Black Friday 2025 Mac Price War: M5 MacBook Pro Now Cheaper Than M4 as MacBook Air Drops to $749 and Mac mini to $479 (November 26, 2025)

Published: November 26, 2025

Apple’s Black Friday week has turned into a full‑blown Mac price war. Just weeks after launch, the new M5 MacBook Pro is now heavily discounted and, in some cases, cheaper than older M4 models, while the M4 MacBook Air has fallen to $749 and the M4 Mac mini to $479 at major retailers like Amazon and B&H. ^[1]

Below is a breakdown of what’s happening today (November 26, 2025), how these deals compare, and whether you should buy M4 or M5 if you’re shopping this Black Friday.

1. The headline: M5 MacBook Pro gets record cuts — and undercuts the M4

The biggest story today is the 14‑inch M5 MacBook Pro. After a series of progressive discounts through November, it has now hit record-low prices at multiple retailers.

Key M5 MacBook Pro prices today (14‑inch)

Base M5 MacBook Pro (10‑core CPU, 10‑core GPU, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD)
– $1,399 at Amazon (down from $1,599; ~$200 off). ^[2]
M5 16GB / 1TB
– Around $1,599 at Amazon (typically $1,799 list). ^[3]
M5 24GB / 1TB
– $1,799 at Amazon (down from $1,999). ^[4]
M5 24GB / 512GB (B&H Photo exclusive)
– $1,569 at B&H, a $230 Black Friday discount and currently the best price for a 24GB M5 machine. ^[5]

This is notable because Apple is still selling that same 24GB upgrade at full price on its own store, but third‑party retailers have slashed hundreds of dollars off to win Black Friday traffic. ^[6]

When the M5 became cheaper than the M4

Gizmodo highlighted the tipping point a few days ago:

A 14‑inch M4 MacBook Pro (16GB/512GB) was still at $1,599,
While the equivalent M5 model briefly dropped to around $1,400 during Amazon’s Black Friday promotions. ^[7]

In other words, the newer, faster M5 MacBook Pro briefly undercut the older M4 model, which is the opposite of how Apple’s pricing usually works. That’s effectively an Amazon‑subsidized launch sale designed to pull shoppers away from competing retailers. ^[8]

Even now, with B&H joining the fight, the M5 is sitting in the same price band as discounted M4 Pro models, making the decision far less straightforward for buyers.

2. M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro: up to $500 off in a “price war”

If you care more about raw performance than the newest chip name, the M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro models are seeing some of the deepest cuts of any Mac this year.

AppleInsider reports a Black Friday “price war” between Amazon and B&H around the 14‑ and 16‑inch M4 Pro/Max line: ^[9]

Notable M4 Pro / M4 Max deals today

Approximate US pricing from Amazon and B&H as of November 26:

14‑inch M4 MacBook Pro (base M4, 16GB/512GB) – $1,299 (about $300 off list). ^[10]
14‑inch M4 Pro (24GB/512GB) – around $1,749 ($250 off). ^[11]
14‑inch M4 Pro (24GB/1TB) – around $2,099 ($300 off). ^[12]
14‑inch M4 Max (36GB/1TB) – about $2,799, up to $400 off. ^[13]
16‑inch M4 Pro (24GB/512GB) – around $2,189 ($300+ off typical MSRP). ^[14]
16‑inch M4 Max (48GB/1TB) – roughly $3,499, as much as $500 off depending on the exact configuration. ^[15]

For heavy pro workloads—4K/8K video editing, 3D, and complex music sessions—these discounted M4 Pro/Max machines are still Apple’s fastest MacBooks overall, even though the chip names look “older” than the brand‑new M5. ^[16]

3. MacBook Air Black Friday deals: M4 models from $749

On the more portable and consumer‑friendly side, the M4 MacBook Air is now at what multiple outlets describe as its lowest price to date.

Key M4 MacBook Air prices today

Across Amazon and other major retailers, typical deals include: ^[17]

13‑inch M4 MacBook Air, 16GB/256GB – about $749 (roughly $250 off the $999 base price).
13‑inch M4 MacBook Air, 16GB/512GB – around $949 (roughly $1,199 list).
13‑inch M4 MacBook Air, 24GB/512GB – about $1,149 (down from ~$1,399).
15‑inch M4 MacBook Air, 16GB/256GB – about $949 (around $1,199 normally).
15‑inch M4 MacBook Air, 16GB/512GB – roughly $1,149.
15‑inch M4 MacBook Air, 24GB/512GB – around $1,349.

Macworld’s Black Friday guide had predicted that the base M4 Air would fall to roughly $750/£849 this week, and that’s exactly what we’re seeing now in live listings. ^[18]

If you want a light, fanless machine for study, office work, web, and light creative tasks, this $749–$949 band is arguably the best value in Apple’s laptop lineup today.

4. Mac mini and iMac: desktop Macs hit all‑time lows

The M4 Mac mini and M4 iMac are quietly some of the strongest Black Friday deals this year, especially if you already own a monitor or don’t need portability.

M4 Mac mini deals

Based on prices tracked by 9to5Mac and Macworld today: ^[19]

M4 Mac mini (16GB/256GB) – $479 (about $120 off the usual $599).
M4 Mac mini (16GB/512GB) – around $670.
M4 Mac mini (24GB/256GB) – around $870.
M4 Mac mini (24GB/1TB) – about $1,049.
M4 Pro Mac mini (24GB/512GB) – $1,199 (roughly $200 off).

Macworld notes that these M4/M4 Pro mini deals are “as low as they’ve ever been” and that new M5 desktop chips likely won’t arrive before 2026, making these discounts particularly attractive for buyers who don’t want to wait another year. ^[20]

In the UK, similar cuts are live, with the M4 Mac mini 256GB dropping to around £499, and the Pro version roughly £130 off list price. ^[21]

M4 iMac deals

The 24‑inch M4 iMac is also discounted: ^[22]

8‑core GPU model (16GB/256GB) – about $1,149 (around $150 off).
10‑core GPU models – roughly $1,349 and up, with some configs seeing $300+ off depending on storage and nano‑texture options.

If you want an all‑in‑one desktop with a 4.5K display, these iMac deals are one of the simpler ways to get a complete Mac setup in a single purchase.

5. What Apple itself is doing: gift cards, not price cuts

While retailers like Amazon, B&H, and Best Buy are slashing sticker prices, Apple’s own Black Friday & Cyber Monday “Shopping Event” works differently.

From November 28 through December 1, 2025, Apple is offering gift cards up to $250 when you buy eligible products directly from the Apple Store (online or in‑store). ^[23]

For Macs, the offer includes:

MacBook Air (M4)
Mac mini (M4 / M4 Pro)
iMac (M4)
MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max

Crucially, the new M5 MacBook Pro is not included in Apple’s gift‑card promotion, as Macworld and Apple’s own terms both point out. ^[24]

So your choice becomes:

Retailer discount: pay less today (sometimes hundreds less) at Amazon, B&H, etc.
Apple gift card: pay full price, but get up to $250 in store credit for future Apple purchases (apps, services, accessories, etc.).

If you’re very Apple‑ecosystem‑heavy and know you’ll spend that credit anyway, buying from Apple can be reasonable. Otherwise, the cash discounts elsewhere are usually worth more in real terms.

6. Should you buy M4 or M5 right now?

With M5 prices colliding with deeply discounted M4 models, the obvious question is: which should you buy this week?

Here’s a simple way to think about it, based on today’s pricing and what reviewers are saying. ^[25]

Choose the M5 MacBook Pro if…

You want the latest generation with better on‑device AI performance and Apple’s newest “Apple Intelligence” features baked in.
You mostly do coding, light to medium video editing, photography, office work, and AI‑powered workflows, but don’t need maxed‑out GPU cores.
You value battery life and efficiency as much as raw power.

At $1,399–$1,569 for well‑specced M5 configs, it’s hard to argue with the value—especially now that it has dipped below some older M4 configurations. ^[26]

Choose an M4 Pro / M4 Max MacBook Pro if…

You’re a professional video editor, 3D artist, or audio producer who will use every GPU core you can get.
You rely on multiple external displays and heavy I/O workloads where Pro/Max chips still pull ahead.
You see discounts of $300 or more off on the M4 Pro/Max model you want—Macworld explicitly calls that the sweet spot where these machines become especially good value. ^[27]

In many cases this week, a discounted M4 Pro or M4 Max will give you more performance per dollar than a base M5, even though the chip name is “older.” That’s especially true on 16‑inch configs with big RAM and storage options that are now $400–$500 below list. ^[28]

Choose the M4 MacBook Air or M4 Mac mini if…

You want the cheapest way into Apple silicon without sacrificing too much performance.
Your workload is mostly web, office apps, light photo/video, and streaming.
You care more about price and portability than having the latest chip or highest‑end GPU.

At $749 for the 13‑inch M4 Air and $479 for the base M4 mini, these are the deals that make “switching to Mac” realistically affordable for many buyers this year. ^[29]

7. How to shop these deals safely today

Because prices are moving fast, a few quick checks can save you from getting burned:

Verify the exact configuration
Make sure you’re comparing the same RAM, storage, and chip (M4 vs M4 Pro vs M5, etc.). Many “cheap” listings are for lower‑RAM or older‑chip models. ^[30]
Watch for “renewed” or “refurbished” labels
Macworld notes that some retailers quietly switch to refurbished units when new stock sells out—fine if you want refurb, but not if you think you’re buying new. ^[31]
Stick to reputable sellers
Amazon (sold and shipped by Amazon), B&H Photo, Best Buy, and other major chains are all authorized Apple resellers; you should still get full Apple warranty support. ^[32]
Compare against Apple’s gift‑card event
For Macs included in Apple’s promo, check whether a $200–$250 future credit is worth more to you than an immediate $250–$400 discount at a retailer. ^[33]
Expect prices to move quickly
Many of the best deals—especially on M5 MacBook Pro and higher‑end M4 Pro/Max configs—are explicitly labeled as limited‑stock Black Friday offers, and can vanish or change during the day. ^[34]

8. The bottom line for November 26, 2025

As of today:

M5 MacBook Pro has already gone from “brand‑new and full price” to heavily discounted, sometimes cheaper than M4 models.
M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pros are seeing $300–$500 off, making them extremely compelling for power users.
M4 MacBook Air and M4 Mac mini have hit all‑time lows at $749 and $479, bringing current‑gen Apple silicon Macs into mid‑range Windows‑laptop territory.
Apple’s own Black Friday shopping event starts November 28 with gift cards up to $250, but no direct discounts on M5 hardware. ^[35]

If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to upgrade your Mac, this week—especially today and through Black Friday on November 28—offers some of the best Mac pricing we’ve ever seen. Just decide whether you’re chasing the latest chip (M5), maximum performance per dollar (discounted M4 Pro/Max), or the cheapest entry into the ecosystem (M4 Air/M4 mini), and shop accordingly.

2025 Apple Black Friday Deals: Macs, iPads, and More!

Watch this video on YouTube.

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