Apple Announces New Products on June 8. Here's the Shopping Move to Make the Week After.
May 31, 2026
Apple's WWDC keynote is June 8. New hardware gets announced. Previous-generation products immediately become more attractive to buy.
This happens every year, and every year most people miss the window. Here's how to not miss it.
Why the Week After WWDC Is the Best Time to Buy Apple
When Apple announces a new MacBook, iPad, or AirPods model, the previous generation doesn't disappear — it drops in price. Apple itself discounts last-gen stock. Third-party retailers (Amazon, Best Buy, B&H) compete to move inventory. The Apple Refurb store gets restocked with previous-gen units at significant discounts.
This window is short. Once retailers clear their previous-gen inventory, the discounts go with it. The best pricing on last-gen Apple products is almost always in the 7–10 days immediately following the WWDC announcement.
Which Products to Watch
MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. If Apple announces updated chipsets or new models, last-gen MacBooks see the most dramatic discounts — often $150–300 off from third-party retailers within 48 hours of the announcement. Best Buy and Amazon move fast on this.
iPad and iPad Pro. Same pattern. A new iPad Pro announcement means last-gen iPad Pro pricing becomes much more accessible. If you were on the fence about an iPad, this is the window.
AirPods. Apple updates AirPods less frequently, but when they do, the previous generation hits its lowest prices of the year. AirPods Pro 2 are still excellent — and if AirPods Pro 3 gets announced June 8, AirPods Pro 2 pricing is going to get interesting fast.
Apple Watch. Less certain for WWDC (Apple Watch tends to be a September product), but worth monitoring if you've been waiting.
Where the Discounts Show Up First
Apple's own Refurb store is usually the first place to see organized discounts on previous-gen hardware. Refurb units come with a 1-year warranty, are inspected by Apple, and typically run 10–15% below new MSRP. When new hardware launches, refurb inventory expands quickly.
Amazon moves fast on Apple pricing. The first 24 hours after an announcement are often where you see the steepest third-party discounts as sellers compete to clear stock.
Best Buy tends to match Amazon and sometimes runs additional trade-in promotions in the week following Apple announcements — worth checking if you have old hardware to trade.
B&H Photo is worth watching for MacBooks specifically. They're often aggressive on previous-gen professional hardware.
What to Do Before June 8
If you're considering an Apple purchase, add the item you want to your Amazon cart now. Amazon prices carts — meaning you can see price history and get notified when the price drops. Set a price alert on the item you actually want.
Know what you're buying before the announcement. If the new model doesn't offer anything you actually need, the post-announcement price on last-gen hardware is your buy signal. If the new model is compelling, you're paying new-model prices. That's a real decision — but you need to make it in advance, not while you're reading headlines on June 8.
The window is the week after. Don't wait for the second week.