5 Apple Products You Should Avoid Buying This Week (and 7 Safe Picks To Get Instead)

6 days ago

3 Apple devices you decidedly shouldn't bargain this period (and 9 to get instead)

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

New iPhones and Apple Watches are inbound, pinch nan institution hosting an arena connected September 9.
New AirPods Pro and HomeHub hardware are besides rumored.
Expect pricing tweaks to offset tariff costs, arsenic good arsenic changes to existing merchandise lines.

It's early September, and that intends we're now successful nan last location agelong to Apple's biggest yearly update. New iPhones are days away, and it's apt we'll spot caller Apple Watches, and perchance caller AirPods Pro and a HomeHub device. Does nan induce sent retired to journalists connection immoderate clues arsenic to what's coming? Maybe ...

Also: The champion Apple deals correct now: Save connected MacBooks, iPhones, and more

But turning to nan savvy buyer, this business intends that location are a batch much items connected nan "don't buy" database than usual. But fearfulness not, arsenic this guideline will guarantee you don't walk your money connected thing outdated successful a fewer weeks.

Tariffs and waste and acquisition wars

Tariffs still predominate nan news. One infinitesimal they're on, adjacent they're off, past they're connected again pinch a database of ifs, buts, and exceptions that whitethorn aliases whitethorn not instrumentality around.

CNET: Tracking tariff prices: See really nan caller tariffs are hitting these 11 celebrated products

According to Apple's July 31 net call, tariffs person costs nan institution astir $800 cardinal for nan past quarter, pinch this fig expected to emergence to $1.1 cardinal for nan existent quarter. So far, Apple is shouldering that burden.

So far.

The 'don't buy' list

You should springiness these Apple devices a walk for now, arsenic we'll apt spot refreshed versions soon:

iPhones: New models will get September/October, truthful unless you don't mind moving aged hardware successful a fewer days, clasp disconnected buying for now. The only objection present is nan iPhone 16e that launched successful March.
Apple Watch: It's apt caller hardware will driblet alongside nan refreshed iPhone, truthful clasp for now.
Apple TV: Last updated successful October 2022, this instrumentality is due for a refresh. Rumors propose a fourth-gen Apple TV 4K will beryllium announced soon.
HomePod Mini: Released successful October 2020, this is officially Apple's oldest product. While there's thing technically incorrect pinch nan device, it's difficult to urge paying afloat value for specified aged hardware.
Vision Pro: It's difficult to stake against Apple, and it's reliable to put something pinch truthful overmuch potential connected nan naughty list. However, if rumors are existent that Apple will halt production because income person slumped, it's difficult to person religion successful nan product. I'd clasp retired and spot what Apple has planned. Current rumors constituent to a 2026 refresh.

The 'do buy' database

These Apple devices are worthy springing for now, since it'll beryllium a while earlier we spot important hardware upgrades.

1. iPhone 16e

This is Apple's newest entry-level iPhone, replacing nan iPhone SE line. This is simply a handset trim backmost to nan bare minimum -- packing an A18 processor, Face ID biometrics, USB-C charging, and a single-lens rear camera.

2. iPad and iPad Air

The iPad Air, kitted retired pinch nan M3 chip, received a refresh successful March. Prices commencement astatine $599 for nan 11-inch type and $799 for nan 13-inch version. At nan time, nan iPad besides sewage a capacity boost acknowledgment to nan A16 chip. Prices for this tablet commencement astatine $350.

3. MacBook Air

Apple MacBook Air M4 successful Sky Blue

Both nan 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops sewage an upgrade successful March 2025 to nan 10-core CPU/10-core GPU M4 processor, and artillery life is boosted to arsenic overmuch arsenic 18 hours. Prices commencement astatine $999, but you tin push nan costs to $2,399 pinch upgrades.

4. Mac Studio

Apple's pro-grade replacement to nan Mac mini also saw a superior processing boost successful March 2025, pinch nan M4 Max and M3 Ultra offered successful a scope of configurations. Prices commencement astatine $1,999 but tin scope $14,099 for a afloat tricked-out system.

5. Apple iMac

The M4 iMac received a refresh to bring it up to velocity pinch Apple Intelligence successful October 2024. With specs ranging from an eight-core CPU and GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of retention priced astatine $1,299, each nan measurement up to a 10-core CPU and GPU, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of retention for $1,899, there's an iMac to suit astir workloads and budgets.

6. Apple Mac Mini

Apple's smallest Mac sewage an upgrade successful October 2024 to nan M4 and M4 Pro processors. It's besides nan cheapest Mac you tin buy, arsenic a Mac Mini pinch nan 10-core CPU and GPU model, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of retention costs only $599.

7. Apple iPad Mini

The 2024 iPad Mini was introduced successful October 2024, replacing nan three-year-old exemplary pinch 1 powered by an A17 Pro spot that's Apple Intelligence-ready. The instrumentality comes successful a scope of colors, blue, purple, starlight, and abstraction gray, and aggregate retention capacities: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. Prices scope from $499 to $799.

Upcoming Apple products to support an oculus connected (near and far)

1. iPhones!

The iPhone 17 is astir nan corner, and it's apt to see a processor upgrade, an Air version, an upgraded camera system, caller accessories, and nan anticipation of a value hike.

2. AirPods Pro update

I emotion my AirPods Pro, and if nan rumors are correct, and nan updated hardware gets bosom complaint and somesthesia tracking, and perchance unrecorded translation, past I person to opportunity that I'll beryllium astatine nan beforehand of nan queue to get caller buds.

3. M5 Chip

It feels for illustration nan M4 processor successful the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air is still new. However, nan M5 spot is already connected nan horizon. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman successful the Power On newsletter, nan M5 will beryllium successful nan MacBook Pro and iPad Pro later this year, astir apt successful nan autumn aft nan iPhone 17 launch.

4. Apple TV

It's coming, we're conscionable not judge when. The instrumentality is rumored to usage Apple's caller networking chip, adding support for Wi-Fi 6E, and will beryllium powered by nan A15 chip, opening nan doorway to Apple Intelligence features.

5. AirTag Update

I'm a massive AirTag fan, and since Apple released them, nan marketplace has exploded pinch third-party offerings. While only Apple tin connection precision finding, location are now smaller, thinner, and even rechargeable finder tags.

Also: Should you bargain nan iPhone 16 aliases iPhone 17? How to determine which exemplary to buy

The caller AirTags are expected to usage a new Ultra Wideband chip, bringing improved scope and accuracy. Apple is besides allegedly making nan speaker much difficult to disable, serving arsenic a countermeasure to forestall tags from being utilized to stalk people.

Given really easily AirTags tin beryllium modified and really they tin moreover beryllium purchased pre-modified, this update will beryllium a invited change.

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