It’s only April, and we’re already seeing Apple unveil some awesome new products, such as the Mac Studio and Studio Display (although the waiting time for these is weeks right now due to supply chain issues). We also know that some products — such as the iPhone — will very likely see a refresh later this year.
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:
- Apple Watch SE/Series 3: I’d give both of these a wide berth. The SE is a year old, and the Series 3 is still hanging on after 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.
- iPod touch: I’m not sure why Apple even sells this anymore! The era of the iPod is over. I’ve long expected this to get a refresh, but now I think that this could be the year that Apple finally tosses it on the recycling heap.
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. These might be seeing a refresh in 2022, but for now, I still think they represent decent enough value.
Also: Best iPhone: Cameras, battery, and specs compared
The “Nice” list:
AirTag
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.
iPad Air
Just refreshed with Apple’s M1 chip
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,
AirPods Pro
Save $74
The best earbuds out there, and they integrate so well with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. Great sound, super comfortable, and great battery life.
Two years on from their release, these are still my favorite earbuds.
iPhone 13 Pro
Without a doubt, this is the best smartphone out there.
The display is beautiful, the camera is superb, and the battery life is far ahead of the competition.
Mac Studio
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.
