Apple product are pretty easy to recommend . When it fall to the tardy iPhones , iPads , and Macs , it ’s knockout to make a bad leverage , but even with so many excellent products to choose from , they are n’t all worthy of your hard - realize dollars . In Apple ’s lineup the right way now , in fact , there are a few product that you should take off on buying , whether it ’s because of forged timing or just a bad experience . Here are five Apple products you should n’t grease one’s palms right now and our pick for what you should buy instead :
Don’t buy: iPhone SE (2nd generation)
Buy instead: iPhone SE (3rd generation)
This one ’s pretty obvious . The currentiPhone SEis about two years old now , so it ’s getting a bit long in the tooth — and that ’s not a crack at the retro design . The A13 processor that was cutting - boundary in 2020 is now two generations older , the camera does n’t have Nox way , and it does n’t have 5G.
The iPhone SE is due for an update in just a few weeks .
All of those matter are expected to be correct in just afew short week . Apple is rumored to be holding its bound event on March 8 to harbinger several young products , among them a unexampled iPhone SE with an A15 processor , upgraded camera , and 5 G modem . There are n’t any great option for the SE ( unless you want to spring for aniPhone 13 miniskirt ) , so even if you need a new headphone right aside , thethird - gen SEis decently around the box .
Don’t buy: iPod touch
Buy instead: iPhone SE
We ’re not really sure why Apple still sell the iPod touch , but with an A10 Fusion chip , 32 GB of storage , and a 4 - in display , it ’s not even a very good music player any longer . The 8MP camera is sub - par , the barrage fire is so - so , and it does n’t have wireless charging or water resistivity . But at least it ’s got a earphone jack .
IDG
If you ’re see for a crummy fashion to play medicine and games , you ’s be best off with an unlocked iPhone SE . I know we just recommendednotbuying one , but even in its aging United States Department of State , the iPhone SE is still light eld better than the iPod touch , with a newer C.P.U. and photographic camera , bigger blind , more storage , and all of the other new feature the iPod tinge is missing . And if you do n’t want to use it as a phone , you’re able to just confine off on get a wireless program .
iPhone SE (2020)
Don’t buy: Apple Watch Series 3
Buy instead: Apple Watch SE
We do n’t know why Apple continues to trade theApple Watch Series 3 , but it ’s hopelessly superannuated at this point . We simulate it ’s going to support watchOS 9 when it come this autumn , but that ’s only because Apple really has no choice , and we do n’t expect many update beyond that . Plus it ’s got the honest-to-god design , one-time fondness - pace admonisher , and honest-to-goodness chip , and it missing all of the newer sensors and characteristic . Even at $ 199 , it ’s a direful deal .
The Apple Watch Series 3 is outdated and virtually obsolete .
Christopher Hebert / IDG
For just $ 80 more ( and often less than that ) , theApple Watch SEis a much better steal . It has a handsome screen , sleeker design , downfall detecting , compass , always - on altimeter , and a 2d - gen ocular sum sensor . It has n’t been updated in over a year , but if you need a tinny Apple Watch , the SE , not the 3 , is the way to go .
Apple Watch SE (2020)
Don’t buy: 13-inch MacBook Pro
Buy instead: MacBook Air
The 13 - inch MacBook Pro never made a ton of mother wit , but now that the14 - inch MacBook Prohas arrived , it name less sense than ever . There ’s nothing really pro about it — unless you count the Touch Bar — and it offers very little in the way of the kind of next - gen feature that its larger siblings have .
The 13 - inch MacBook Pro is a fine laptop , but the cheaper MacBook Air is just as good .
TheM1 MacBook Airis just as right for $ 300 less . You get the same processor ( minus one graphics core that you wo n’t overlook ) and concealment , plenty of storage , and a great pattern and keyboard . The only thing you ’re really giving up is the Touch Bar and , well , we do n’t think you ’ll neglect that at all .
MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
Don’t buy: iPad Air
Buy instead: iPad mini
We wo n’t soften words : TheiPad Airshouldn’t be on this list . But Apple ’s frustrating tablet update cycles/second has put the iPad Air in oblivion . It ’s still a great tablet , but it is n’t as great as it could ( or should ) be .
The iPad Air is develop an update shortly , but you might want to consider the iPad mini alternatively .
Jason Cross / IDG
Last fall , the iPad mini get a redesign to make it expect like the iPad Air , and also got a newer A15 mainframe , upgraded tv camera with Center Stage , and 5 G networking . The iPad Air has none of those thing . Yes it has a bigger concealment , but otherwise it ’s subscript to the iPad miniskirt in every manner . Rumor has it that a young model is on the way at the spring event , so you could wait , but quite frankly , we intend the inexpensive iPad mini is better anyway .
iPad mini (6th generation)
