A week away, Black Friday deals on Apple TVs no better than 2017

We’ve been here before. The bottom line on Black Friday Apple TV deals…It’s no different. It’s no better.

While it’s competitors like Amazon Fire Stick and Roku will discount their streaming media devices throughout the holiday buying season, your options will be few and meager at best. Welcome to Apple TV Black Friday 2018.

On top of that, gone is the DirecTV Now offer of a free Apple TV 4K with a four-month prepaid subscription. Effectively, the offer was $140 for live TV and an Apple TV 4K. Oh, the good old days.

Here are your best options as we know them today…

It’s a modest discount on Apple’s entry-level set-top box with 32GB of storage inside, but at $10 off, free shipping, and no tax except if you live in New York state, the $169 deal on an Apple TV 4K from B&H is not a bad one.

As for the top-end Apple TV 4K with 64GB, online retailer Adorama is also offering $10 off with free, two-day shipping for $189.

If refurbished units don’t make you think “used”, then consider Apple’s reconditioned Apple TVs at between $20 and $30 off retail. With free shipping and free returns, it’s not a bad option even on fifth-generation units. If this deal fits your fancy, don’t wait long. Last year at this time refurbished models were gone even before Black Friday and up until yesterday morning, there were none available.

As for any other Black Friday discounts, if they become reality, expect them to be in the modest 10 percent range, at best.

Will Apple discount Apple TVs online or in Apple stores on Black Friday? It’s doubtful. As nothing has changed with regard to models or features and Apple offered no discounts in 2017, the chances of even a small price cut are less than promising.

And that’s your current holiday discount options on Apple TV. See an offer we haven’t? Post a comment below.