If you can time your Apple purchases, you will save money and avoid instant buyers’ remorse. Apple’s upgrade cycles are so predictable that some products are mid-cycle bargains while others languish on the runway waiting for an update. Here are four devices you’ll be glad you waited for, and nine that are pretty safe bets right now — based on feature roadmaps, credible reporting and the likelihood of their adding real-world value.
The Apple devices not worth buying right now
- AirPods Max: Apple’s premium over-ears are now missing USB‑C, lossless over wireless and more recent acoustic features found in the in-ear options. Bloomberg has reported multiple times that a refresh should be in the works, with refreshed connectivity and new finishes. If you’re looking for top-tier ANC from Apple, waiting is probably your best bet to take home more of it for the same price, or to create an opportunity to extract meaningful discounts on the current model.
- iPad mini: The smallest iPad hasn’t seen a significant improvement in performance or display for some time, and supply-chain chatter indicates a fairly quiet spec bump is in the works. Apple also tends to take longer between hardware refreshes for the iPad mini, though when it does so, it addresses numerous pain points at the same time, analysts who follow tablet cycles said. If you don’t need a compact form factor today, there’s every reason to wait for a faster chip and potential display improvements.
- AirTag: Several reports have claimed that a second generation of AirTags is in the works, with a more powerful Ultra Wideband chip and tougher anti-stalking protections. So with Apple having spent all this money on the Find My network, an expanded range and increased accuracy would no doubt be a concrete quality-of-life boost. If you can wait, you’ll likely get better accuracy and smarter safety features.
- Apple TV 4K: The current box is perfectly adequate, but rumors about a faster chipset and deeper smart-home tie-ins run through every product cycle. With Matter and Thread now in full bloom, a rechristening that skews more toward hub duties makes sense. If your set-top is still working well, hold out for either the upgraded model or lower prices as retailers clear stock.
The Apple devices that are safe to buy right now
- The latest iPhone Pro models: The quickest ripples of new camera and silicon advances make their way down the pike to Apple’s Pro line, and resale values stay highest, Counterpoint Research said. And if you’re shooting in ProRAW or playing around with mobile gaming and editing, the current Pros have yearlong staying power.
- The latest standard iPhone models: For most people, the regular iPhone offers top-flight battery life and cameras without the Pro premium. Consumer Intelligence Research Partners says that the average iPhone owner upgrades every few years, so the current model is a safe long-term bet as a daily driver.
- Apple Watch Ultra: The Ultra hardware’s update cycle doesn’t keep time with the mainline Watch, and buyers get vast battery life, display brightness, dual‑frequency GPS and the toughest of cases. If you’re frequently in the elements, or generally active with your wearables, it’s the most future-proof option for Apple’s devices.
- Apple Watch SE: The SE is Apple’s value watch, and updates to it are also less frequent, so right now you will get essential health sensors, crash detection and a fast feel under the finger. Families and first-time buyers who don’t need the full-stack health suite, though, will find it to be their best entry point.
- iPad Air (current generation): The Air finds a sweet spot with laptop-caliber performance, a laminated display and support for accessories like keyboards and a stylus. For students and travelers, it’s the happy medium with fewer drawbacks than the higher-priced iPad Pro.
- iPad Pro (current generation): If you want the best display, fastest Apple silicon in a tablet and pro accessory options, the latest Pro is a beast. Creative professionals will realize immediate benefits in apps such as Final Cut Pro and Procreate, and chip cycles for high-end iPads tend to come with long software support tails.
- MacBook Air (latest chip): The Air now has performance-per-watt that competes with the older Pro laptops but without fans, and it’s light. Shipment data from IDC demonstrates the Air’s enduring popularity, and Apple silicon efficiency means fanless operation, extended battery life and strong resale.
- MacBook Pro (Apple silicon Pro/Max): If your work involves compiling, 3D and multi-stream 4K editing, the current line of Pros is a safe productivity investment. The media engines, generous unified memory and cutting-edge displays all mean you’re getting several years of headroom.
- AirPods Pro with USB‑C: These are still Apple’s best all-rounders, with Adaptive Audio providing an enhanced ambient sound mode and very good ANC, now in a case that charges with the same cable as your Mac and iPad. Airline fliers and commuters should love the pocketable size and stable fit—without having to wait for some potential refresh.
How we chose which Apple devices to buy or skip
We balanced Apple’s typical refresh schedule, credible reports from sources like Bloomberg’s Power On newsletter and respected analysts, and ownership data from firms such as CIRP and Counterpoint Research. We also factored in resale value and real-world advantages of platform features including USB‑C convergence, Ultra Wideband, and Matter for smart-home future-proofing.
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Bottom line on Apple purchases to make or delay now
If you need a phone, laptop or daily earbuds today, the current core iPhone, MacBook Air or Pro and AirPods Pro are safe buys with years of support. If you’re considering AirPods Max, an iPad mini, AirTag or the Apple TV, it’s probably wise to wait — trustworthy signals are indicating that substantial improvements and better pricing are close enough for a little patience to make sense.