts
From the new luxury Apple Watch Ultra to the more affordable Apple Watch SE, these smartwatches make excellent holiday gifts. They're all on sale for Black Friday.
Apple Watch Ultra: $780
The Apple Watch Ultra is designed to be a more rugged and durable option for athletes and adventurers. It provides up to 36 hours of life on a single charge with standard use, or 60 hours of battery life with the soon-to-be-released battery optimization setting. It is made with a stronger titanium alloy material for improved impact resistance. It also offers a larger (49mm), brighter display and a second speaker for better sound and display visibility during outdoor use. Apple says it's also optimized for diving and water sports.
The Apple Watch Ultra provides enhanced GPS functionality to trace your steps and improve navigation for outdoor expeditions. There is also an action button that can be used to more accurately track your workouts by marking segments of your workout.
Apple Watch Ultra, $780 (reduced from $799)
Apple Watch Series 8: $349 and up
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), $349 (reduced from $399)
Apple Watch Series 8 GPS (45mm), $379 (regularly $429)
Apple Watch SE 2nd generation: $249 and up
Apple Watch SE 2nd generation, the most affordable Apple Watch option, includes core Apple Watch features such as car crash detection, heart rate monitoring, fall detection and activity tracking. The updated watch can be paired with a parent's iPhone, but still operate independently for calling and texting. It's a smart choice for families that want to stay connected.
The new Apple Watch SE is 20 percent faster than the last generation. The display is 30 percent larger than the prior model as well. The back case design now features 100 percent recycled aluminum.
Apple Watch SE 2nd generation (40mm), $249
Apple Watch SE 2nd generation (44mm), $250 (reduced from $279)
Apple Watch SE 2nd generation, GPS + Cellular (40mm), $270 (reduced from $299)
Apple Watch SE 2nd generation, GPS + Cellular (44mm), $320 (regularly $329)
Apple Watch SE (1st generation): $199
The Apple Watch SE, the most affordable model in the Apple Watch lineup, is even more affordable now with this deal at Walmart. The smartwatch offers a 40mm screen and boasts a wide range of health and fitness features. It can also be used to play music, check your tests and make calls when paired with your iPhone.
Apple Watch SE GPS (1st generation), $199 (reduced from $279)
Apple Watch Series 7: $340
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. You'll find a better deal at Amazon and Walmart. Pricing varies by color.
Apple Watch Series 7 GPS (41mm), $340 (reduced from $399)
Best Apple iPad gifts
Find these iPads at Amazon and Walmart.
10.9" Apple iPad 10th generation: $426 and up
The latest edition in Apple's classic iPad lineup is the iPad 10th generation. This 10.9-inch tablet features a Liquid Retina display with Apple's True Tone technology. It has Apple's A14 Bionic chip, an upgrade from the iPad 9's A13 chip. The iPad 10 is compatible with Wi-Fi 6 and 5G internet for fast performance. It also offers all-day battery life, so that you can easily take it to school, work or on your holiday travels without having to worry about plugging it in mid-day.
The new iPad 10 comes in four vibrant colors: yellow, pink, blue and silver. You can also choose between 5G cellular and WiFi-only models. The iPad 10 starts at $449.
Apple iPad 10th generation (Wi-Fi, 64GB), $449
Apple iPad 10th generation (Wi-Fi, 256GB), $599
Apple iPad 10th generation (Wi-Fi and cellular, 64GB), $589 (reduced from $599)
Apple iPad 10th generation (Wi-Fi and cellular, 256GB), $739 (reduced from $749)
11" Apple iPad Pro 4 (2022): $770 and up
The latest iPad Pro comes with several major upgrades. One of the most notable changes is that the 2022 iPad Pros are equipped with the M2 chip, the same fast and powerful chip included in the latest MacBooks. The M2 chip makes this the fastest iPad yet -- and an excellent choice for video editing, streaming or gaming.
Apple made some improvements to the writing and drawing experience on the new iPad Pros as well. When used with the Apple Pencil 2, the iPad Pro provides a more effortless experience. The Apple Pencil can now be detected up to 12 mm above the iPad Pro display, which allows users to draw with more precision and preview marks before they make them. It also makes it more efficient for the iPad to register handwriting and convert it to text with the Scribble app.
The new 11-inch iPad Pro comes in silver and space gray. It starts at $759. Pricing increases based on storage and connectivity selections.
11" Apple iPad Pro 4th generation (WiFi, 64 GB), $770 (reduced from $799)
11" Apple iPad Pro 4th generation (Wi-Fi, 512 GB), $1,050 (reduced from $1,099)
11" Apple iPad Pro 4th generation (cellular, 64GB), $995 (reduced from $999)
11" Apple iPad Pro 4th generation (cellular, 512 GB), $1,299
12.9" Apple iPad Pro 6 (2022): $1,070 and up
Want a bigger screen? No problem. Apple also released a 12.9-inch model of the new iPad Pro. The larger model includes all of the same updates as the 11-inch iPad Pro, including the M2 chip.
The 12.9-inch iPad Pro comes in silver and space gray. You can choose from four storage options and can select either the cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity options.
12.9" Apple iPad Pro 6th generation (Wi-Fi, 128 GB), $1,070 (reduced from $1,099)
12.9" Apple iPad Pro 6th generation (cellular, 128 GB), $1,294
12.9" Apple iPad Pro 6th generation (cellular, 256 GB), $1,399
Apple iPad Air 5: $559
Walmart is rolling back the price of the Apple iPad Air 5 for Black Friday.
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.
Choose from five colors.
Apple iPad Air 5 (64 GB), $559 (regularly $599)
Apple iPad Mini 6: $400 and up
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), $400 (reduced from $499)
Best Apple MacBook gifts
A new laptop makes quite an impressive holiday gift. If you want to splurge on a new MacBook, consider these highly-rated options this Black Friday.
14" MacBook Pro: $1,600
A step up from the MacBook Air, the slightly weightier (three pounds) 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), $1,909 (regularly $1,999)
14" Apple MacBook Pro (Apple M1 chip, 16 GB RAM, 1 TB SSD), $2,157 (regularly $2,499)
16" MacBook Pro: $2,099
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), $2,099 (regularly $2,499)
13.6" MacBook Air (2022): $999
Save 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), $999 (reduced from $1,199)
Best Apple AirPods gifts
These beloved Apple AirPods are great holiday gifts -- they're one of the best stocking stuffers to give this Christmas. Check out the brand new AirPods Pro 2, now on discount at Amazon, or save big on the other top-rated models.
Apple AirPods Pro 2: $229
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, $229 (reduced from $249)
Apple AirPods with MagSafe case (3rd generation): $160
These third-generation 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. We've found the best Apple AirPods deal at Walmart now during Walmart's Black Friday deals event, Deals for Days.
Apple AirPods (3rd generation), $160 (reduced from $200)
Apple AirPods (2nd generation): $120
Just about anyone will love these budget-minded Apple AirPods. They're not the latest model, but they're still one of the most sought-after earbud models on the market.
Retailing for $159 at Apple, they're on sale at Walmart during Black Friday for $79. These AirPods boast more than 24 hours total listening time (with the wireless charging case), a foolproof, one-tap setup for Apple device owners and a low-latency wireless connection (for full immersion when consuming movies and music).
Apple AirPods (2nd generation), $120 (reduced from $159)
Apple AirPods Max: $449
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, $449 (regularly $549)
More Apple tech gifts
Check out these additional Apple gift ideas.
Apple AirTags (4 pack): $99
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.
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 MagSafe Battery Pack: $75
This year, give the gift of extended iPhone battery life. The Apple MagSafe Battery Pack magnetically attaches to your iPhone (iPhone 12 models and newer), providing a portable, wireless phone charge. If need be, your MagSafe Battery Pack and iPhone can be charged at the same time.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack, $85 (regularly $99)
Holiday gift guides
As always, check back to CBS Essentials for holiday gift guides for every special someone in your life. Check back for more throughout the season.
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