In an unusual twist that goes against its traditional Black Friday plans, Apple is offering gift cards up to $150 instead of straight product discounts. by Desiree Everts DeNunzio November 29, 2013 8:23 AM PST (Credit: Apple) Don't go to Apple's online and retail stores expecting to see its traditional Black Friday discounts. This year, Apple's thrown in a bit of twist to its holiday deals. Today Apple is offering gift cards of up to $150 when you purchase a gadget through its US online and retails outlets. This is a divergence from years past, when it would discount the products themselves. If you pick up a new iPad Mini or iPad 2, expect to get a $50 Apple Store gift card. The iPad Air is worthy of a $75 gift card. And if you buy a new iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, you can score a $150 gift card. Related posts Tablets outdo phones when closing holiday-shopping deals Black Friday deal week: The big day Facebookers: Thanksgiving is not the new Black Friday It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says Retailers set to offer Bitcoin Black Friday deals That's still less than what some other retail outlets are offering. Target, for instance, is touting an iPad Air for $479 (it's usually $499) with a $100 gift card to its stores. That's an in-store only offer. And at Walmart, you can get the iPhone 5S for $189 (its original price is $199) and the iPhone 5c (typically $99) for $45 with a two-year contract. After signing the contract, you'll get a $75 Walmart gift card. Apple appears to be going the usual route in Europe, by offering standard discounts on its hardware as opposed to the gift cards. The gift cards offering is only in Apple's US and Australian online and retail stores. We've reached out to Apple for comment on the Black Friday changes and will update this post when we hear back.

In an unusual twist that goes against its traditional Black Friday plans, Apple is offering gift cards up to $150 instead of straight product discounts.

by Desiree Everts DeNunzio

November 29, 2013 8:23 AM PST

(Credit: Apple)

Don't go to Apple's online and retail stores expecting to see its traditional Black Friday discounts. This year, Apple's thrown in a bit of twist to its holiday deals.

Today Apple is offering gift cards of up to $150 when you purchase a gadget through its US online and retails outlets. This is a divergence from years past, when it would discount the products themselves.

If you pick up a new iPad Mini or iPad 2, expect to get a $50 Apple Store gift card. The iPad Air is worthy of a $75 gift card. And if you buy a new iMac, MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air, you can score a $150 gift card.

Related posts

• Tablets outdo phones when closing holiday-shopping deals


• Black Friday deal week: The big day


• Facebookers: Thanksgiving is not the new Black Friday


• It's men who do more holiday spending, survey says


• Retailers set to offer Bitcoin Black Friday deals

That's still less than what some other retail outlets are offering. Target, for instance, is touting an iPad Air for $479 (it's usually $499) with a $100 gift card to its stores. That's an in-store only offer. And at Walmart, you can get the iPhone 5S for $189 (its original price is $199) and the iPhone 5c (typically $99) for $45 with a two-year contract. After signing the contract, you'll get a $75 Walmart gift card.

Apple appears to be going the usual route in Europe, by offering standard discounts on its hardware as opposed to the gift cards. The gift cards offering is only in Apple's US and Australian online and retail stores.

We've reached out to Apple for comment on the Black Friday changes and will update this post when we hear back.