When Is the Best Time to Buy a MacBook?
- Apple’s new Mac Notebook Upgrade Program provides MacBooks starting at $30 per month.
- An iPhone-upgrade-style plan for individuals might be a great idea.
- Buying, using, then selling your Mac is the cheapest way to go.
Who wants a new MacBook every single year?
Apple appears to be launching a 'Mac Notebook Upgrade Program,' a way for businesses to pay a monthly flat fee and get regular replacement units. It makes perfect sense for businesses—you can forget about buying, maintaining, and selling individual computers. But what about individual people? Don't we want the same opportunity to get regular upgrades?
"[You] need to only look at the iPhone upgrade programs that providers currently have to see that, when it comes to Apple products, consumers are driven by desire rather than actual need," Amir Khella, CEO of AirTag rival PingTag, told Lifewire via email. "Perhaps the MacBook upgrade program will end up being equally popular."
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Why Buy?
Macs are expensive. For a 2021 MacBook Pro, you’re looking at spending $2,000, before tax, for the most basic model. Even if leasing turns out to be more expensive than buying, it’s tempting to pay the extra just to avoid that initial layout. For businesses, this evens out the investment over the year. For individuals, it might be the difference between getting a Mac or not.
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According to this CIT Group page, Apple’s business program for Macs costs $60 per month for the 14-inch MacBook Pro. That’s $2,160 total over three years if the standard period is three years (details have not yet been made public).
"For consumers, those performance improvements will likely be noticed every three to four years. Paying $30/month for three years exceeds the actual price of the MacBook," says Khella.
If our hypothetical MacBook Upgrade Program was to follow the pattern of the iPhone upgrade program, it might even end up a little cheaper. With the iPhone, if you replace it on a regular schedule, then you pay more or less the same as buying the phone outright, along with AppleCare.
Even then, do we want a new Mac every three years? iPhones are more or less mature, but their cameras are improving at a rate that means it makes sense to buy a new one every couple of years. But Macs, like iPads, progress far more slowly.
The Apple Silicon transition we're in right now, where Apple is switching all its computers to use its own chips instead of chips from Intel and others, is an anomaly. The M1 generation of Macs is absurdly fast and power-efficient compared to the Intel Macs that came before, but that's a one-time switch. Apple may well keep improving its M-series chips at a fast clip over the coming years, but today's MacBook Pro is going to be extremely capable for many years to come.
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And then there's resale. If you take part in Apple's iPhone upgrade program, you have to send the iPhone back when you get the new one. If you buy your own iPhone (or Mac, in this case), then you can do what you like with it. You can sell it, keep it as a spare, pass it on to a family member or friend, and so on.
"MacBooks have a great resale value, and it's easy to sell a MacBook for 50% of its price three years after buying it," says Khella.
The point is, a three- or even five-year-old Mac is still a capable machine for most people. I used a 2010 iMac daily until I replaced it with a Mac mini last year, and with an SSD upgrade, it was more than good enough. I have a friend who used their 2012 MacBook Air as their primary computer up until this year.
With any type of lease or replacement program, it all comes down to the small print. And since there is no such thing (yet) as a personal Mac Upgrade Program, there’s not even any large print to go on.
For those folks desperate to rent a MacBook, there are alternatives. For instance, Grover, a gadget-leasing company, lets you rent tech instead of buying.
In the end, this author is happy to keep using his Macs until they can no longer cope, then replace them with a new model. It winds up being cheaper—and environmentally better—than forever chasing the newest thing.
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showComment=1638680638945#c3740629075930756656
Technology moves fast, so it can be challenging to know when is the right time to buy a new device. That's particularly important for new Apple products as premium devices like MacBooks aren't cheap, and you want to get the best value out of your purchase.
Knowing when's the best time to buy new MacBooks is a valuable skill before you hit the buy button and commit yourself to a new purchase. There are some key factors to bear in mind, so you know when's best. Here's a look at what to do.
Do You Need a New MacBook?
As with any new purchase, it's worth considering if you need a new MacBook. If your current desktop or laptop has failed, then regardless of where the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are in their product cycle, you almost certainly need to make a purchase immediately.
Where things get trickier is if you're considering upgrading by choice. It's important to know when's the best time to buy a new MacBook to get the best value from it.
How Often Do New MacBooks Come Out?
It's tricky to pinpoint precisely when new Mac systems come out. Generally, the product cycle is between 12 and 16 months, but that's not always entirely accurate. Sometimes, it can be a much shorter cycle, so it's essential to do your research.
It's worth paying attention to Apple's events. Apple holds several events each year, with its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) being the biggest one. Elsewhere, there tend to be events in the Spring and Fall, and sometimes random events at other times of the year. For a new MacBook purchase, you should pay attention to WWDC, along with the main events in Spring and Fall. The seemingly random events tend to occur for iPhone and Apple Watch revisions.
When Should I Buy a New MacBook?
One of the best resources to keep up to date with the latest MacBook rumors is the MacRumors Buyer's Guide. The site keeps track of all the latest Mac and MacBook rumors and quickly assigns a 'Buy,' 'Neutral,' or 'Don't Buy' category to each system, so you know what to do. For instance, while the MacBook Pro 13-inch only came out in late 2020, it's suggested this isn't the time to buy a new one as improved models should be coming soon.
It's a smart move to buy a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air the moment they're released. The longer you wait, the more likely you're not getting the most bang for your buck.
How Long Do MacBooks Last?
MacBooks are generally highly reliable devices. When you purchase a new one, it should last several years before you run into any issues. That means a refurbished model can be an attractive proposition.
Apple's own refurbished program typically offers between 15% and 25% off the price of a brand-new product while still providing you with a full warranty and Apple certification. Generally, refurbished models appear around 6-8 months after the launch of a new system, but it's worth paying attention to as stock goes fast.
- When is the best time of year to buy a MacBook?
Apple doesn't offer discounts on its products, but many retailers offer discounts on older MacBooks in the summer before school starts. Also, look for deals around the holidays, Black Friday, and Amazon Prime Day.
- How do I set up my new MacBook?
After you power on your MacBook, the Mac Setup Assistant will walk you through setting up your new MacBook. If you're already an Apple user, sign in with your Apple ID to access your iCloud and iTunes library, or create a new one.
- What is the newest MacBook?
The latest MacBook models are the M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch and M1 MacBook Air. They look similar to older models, but the M1 chip provides faster processing speed and power than older MacBooks.
- Are MacBooks still worth buying?
Yes. Apple makes some of the most powerful lightweight laptops on the market. MacBooks also tend to be the most expensive, so if you just need a laptop for simple tasks like browsing the web and word processing, you should probably get a Chromebook or budget laptop instead.
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