Whether you are updating your sometime MacBook laptop or planning to buy your first Mac part of the decision of which model to buy should be ground on timing . Before you part with your money you should check that the model you are buy is n’t about to be upgrade by Apple . There is nothing worse than buying a young MacBook Air only to see Apple update the model a calendar month afterward . Luckily you are here record this clause so the chance of you making a misunderstanding like that is slight ( although you should check the date this article was last update ! )
In this article , we ’ll say you the best time to buy a MacBook , when to buy a Mac , at what time of twelvemonth Apple normally update its Macs , and whether an update is expected before long . We ’ll also cite if there are any special configurations to forfend .
We will run through each Mac and MacBook Apple presently sell and value whether now is a estimable time to buy one based on school surmisal as to when the next one will launch . Sometimes if you expect a calendar month or two you’re able to get more for your money – provided Apple hold on its price the same .
Before you make the decisiveness of which Mac to grease one’s palms you should also assure out ourMac purchasing guidebook . Wondering which MacBook to buy , look atMacBook Pro vs MacBook Airand ourMacBook buy scout . We also offer advice about how much storage , RAM and marrow inHow much MacBook RAM , SSD , GPU and CPU do you really need ?
If you are reading this around Black Friday , show our advice in our guide to thebest Black Friday MacBook dealsand thebest Mac mini and iMac deals . And if you want to have it off what other Apple product are discounted readBest Black Friday Apple wad .
When will Apple launch new Macs?
There are a couple of things that can help when predicting when a young poser might bring . One is to be aware of when Apple last updated the range . The other is to note when Apple has antecedently announced updates to that range .
Apple updated theMacBook AirandMac Studioin March 2025 . Prior to that , the MacBook Pro , Mac miniskirt and iMac were updated in October 2024 . The next update is expected to amount in June 2025 , with Apple expected to update the Mac Pro at WWDC .
Take a look at our article aboutApple Eventsand thenew product bear from Appleto balk that the outlook has n’t changed .
Most recent / current launches :
As for the times when a Mac launch is most probable . In the past , the most likely times to see Mac updates were : WWDC in June for professional Mac models ( e.g. Mac Studio and Mac Pro ) and October for consumer - center Macs ( for instance MacBook Air and Mac miniskirt ) . However , as you will see when you read on , this is not a rule that Apple abides by particularly , nor does Apple always set in motion new Macs at special events : it often just takes the Apple Store offline for a few hours and then when it returns Modern Mac models are uncommitted as it did in October 2024 and March 2025 .
We have a bun in the oven that updates for the be Macs are likely to get in the next few months .
When can you get the best Mac deals?
If you are thinking of buying a unexampled Mac and the last few months of the year are approaching , you should halt on to take vantage of raft season . From October onwards is when we tend to see the most deals , with everyone saving their near discounts for the weeks around Black Friday at the end of November . If you are wondering whether to wait until Black Friday itself or take advantage of an early quite a little that ’s marked as being ‘ early Black Friday ’ or similar , our advice is to just go for it ! In the preceding caboodle of retailers have start their Black Fridays sales a foresighted clock time before the daytime itself and forebode that price wo n’t go any low on Black Friday itself .
Apple never offer any discount for Black Friday though . The company tends to offer vouchers with qualify sales around Black Friday ( read Apple does for Black Friday ) . You might be able-bodied to get money off Apple products from another reseller , though . We see many resellers offer Black Friday tidy sum on Apple mathematical product , so come back around Black Friday and check out the best .
But we do n’t only see prices skip for Black Friday , we see deals on Apple products all yr round – so do n’t assume you ca n’t get money off a newfangled Apple production when you want to purchase one . arrest out our round - ups of thebest Apple deals :
There are other ways to save money too :
Is it a good time to buy a Mac or MacBook?
Let ’s take a feel at each Mac and MacBook on the food market and tax if you should look at buying it now . delay the escort at the top of the article to see when we last updated this entropy .
Should I buy a 13-inch MacBook Air now or wait?
BUY
The MacBook Air comes in two sizes , the 13 - inch model and the 15 - in model . Both were updated in March 2025 and have the M4 microchip .
This is the MacBook Air design that arrived in the summer of 2022 , with MagSafe charge port , better showing and thin bezel . There are some important improvements with this generation : you’re able to now secure intwo or more international displaysthanks to Thunderbolt 4 financial backing , there ’s a fresh Sky Blue colouring , and prices start up at $ 999 for the current generation model ( in the past the entry - grade good example was the premature coevals ) .
Is now a good time to buy a 13-inch MacBook Air?
It ’s going to be a while before the MacBook Air gets an M5 chip so it ’s a good time to buy one . The M4 MacBook Air is an excellent machine and , come out at $ 999 , is the cheapest Mac laptop . You could get a cheaper Mac – the Mac mini costs $ 599 , but for most of us a laptop is what we want .
If you could , we recommend drop the $ 200 extra to get double the storage and good graphic . If you need to bribe a MacBook Air checker out our stave - up of theBest MacBook Air dealsand salvage money , beware that the premature generation cost $ 100 more for a corresponding Mac , so if you are consider a discount on an Old models take the fresh prices into consideration .
Should I buy a 15-inch MacBook Air now or wait?
There is another MacBook Air to reckon . The 15 - inch MacBook Air is exactly like the 13 - inch MacBook Air only with a bigger display and better speakers .
It offers better barrage life than the smaller exemplar and offers a larger blind , and while it costs a bit more than the 13 - inch modelling , it is much less than the other Mac laptop computer with larger screen . The 14 - inch MacBook Pro get at $ 1,599/£1,599 , while the 15 - in MacBook Air starts at $ 1,199/£1,199 , the lowest price the 15 - column inch MacBook Air has ever begin at .
If you prefer tumid laptop then the 15 - in MacBook Air will pull through you thou compare to the 16 - inch MacBook Pro and even the 14 - inch MacBook Pro .
Is now a serious time to buy a 15 - column inch MacBook Air ?
Apple set up the 15 - column inch MacBook Air with M4 in March 2025 and we expect Apple wo n’t update it again until 2026 .
Should I buy a 14-inch MacBook Pro now or wait?
Apple upgraded the 14 - in MacBook Pro with the M4 , M4 Pro and M4 Max in October 2024 . We do n’t ask to see another update until at least the descent of 2025 .
When we review the MacBook Pro M4 model we found it offered a sound operation rise over the MacBook Pro M3 . The boost from 8 GB to 16 GB unified memory is one welfare , another gain hail in the word form of an extra Thunderbolt / USB 4 larboard . In our review we describe the M4 MacBook Pro as : “ a package burst with time value . It no longer feel like a compromise laptop , and you get a muckle of performance and features for the price ” .
If you are a pro substance abuser who require a trivial more oomph then the M4 Pro or M4 Max models offer more ports ( include Thunderbolt 5 ) and superior power . In our review of theM4 Promodels we say they “ have what it takes to conquer your processing demands ” . Read our review here:14 - inch MacBook Pro M4 review .
Is now a good time to buy a 14-inch MacBook Pro?
At $ 1,599/£1,599 the cost of the 14 - in MacBook Pro with M4 is a high compared to the 15 - inch MacBook Air , which you may get for $ 1,299/£1,299 , but the latter still only offers the M3 chip and the M4 in the MacBook Pro is saltation ahead . So or recommendation right now is to purchase the MacBook Pro if you see a beneficial deal . If you find a slew on the aged M3 MacBook Pro we would advise against it because that model has less tup .
If it ’s the M4 Pro or M4 Max edition you are after , our testimonial is buy one , you wo n’t be disappointed . If you want to get the best price for a raw MacBook Pro go over out our round - up of theBest MacBook Pro deals .
Should I buy a 16-inch MacBook Pro now or wait?
Alongside the 14 - column inch MacBook Pro , in October 2024 , Apple introduced a 16 - inch MacBook Pro with M4 Pro or M4 Max . When we reviewed theM4 Pro 16 - column inch MacBook Pro modelwe described it as “ a powerful workstation and Apple makes the package even well with Thunderbolt 5 , the 12MP Center Stage camera , and the Nano - texture crank exhibit option ” .
If you need the ultimate in processing muscle , you really require an M4 Max chip , but if a $ 3,499/£3,499 laptop is out of your budget , the M4 Pro models have what it takes to conquer your processing demand .
The larger 16 - inch fashion model costs more than it ’s smaller sibling , but if you need more battery life and a big screen then this is the theoretical account for you .
If you ’re still using an Intel - establish MacBook Pro , it ’s time to upgrade .
For more advice read ourcomparison of all the MacBook Pro models .
Is now a good time to buy a 16-inch MacBook Pro?
The 16 - inch MacBook Pro was updated in October 2024 , so we do n’t expect another update for some time . If you’re able to find a good batch then definitely purchase one .
If it ’s major power you need and portability is n’t a component , you may also want to consider the M4 Pro in the Mac miniskirt and a display as a much brassy selection than the 16 - inch MacBook Pro .
Should I buy a 24-inch iMac now or wait?
The 24 - inch iMac is eye - catching , both in terminal figure of the character of the 4.5 K display and the colorful casing . The M4 model arrived in October 2024 with each model uncommitted in blue , greenish , orangish , pinkish , purple , yellow , and atomic number 47 , with all but atomic number 47 offering a bold tone on the back that is complement by a paler interpretation on the front .
On the inside the difference are impressive . As we said in our followup , “ the novel 16 GB RAM standard , the execution of Thunderbolt across the board , the improved FaceTime photographic camera , and the Nano - texture glass option are all pull ahead move by Apple . ”
The M4 chip at bottom is the same as you may witness in the entry - level 14 - inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini . The iMac is less expensive than the MacBook Pro , starting at $ 1,299/£1,299 compare to $ 1,599/£1,599 for the MacBook Pro , but the MacBook Pro is well equipped , with a 10 - core GPU , rather than the 8 - pith GPU see in that introduction - level iMac . There ’s also double the storage in the MacBook ( 512 GB compared to 256 GB ) . If you are search for the best value though , the Mac mini is much gaudy than the iMac , set out at $ 599/£599 for the same spec .
Is now a good time to buy a 24-inch iMac?
While we feel that it is overpriced , we accept that there are piazza for which the iMac is idealistic – response desks , living rooms , and so on . If If you ’re look for a new , complete Mac frame-up – a figurer , exhibit , and input devices – the M4 iMac is a great pick .
If you do want to buy one then do not pay full cost , check over our round - up of thebest iMac deals .
If you need an iMac that is design with originative pros in mind you should look at the Mac miniskirt with M4 Pro .
Should I buy a Mac mini now or wait?
Apple introduce the M4 Mac mini and M4 Pro Mac mini in October 2024 . The Mac miniskirt with M4 or M4 Pro is the long awaited successor to the M2 Mac mini and M2 Pro version .
The Mac mini is now even smaller , but it ’s just as powerful as any other M4 equipped Mac . The operation and value on offer for just $ 599/£599 is excellent , if you are trying to spec up a motorcar to suffer high-pitched demands we found that can be expensive , but that is the eccentric with all of Apple ’s establish - to - ordering options .
The pro reading of the Mac mini does much to fulfil the gap left by the removal of the 27 - inch iMac , as long as you have a decent monitor lizard you may use .
Is now a good time to buy a Mac mini?
We recommend the M4 Mac miniskirt . It offers the same specs as the other M4 Macs for much less money , the only difference being the absence of a screen . But since you may buy a decent 4 K display for less than £ 300/$300 we do n’t guess that is a magnanimous problem . See our round - up of thebest Monitor for Mac .
The M4 Pro Mac miniskirt is a great option for anyone who need affordable power . The only ground to carry off purchasing is if you require to wait for Apple to update the Mac Studio with M2 Max and M2 Ultra . However , the Mac Studio starts at $ 1,999/£2,099 , while the M2 Pro Mac miniskirt offer much right value at $ 1,299/£1,299 .
If you want to buy a Mac miniskirt now check out our circle - up of theBest Mac miniskirt deals .
Should I buy a Mac Studio now or wait?
Last update : March 2025Next update : 2026
The Mac Studio arrived in March 2022 , was then updated in June 2023 , and has now been updated again for 2025 . We have always been impressed by the Mac Studio ’s processing business leader , port flexibility and price , and palpate that for many it is a suited replacement for an Intel Mac Pro .
The only spot of argument with the Mac Studio in 2025 is the slightly perplexing existence of the M3 Ultra and M4 Max together in the line up at the same clip . Rather than introducing a M4 Ultra Apple is sell a M3 Ultra version . This is still go to be more powerful than the M4 Max , but it wo n’t be as knock-down as the M4 Ultra , which we feign will eventually plow up in the Mac Pro .
In our recap of the fashion model that arrived in June 2023 , we said that : “ The Mac Studio is the idealistic Mac – it ’s powerful , priced appropriately , has lots of ports for connecting equipment , and it wo n’t take up a lot of desk blank space , ” and described it as a “ utter software program of processing power , features , and design ” .
Is now a good time to buy a Mac Studio?
After a tenacious wait Apple updated the Mac Studio in March 2025 . The M4 Max mannikin is a fraction of the price of the M4 Max MacBook Pro , so we advocate it if you need a powerful Mac and do n’t need to carry it around with you .
If you require a powerful Mac and do n’t want to wait for Apple to update the Mac Pro then the M3 Ultra version is sure to meet your needs , and it will cost a mass less than the Mac Pro will when Apple updates it with an M4 Ultra chip .
Take advantage of theBest Mac Studio mickle , because we do see some braggart rebate on these models .
Should I buy a Mac Pro now or wait?
WAIT
Apple launched the Mac Pro M2 Ultra in June 2023 , three and a half age after the kitchen stove was last updated in December 2019 . That was the first update since December 2013 ( which was a wait of six years ! ) It ’s cause on for two years since the last update to the Mac Pro , which given Apple ’s rail disk isn’tthatbad …
The main benefit of the 2019 Mac Pro intent is shared by the plan of the 2023 Mac Pro : it extend PCIe expansion slots ( seven in sum ) and its modular design should mean that there is the voltage for SSD ascent down the personal credit line ( although RAM wo n’t be upgradable and nor will the GPU or CPU ) .
The Mac Pro has a passel of competition in the sort of the Mac Studio , which offered the exact same specification as the Mac Studio for less money . In March 2025 Apple rock this berth up by updating the Mac Studio with an M4 Max and M3 Ultra chip , suggest that when the M4 Ultra Mac Pro does finally launch there will be a clearer distinction between it and the Mac Studio .
For now , the Mac Pro brings an extra fan , more ports and there is a rack - bestride option , but until Apple updates it the Mac Pro is not the company ’s fastest Mac .
Is now a good time to buy a Mac Pro?
The disadvantage is that Apple has n’t updated the Mac Pro since mid 2023 . Since then the M4 Pro has more than caught up with the M2 Max , the M4 Max has edged ahead of the M2 Ultra , and now the M3 Ultra has arrive on the Mac Studio taking the Mac Pro ’s prize as the most powerful Mac .
If you need office then the Mac Pro is n’t looking as attractive next to its sib right now .
When the Mac Pro is finally update we expect it to bound onwards , so our good word it to wait . We expect an update at , or before , WWDC .
For buying advice on thebest Windows laptops , see our sister site PCWorld .
