Don't waste your money on these Apple products: August 2022 edition
We're more than halfway through the year, and we've already seeing Apple unveil some awesome new products, such as the Mac Studio and Studio Display. We also know that some products -- such as the iPhone -- will very likely see a refresh later this year, probably in September.
But that leaves, well, everything else. The refresh schedule for these is only really known to Apple.
The problem is that you can drop a pile of cash on something only for an update to come along a few weeks later. My goal here is to help you not make a mistake like that and give you a heads-up as to what products could be getting a refresh soon.
Also: Best iPad: iPad Air, Pro, and Mini models compared
Here is my list of products to avoid, along with a list of Apple products that I recommend.
The "Naughty" list:
- iPhone 13/iPhone 13 Pro: We're a little over a month away from the unveiling of the iPhone 14, so unless you're in desperate need of a new iPhone, hold onto your money for a few weeks (unless you're buying an iPhone SE)!
- AirPods Pro: Released in October 2019, Apple has to be working on an updated version of these, so I'd start to be cautions about dropping $250 on a set.
- The 24-inch iMac: This is over a year old, and powered using the M1 chip. It's likely that this will get an M2 upgrade at some point soon, so bear that in mind if you're thinking of buying this.
- Mac Mini: The first of the M1 Macs, and probably in line for an M2 upgrade soon. Bear that in mind if you're planning to buy one now.
- Apple Watch Series 7: It's coming to that year mark, so I'd be keeping my eye out for an update to roll out, perhaps alongside the new iPhone.
- Apple Watch SE/Series 3: I'd give both of these a wide berth. The SE is well over a year old, and the Series 3 is still hanging on after more than four years.
- 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro: I'd say these are due for a refresh in the coming weeks and so I'd avoid them for now if you can. The newly-refreshed iPad Air however, is a good buy.
- Mac Pro: With the transition to Apple Silicon underway, this huge monetary investment just doesn't make sense at this point in time. Avoid this big time unless you really have to replace a downed machine.
What about first-gen M1 Macs?
I have been asked a bit about these lately. For example, the M1 Mac mini was released in November 2020. Now that Apple has started rolling out hardware running M2 chips, then the buying decisions here get a bit complicated. I've tried to clear up some of the confusion surrounding the M2 vs. M1 chips here and here.
Also: Best iPhone: Cameras, battery, and specs compared
The "Nice" list:
A budget iPhone with a whole raft of great features:
- 4.7-inch Retina display screen
- 5G
- Fast A15 Bionic processor
- Great camera
- Touch ID biometrics
For this price, this is a fantastic bang for the buck iPhone!
The perfect buy for those wanting performance and portability in a small, fanless laptop.
The new MacBook Air features Apple's latest M2 chip which boasts an 18% faster CPU and 35% faster GPU than the M2.
The new M2 MacBook Air features a brand new super thin design and comes equipped with a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, three-mic array, and four-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio.
So much power in a small box. In fact, this is a workstation in a form factor not much bigger than a Mac Mini.
You can choose between the M1 Max and M1 Ultra (unless you are handling extremely high workloads demanding massive GPU capacity, you should be fine with the M1 Max offerings), and can spend anything from $2,000 to $8,000 on this hardware.
Paired with the Studio Display, this is a total beast of a system.
Blowing away the competition, Apple's AirTags are the perfect gift for someone who constantly loses things.
Well made, robust, and with a replaceable battery, these will make lost keys or wallets a thing of the past.
The iPad Air just got a big update in the form of Apple's M1 chip and a superb front-facing 12-megapixel wide-angle camera with the "Center Stage" feature that can follow the person in front of the screen as they move.
And with a price tag starting at $599, it's one of the cheapest ways to get your hands on an M1-powered device.
For a more rounded device, you can kit the iPad out with a keyboard and Apple's Magic Pencil for a device that gives laptops costing twice as much a run for their money,
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