Skip the engraving, the best AirPods Pro Cyber Monday deals are not on Apple

(Image credit: Future)

Cyber Monday is all about saving money right now. Not later, when you've saved up again to splurge on holiday gifts. That's why I'm not a huge fan of Apple's penchant for offering Apple Gift Cards instead of discounts. More frustrating, still, Apple further muddies the waters by offering free engravings. If you ask me, that's not worth it, either.

To be clear, Apple's Cyber Monday Deals gift cards, which range from $50 / £50 to as much as $250 / £250 for a Macbook Pro, are nothing to sneeze at. Even so, friends and family have asked me the same question that's been nagging at me since Black Friday: "Why not a real discount?"

I explain that Apple is so hell-bent on you buying more Apple products that it likes to stack the odds in its favor by handing you a gift card that can only be used with Apple.

Today, though, someone pointed out that not only does Apple offer a $50 gift card off its excellent AirPods Pro 2, "but they throw in free engraving!"

I stared back at them with hard-set eyes and a frown. "And what good is that in the end, really?"

My point was, what is that engraving really worth? Yes, there's a moment of joy when someone looks down at their personalized Apple gift and sees letters gently etched just for them. Now, instead of just words, we can add emojis. Doesn't that sound like fun?

It does, but I don't think the engravings make it worth skipping one of the true $199 AirPods Pro 2 deals you can get at Amazon, Walmart, or Best Buy.

Wasted effort

Why don't engravings turn me on?

The very first iPad I gave my wife, almost a decade ago, was engraved to her with something silly, "Mom's iPad. No you touchy." I know, I am so funny 🤦‍♂

Where is that iPad today? I have no idea. She's since moved on to her second one and is probably due for another iPad upgrade shortly.

My kids' broken and long-ago discarded iPods also had their names engraved on them.

My point is, you're giving up cash discounts for personalization that, in the long run, won't matter much at all. AirPods Pro 2 will eventually stop accepting a charge or, a couple of years from now, you'll upgrade to AirPods Pro 3. Are you recycling the personalized AirPods case? When you buy a new one, do you repeat the engraving?

Overall, I think Apple doesn't quite get the spirit of Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and the whole Holiday Shopping experience. It's not just about getting and giving the gifts, it's about the gamesmanship of saving money. Who doesn't love to tell people about how much they saved on a PS5, an iPhone 14, Sonos Beam, or AirPods Pro 2? No one talks in gift cards and even fewer add, "But at least I got it engraved."

Check out the Cyber Monday deals below:

Apple AirPods (2nd Gen): was $159 now $79 at Amazon
This is the lowest price Apple's cheapest AirPods have ever been. They once hit the same price briefly in the past, but that's it – there's never been a better reduction otherwise. Even better, they've been discounted by 50% for Cyber Monday. They lack the Spatial Audio and improved sound quality of the AirPods 3rd Gen, and they don't have the active noise cancellation of the AirPods Pro. But you still get smart features, such as instant pairing, auto switching between devices, and Find My support.

More US Cyber Monday deals

Amazon: 50% off TVs, Apple Watch, clothing, vacuums, and toys
Apple AirPods 2: on sale for $234 at Amazon
Best Buy: up to $700 off TVs, laptops, appliances, and more
Cheap TVs: $79.99 smart TVs from Best Buy
Christmas decor: up to 54% off trees, garlands, and wreaths
Dell: laptops from $299.99
Gifts ideas: 40% off holiday gifts for the family from Amazon
Home Depot: 50% off tools, major appliances, and holiday decor
Lowe's: up to $750 off appliances, Christmas decor and tools
Overstock: 70% off holiday decor, furniture, and Christmas trees
Nectar: save up to $500 on mattresses, plus $499 in free gifts
Nordstrom: up to 50% off UGG, makeup, Nike, jewelry, and more
Samsung: up to $2,500 TVs, major appliances, and smartwatches
Target: 45% off toys, Christmas decor, coffee makers, and more
Toys: up to 50% off best-selling toys at Walmart
Verizon: get the iPhone 14 Pro for free with trade-in
Walmart: toys, TVs, vacuums, and laptops starting at $19.99
Wayfair: up to 80% off couches, rugs, and more, plus free shipping

More UK Cyber Monday deals

Amazon: up to 60% off TVs, laptops, and more
Adidas: up to 50% off trainers and clothing
AO: deals on appliances, headphones and TVs
Argos: up to 1/3 off toys
B&Q: 25% of Christmas decorations and tools
Boots: half-price fragrances and make-up
Box: up to £1,000 off TVs, laptops and PCs
Currys: 40% off TVs, laptops and vacuums
Dell: up to 45% off laptops and desktops
Disney: 30% off Marvel, Star Wars, Pixar
Dyson: best-price guarantee on vacuums and hair care
EE: unlimited data SIMs from £14 per month
Game: consoles, games and accessories from £4.99
Ikea: Christmas tree + £10 voucher for £25
John Lewis: up to 40% off tech, fashion and home
Lego: popular sets from under £10 - plus free gifts
Ninja: save up to £90 on air fryers and pans
Peloton: up to £500 off
Reebok: up to 50% off sitewide
Samsung: up to £250 off phones and tablets
Shark: up to £220 off cordless vacuum cleaners
Sonos: 20% off portable speakers and soundbars
Very: offers on TVs, Lego and fashion
Virgin: broadband deals from £25 per month
Wayfair: furniture, lighting and mattress deals

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A 38-year industry veteran and award-winning journalist, Lance has covered technology since PCs were the size of suitcases and “on line” meant “waiting.” He’s a former Lifewire Editor-in-Chief, Mashable Editor-in-Chief, and, before that, Editor in Chief of PCMag.com and Senior Vice President of Content for Ziff Davis, Inc. He also wrote a popular, weekly tech column for Medium called The Upgrade.

Lance Ulanoff makes frequent appearances on national, international, and local news programs including Live with Kelly and Mark, the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNBC, CNN, and the BBC.