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These were December 16, 2024 U.S. promotions, not confirmed August 2026 offers. The strongest historical prices were an M3 MacBook Air from $899, a 13-inch M4 iPad Pro from $1,099, and Beats Solo 4 headphones at $99.99. Amazon and Best Buy inventory, delivery promises and prices have changed, so treat every figure below as an archival reference and recheck the exact configuration before buying.
Source: 9to5Mac’s December 16, 2024 roundup.
Quick verdict on the three headline deals
| Product | Historical configuration | Deal price | Reference price and saving | Best suited to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| M3 MacBook Air | 13-inch, 16GB/256GB | $899 | $1,299 earlier original price ($400 below); $1,099 regular price ($200 below) | Value-focused laptop buyers |
| M4 iPad Pro | 13-inch, 256GB Wi-Fi | $1,099 | $1,299 list price ($200 below) | Buyers needing a premium tablet display and performance |
| Beats Solo 4 | Wireless on-ear headphones | $99.99 | About $200 regular price; historical launch-period low according to the source | Gift buyers who do not require active noise cancellation |
The M3 Air was the most compelling general-purpose computer price, but its “up to $400 off” wording used Apple’s earlier list prices. Apple had raised the base memory specification from 8GB to 16GB in October 2024, which changed the lower, then-current regular prices used for comparison.
M3 MacBook Air configurations and the price-baseline issue
| Configuration | Historical deal price | Earlier original price | Regular price cited then |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13-inch M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $899 | $1,299 | $1,099 |
| 13-inch M3, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD | $1,099 | $1,499 | $1,299 |
| 13-inch M3, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD | $1,199 | $1,699 | $1,499 |
| 15-inch M3, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD | $1,299 | $1,699 | $1,499 |
| 15-inch M3, 24GB RAM, 512GB SSD | $1,499 | $1,899 | $1,699 |
The 13-inch, 16GB/256GB model was the value pick for ordinary browsing, office work and streaming. The 15-inch version bought a larger display, while 24GB of memory and 512GB of storage made more sense for heavier multitasking or keeping the machine for many years. In December 2024, the M3 was no longer the newest Air generation, so a newer MacBook Air is the better choice if its current price is close to one of these historical figures.
13-inch M4 iPad Pro: Wi-Fi and cellular prices
| Configuration | Historical price | List price | Historical saving |
|---|---|---|---|
| 256GB Wi-Fi, silver or Space Black | $1,099 | $1,299 | $200 |
| 256GB Wi-Fi + Cellular | $1,299 | $1,499 | $200 |
The Wi-Fi offer was matched at Best Buy at the time. The source also noted a $100 reduction on the entry-level 11-inch model, but did not provide enough configuration detail here to treat it as an equivalent comparison.
#1 Best Overall
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
When the Pro premium makes sense
- Choose the M4 Pro for its higher-end display, stronger performance tier and Pro-focused accessory workflow.
- An iPad Air is usually better value for notes, web use, schoolwork, office tasks, media and many creative projects.
- Cellular is worth the extra cost only if you regularly work away from dependable Wi-Fi.
- Check storage needs before ordering: video libraries, games, photo catalogs and downloaded media can quickly exceed 256GB.
- Budget separately for a Magic Keyboard, Apple Pencil and case; they are not included in the headline tablet price.
Beats Solo 4 at $99.99
Amazon listed Beats Solo 4 at $99.99, down from roughly $200, across reported colorways. 9to5Mac described it as matching the lowest tracked price since the headphones launched earlier in 2024, with Christmas delivery available then.
Solo 4 is an on-ear model. That makes it a strong inexpensive gift, but comfort and passive isolation differ from over-ear designs. Shoppers who specifically need active noise cancellation for flights or noisy commutes should compare ANC headphones such as Beats Studio Pro or competing Bose and Sony models rather than treating this price as a feature-for-feature equivalent.
Rank #2
- LEAN. MEAN. M3 MACHINE — With a powerful 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the blazing-fast MacBook Air with M3 chip is a superportable laptop that sails through work and play.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE—Apple Intelligence is the personal intelligence system that helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data—not even Apple.*
- PORTABLE DESIGN — Lightweight and under half an inch thin, so you can take MacBook Air anywhere you go.
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Amazing, all-day battery life so you can leave the power adapter at home.
- A BRILLIANT DISPLAY — The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports 1 billion colors.
Other notable Apple and Beats prices
Beats Pill
The 2024 Beats Pill was listed at $99.95, about $50 below its approximately $150 price and back at its Black Friday level.
Apple Watch Series 10
The 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 was reported at $330 versus $399. The roundup said Black Friday pricing had returned after some models sold out or reverted to full price.
Rank #3
- LEAN. MEAN. M3 MACHINE — With a powerful 8-core CPU and 10-core GPU, the blazing-fast MacBook Air with M3 chip is a superportable laptop that sails through work and play.
- BUILT FOR APPLE INTELLIGENCE — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly. It draws on your personal context while setting a brand-new standard for privacy in AI. Coming in beta this fall.
- PORTABLE DESIGN — Lightweight and under half an inch thin, so you can take MacBook Air anywhere you go.
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — Amazing, all-day battery life so you can leave the power adapter at home.
- A BRILLIANT DISPLAY — The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display supports 1 billion colors.
MacBook Pro examples
| Configuration | Historical deal price | Regular price | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14-inch M4, 16GB/512GB | $1,449 | $1,599 | $150 |
| 14-inch M4 Pro, 24GB/512GB | $1,799 | $1,999 | $200 |
| 16-inch M4 Pro, 24GB/512GB | $2,249 | $2,499 | $250 |
| 16-inch M4 Pro, 48GB/512GB | $2,649 | $2,899 | $250 |
| 14-inch M4 Max, 36GB/1TB | $2,899 | $3,199 | $300 |
| 16-inch M4 Max, 48GB/1TB | $3,664 | $3,999 | $335 |
Some Amazon configurations were not scheduled to arrive before Christmas 2024. Best Buy alternatives sometimes changed the chip, memory or storage, so the model identifier mattered more than the headline discount.
Accessory categories in the roundup
The same article listed secondary promotions on a Satechi Qi2 charging pad, Beats Studio Buds+, an Anker Prime power bank, Elago iPhone cases, MagSafe car charging hardware, a Baseus USB-C power strip, USB-A/USB-C wall chargers, an electric precision screwdriver set, a cable-management kit, an Anker Find My-compatible tracking card, a Twelve South travel charger, Nomad cases, bands, wallets and charging stations, XGIMI projector bundles and MAGEASY accessories. These items had no single comparable price in the source, so their value depended on the specific listing, color and bundle.
Rank #4
- BUILT FOR COLLEGE. AND BEYOND — MacBook Air with the M5 chip packs blazing speed and powerful AI capabilities into an incredibly portable design. And with up to 18 hours of battery life,* this thin and light powerhouse is ready to take on almost any major, just about anywhere.
- TEAR THROUGH TOUGH ASSIGNMENTS — With its faster CPU and unified memory, the M5 chip delivers even more performance and fluidity across apps, making multitasking and creative workflows smooth and responsive. A powerful Neural Engine and next-generation GPU with Neural Accelerators give you a powerful platform for AI.
- MAKE QUICK WORK OF YOUR TO-DO LIST — Apple Intelligence helps you write, express yourself, and get things done effortlessly — whether it’s for school or everyday life. With groundbreaking privacy protections, it gives you peace of mind that no one else can access your data — not even Apple.*
- UP TO 18 HOURS OF BATTERY LIFE — MacBook Air delivers incredible battery life with amazing performance, so you can power through a full day of classes without worrying about plugging in.
- A BRILLIANT 13.6-INCH DISPLAY* — The gorgeous Liquid Retina display on MacBook Air supports 1 billion colors, making photos and videos pop with rich contrast and sharp detail, and text appears supercrisp. So everything — from class presentations to movies to games — looks truly stunning.
How to evaluate a historical or live deal
- Use the right baseline. Label a discount as below list price, below the retailer’s regular price or a matched prior low. Those are different claims.
- Match the configuration. Compare screen size, chip, RAM, storage and cellular capability—not just the product family name.
- Check seller and checkout price. Amazon listings can switch to marketplace sellers; coupons, memberships or gift-card credits may alter the displayed total.
- Confirm stock, delivery and returns. The Christmas 2024 delivery statements are expired, and Best Buy membership terms or return windows can differ by listing.
- Compare the replacement model. An older product is not a bargain if a newer generation costs about the same or offers materially better performance.
- Add accessory costs. Keyboard, stylus, charger, case and storage upgrades can erase a hardware saving.
For current purchasing, check the exact listing at Apple’s MacBook Air page, Apple’s iPad Pro page, Beats Solo 4’s official page, Beats Pill’s official page, Apple’s store, Amazon electronics and Best Buy’s Apple store. Current August 2026 prices, stock, warranties and membership requirements are not established by the December 2024 article.
The Bottom Line
The standout historical values were the 13-inch M3 MacBook Air at $899, the 13-inch 256GB M4 iPad Pro at $1,099 and Beats Solo 4 at $99.99. They were temporary U.S. prices from December 16, 2024—not live offers—so judge any replacement deal against the exact configuration, current-generation alternatives and the complete cost of accessories.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- Key Features Apple M3 8-Core Chip 8GB Unified RAM | 256GB SSD
- 13.6" 2560 x 1664 Liquid Retina Display 8-Core GPU | 16-Core Neural Engine
- Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | Bluetooth 5.3 2 x Thunderbolt / USB4
- FaceTime Full HD 1080p Camera Backlit Magic Keyboard
- Force Touch Trackpad | Touch ID Sensor macOS
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
