Apple announced last night its campaign to support World AIDS Day 2014 with a series of App Store promotions and plans to donate a portion of Apple Store sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday to the Global Fund to support the fight against AIDS. Specifically for November 28th, or Black Friday, Apple shared that select Apple products will include a special edition (RED) iTunes gift care with a percentage going toward the Global Fund, and now we know exactly which products will qualify for Apple’s (RED) promotion on Black Friday.
Supported products include the iPhone 6 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 5s, and iPhone 5c as well as each iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Air 2 which will include a $50 iTunes gift card (as well as the donation). Customers picking up an iMac, Retina iMac, MacBook Pro, Retina MacBook Pro, or MacBook Air will receive a $100 iTunes gift card. Finally, Apple will include a $25 iTunes gift card with the purchase of an iPod nano, iPod touch, Apple TV, or Beats headphones or speakers.
While it’s nice to see Apple use the Black Friday shopping event to promote (RED), its deals are admittedly less charitable than some other retailers if you’re trying to save some actual cash on your Apple or Beats purchases rather than picking up credit for iTunes or the App Store.
Deals from Best Buy, Target, Walmart, and others will dwarf Apple’s offerings this Black Friday.
For example, Walmart will have iPhone 6 discounted down to $179 and will throw in a free $75 gift card. Member’s of Sam’s Club will be able to grab an iPhone 6 for just $99. Target is giving out free $140 gift cards with all iPad Air 2 purchases.
Beats fans will want to shop at Best Buy where the Solo HD headphones will be on sale for just $79.99. Also at Best Buy, iPod touch will be discounted as low as $149.99. Staples will have Apple TV for $79. MacBooks and iMacs will see discounts of up to $200 at Best Buy.
If you do decide to shop somewhere other than the Apple Store and hope to save a little money, you can still donate to the Global Fund through RED.org here or through the App Store this week.