Apple's Prime Day October deals are already rolling out. These are the best to shop first

Yes, Apple dropped AirPods Pro second-generation with USB-C in September, but right now, you can get AirPods Pro second-generation with Lightning for just $199. That’s $50 off the original $249 price, and these get the same impressive new listening modes. You also get class-leading active noise cancelation and adaptive transparency paired with crisp, rich playback for all types of audio. 

Right on cue, Apple’s second-generation AirPods have returned to $99 on Amazon. While not an all-time-low price, you are getting AirPods with fast pairing, over 24 hours of playback with recharges in the case, and hands-free “Hey Siri” for under $100. These also retain a similar design to Apple's original true wireless earbuds.

For $50 more than AirPods 2nd Gen or $50 less than the Pros, AirPods 3rd Gen offers a more compact build that doesn’t fully seal off the ear and upgrades the playback experience. These feature a custom-designed driver that can deliver a wider soundstage, and AirPods 3rd Gen support Spatial Audio with Head Tracking.

Apple’s AirPods Max are expensive, but for the price, you get a pair of premium over-ear headphones that are super cozy. Unlike competing models from Bose or Sony, these feature a mesh-canopy headband that disperses weight and lets you wear AirPods Max for hours. Like AirPods Pro, these use a combination of microphones, two custom Apple chips, and software to power active noise cancelation and transparent modes. Ahead of Prime Big Deal Days, you can save 13% on AirPods Max in silver, blue, and black.

Apple’s 13-inch MacBook Air is easily one of the best choices for a laptop on the market. It keeps the iconic wedged design but ditches an active cooling system and is powered by Apple’s M1 Chip. While this is the entry-level MacBook, the Air can easily handle productivity tasks and scales for true creative tasks like photo or video editing. It’s very powerful, and it’s also efficient with all-day battery life. You can get it for a full 25% off in gold, silver, or space gray.

Love the Touch Bar or the classic design of the 13-inch MacBook Pro? The M2-powered 13-inch Pro might not boast the chunkier, modern design of the 14-inch or 16-inch, but it does pack a punch with performance. Compared to either 13-inch Air, the Pro features an active cooling system that lets it run intense or challenging tasks for longer. Right now, it’s $250 off the entry-level configuration with 256GB of storage and 8GB of RAM.

If you’re after an iPad for streaming, connecting with family or friends, gaming, and even light productivity, Apple’s entry-level 9th Gen iPad deserves a look. Especially when it’s currently within $20 of the lowest price ever. For just $270, you get a 10.2-inch Retina display great for streaming and gaming and the A13 Bionic chip, which seamlessly handles nearly any task you could run on this iPad.

Apple’s iPad Mini 6th Gen is just $400 in Starlight, Space Gray, pink, or purple, thanks to double discounts—a visible price cut and a clickable on-page coupon. It features an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display ideal for reading, streaming your favorite movies, or browsing the web. The A15 Bionic inside keeps everything running smoothly, and support for the Apple Pencil second-generation means you can take notes and draw on the iPad Mini.

Those needing a bit more performance or a sharper, larger screen should consider the 5th Gen iPad Air. Like the iPad Mini, it’s $100 off ahead of Prime Big Deal Days and features the M1 chip inside. That means the iPad Air offers more advanced multitasking capabilities through Stage Manager, and you can even pair it with a case that features a trackpad and keyboard. If you’re keen to ditch your laptop and have an iPad be your main device, the Air is more than capable.

It’s no longer the newest model, but the Apple Watch Series 8 still packs in nearly every bell and whistle you could ask for. It’s a 41-mm Retina display that gently flows down the edges, and it’s powered by the ultra-snappy S8 processor. This way, watchOS 10 runs as intended, applications open quickly, and you can see all your stats. Right now, it’s seeing a rare $100 discount to just $299 for the 41mm GPS model.

The Series 9 dropped in September but keeps a similar modern design and speeds things up with the Apple-made S9 chip. Many Siri prompts and requests can now be processed on the device, which makes the Series 9 feel quite snappy. It will also get a new gesture control called “Double Tap,” which will likely be a game changer. Right now, it’s seeing a small discount to just $390 from $399 in select colors.