Apple products you should avoid: September 2019 edition Here's a tour of what's not so fresh in the Apple Store September 4, 2019 https://www.zdnet.com/article/apple-products-you-should-avoid-september-2019-edition/ Spoiler: Products AVOID: IPHONE XS, XS MAX, XR Why you should avoid: Bottom line, we're a few weeks away from new hardware landing, so if you've held out this far, you might as well wait and see what falls in the fall. Hardware last updated: September and October 2018. AVOID: MACBOOK Why you should avoid: Once the pinnacle of Apple's thin-and-light engineering, the MacBook now feels neglected, with the last update being almost two years ago. It's a great laptop, but the aging processor makes it a poor buy compared to the MacBook Air. Hardware last updated: June 2017. AVOID: IPAD Why you should avoid: The current iPad was updated a year ago, and the line didn't see a refresh along with the iPad Air and iPad mini, which means that it might be a good idea to either pick up one of the updated models, or wait for a hardware refresh to come. After all, a year is a long time in technology. Hardware last updated: March 2018. AVOID: HOMEPOD Why you should avoid: The current HomePod is a first-generation device that was released over a year ago to offer a challenge to devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home speaker. But a year old in the tech industry is a long time, and so it might be worthwhile holding out on buying one until we get a clearer idea of whether Apple is planning a refresh. Hardware last updated: February 2018. AVOID: MAC PRO Why you should avoid: Old, outdated, and Apple has already teased us with a replacement due in 2019. Once the apex of Apple's computer line, the Mac Pro is now a dinosaur. Now that Apple has unveiled the new Mac Pro, and slated it for release later this year, the old Mac Pro should be off everyone's list (unless you absolutely rely on it and you have to replace one that's been taken out of action). Hardware last updated: Price cut April 2017, but the Mac Pro has been unchanged since December 2013. AVOID: APPLE TV 4K Guidance: Probably not going to see a refresh this year, so it's worth it if you feel like paying top dollar for last year's tech. Apple's 5th-generation Apple TV 4K, built around the A10X Fusion processor and coming with a choice of 32GB or 64GB of storage, was last updated over a year ago. It's still a great device, but the starting price of $179 feels hefty for something over a year old. Don't be confused between this and the 4th-generation Apple TV (without the 4K branding) which is also still for sale. This was first released October 2015. Hardware last updated: The 5th-generation Apple TV 4K was launched September 2017. AVOID: APPLE LIGHTNING CABLE Why you should avoid: Buy something cheaper that will last you longer! I would never buy another Lightning cable from Apple, as there are far better alternatives on offer from companies such as Anker, Amazon, Nomad, and Paracable. But what about USB-C-to-Lightning I hear you ask? Well, for the first time you have an option outside of Apple now that Anker has released its own Powerline II USB-C-to-Lightning cable, which is fully compliant with Apple's Made For iPhone (MFi) standard. Status: Too expensive! BE AWARE: IMAC PRO 18 months is a long time in tech, and a Windows-based PC that was this old would not be worth paying a premium price for. However, this is an Apple computer, and things are different there. However, the iMac Pro is a premium system and 18 months is quite a long time, so be aware if you are dropping a few thousand dollars on a system like this that you are not getting the newest, freshest components possible. Hardware last updated: December 2017. BE AWARE: APPLE WATCH SERIES 4 Apple tends to update the Apple Watch every 18 months or so, so it's well worth being aware of the fact that the current iteration is rolling around to the year mark. If you are upgrading then you might be better off waiting for an updated model to land. Hardware last updated: September 2018.
I don't see why I should avoid Apple TV 4K, it's currently the only way to get access to Apple Movies.
Don't waste your money on these Apple products -- November 2019 edition Just because it has an Apple logo on it doesn't mean that it's worth the money November 4, 2019 https://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-waste-your-money-on-these-apple-products-november-2019-edition/ Spoiler: Products #1: IPAD PRO 11-INCH AND 12.9-INCH Why you should avoid: The current iPad Pro line was updated a year ago, and a year is a long time in technology. What's worse is that the memory management in iOS 13 has made multitasking on this supposed laptop replacement frustrating and annoying. Hardware last updated: October 2018. #2: MAC PRO Why you should avoid: Old, outdated, and Apple has already teased us with a replacement due in 2019. Once the apex of Apple's computer line, the Mac Pro is now a dinosaur. Now that Apple has unveiled the new Mac Pro, and slated it for release later this year, the old Mac Pro should be off everyone's list (unless you rely on it and you have to replace one that's been taken out of action). Hardware last updated: Price cut April 2017, but the Mac Pro has been unchanged since December 2013. #3: IMAC PRO Guidance: Old for a premium system with a premium price tag. The iMac Pro is coming towards its second birthday, and in tech terms that's a long time, and doubly so for a premium system like this. There's no way I'd pay upwards of $4,999 for a system that's going to be two years old by the time I have it fully set up, and so I don't recommend that you do, but at the end of the day it's your money, and if you need one to carry out heavy lifting on the macOS platform, then this could be your only choice. Hardware last updated: December 2017. #4: MACBOOK PRO Guidance: 16-inch model could be landing soon. Not so much an avoid, but more a thing to be aware of. There are persistent rumors circulating that Apple is gearing up to release a 16-inch MacBook Pro that would sit alongside the 13-inch and 15-inch models. If 15-inch doesn't feel big enough for you then it might be worth holding back on a purchase for a few months. Hardware last updated: July 2019, but there could be a 16-inch MacBook Pro in the pipeline. #4: MAC MINI Guidance: Getting old, but a unique Mac that's super useful and affordable. The last Mac Mini was four years in the making, so we could be having to wait three more years until we see the next Mac Mini update. However, the Mac Mini is unique in the macOS ecosystem in that it is a gateway system into the macOS ecosystem for people currently on Windows. It's also a low-cost way to get a macOS workhorse for those times when another beefier system would be overkill. Hardware last updated: July 2019, but there could be a 16-inch MacBook Pro in the pipeline. #5: APPLE TV FIFTH-GEN Guidance: Probably not going to see a refresh this year, so it's worth it if you feel like paying top dollar for last year's tech. Apple's 5th-generation Apple TV, built around the A10X Fusion processor and coming with a choice of 32GB or 64GB of storage, was last updated over a year ago. It's still a great device, but the starting price of $179 feels hefty for something over a year old. Don't be confused between this and the 4th-generation Apple TV (without the 4K branding) which is also still for sale. This was first released in October 2015. Hardware last updated: The 5th-generation Apple TV 4K was launched in September 2017. #6: HOMEPOD Why you should avoid: The current HomePod is a first-generation device that was released over 18-months ago to offer a challenge to devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home speaker. But a year-and-a-half in the tech industry is a long time, and so it might be worthwhile holding out on buying one until we get a clearer idea of whether Apple is planning a refresh. Hardware last updated: February 2018. #7: APPLE LIGHTNING CABLE Why you should avoid: Buy something cheaper that will last you longer! I would never buy another Lightning cable from Apple, as there are far better alternatives on offer from companies such as Anker, Amazon, Nomad, and Paracable. But what about USB-C-to-Lightning I hear you ask? Well, for the first time you have an option outside of Apple now that Anker has released its Powerline II USB-C-to-Lightning cable, which is fully compliant with Apple's Made For iPhone (MFi) standard. Status: Too expensive!
Don't buy these Apple products: February 2020 edition Read before spending your money! February 7, 2020 https://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-buy-these-apple-products-february-2020-edition/ Spoiler: Products MACBOOK PRO While Apple has released the new 16-inch MacBook Pro, with a number of improvements including yet another redesigned keyboard, it's little brother, the 13-inch model didn't get a similar revamp. This means that the 13-inch MacBook Pro, updated May/July 2019, are running older hardware. Keep this in mind if you are planning a purchase. Hardware last updated: The 13-inch MacBook Pro was updated May and July 2019. APPLE TV FIFTH-GEN Guidance: Probably not going to see a refresh this year, so it's worth it if you feel like paying top dollar for last year's tech. Apple's 5th-generation Apple TV, built around the A10X Fusion processor and coming with a choice of 32GB or 64GB of storage, was last updated over a year ago. It's still a great device, but the starting price of $179 feels hefty for something over a year old. Don't be confused between this and the 4th-generation Apple TV (without the 4K branding) which is also still for sale. This was first released in October 2015. Hardware last updated: The 5th-generation Apple TV 4K was launched in September 2017. IPAD PRO 11-INCH AND 12.9-INCH Why you should avoid: The current iPad Pro line was updated a year ago, and a year is a long time in technology. What's worse is that the memory management in iOS 13 has made multitasking on this supposed laptop replacement frustrating and annoying. Hardware last updated: October 2018. HOMEPOD Why you should avoid: The current HomePod is a first-generation device that was released over 18 months ago to offer a challenge to devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home speaker. But a year-and-a-half in the tech industry is a long time, and so it might be worthwhile holding out on buying one until we get a clearer idea of whether Apple is planning a refresh. Hardware last updated: February 2018. MAC MINI Guidance: Getting old, but a unique Mac that's super useful and affordable. The last Mac Mini was four years in the making, so we could be having to wait three more years until we see the next Mac Mini update. However, the Mac Mini is unique in the macOS ecosystem in that it is a gateway system into the macOS ecosystem for people currently on Windows. It's also a low-cost way to get a macOS workhorse for those times when another beefier system would be overkill. Hardware last updated: July 2019, but there could be a 16-inch MacBook Pro in the pipeline. APPLE LIGHTNING CABLE Why you should avoid: Buy something cheaper that will last you longer! I would never buy another Lightning cable from Apple, as there are far better alternatives on offer from companies such as Anker, Amazon, Nomad, and Paracable. But what about USB-C-to-Lightning I hear you ask? Well, for the first time you have an option outside of Apple now that Anker has released its Powerline II USB-C-to-Lightning cable, which is fully compliant with Apple's Made For iPhone (MFi) standard. Status: Too expensive!
Don't waste your money on these Apple products: March 2020 March 2, 2020 https://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-waste-your-money-on-these-apple-products-march-2020/ Spoiler: Products iMac Hardware last updated: Mar 2019. Why you should avoid: Not old by Apple standards, but there are rumors making the rounds that Apple plans to release an update for the iMac line soon. So best to hold onto your money, folks. iMac Pro Hardware last updated: Dec 2017. Why you should avoid: A beast of a system, but with an equally beastly price tag. And even for a workstation system, the iMac Pro is now starting to show its age, and with a starting price of $4,999, it's now best to wait for an update. iPad mini Hardware last updated: Mar 2019 Why to avoid: Here we have yet another Apple product coming towards that year-old mark. Still a good product, but at last year's prices, and with an update likely to come soon, probably not the wisest way to spend your money. iPad Pro 11-inch and 12.9-inch Hardware last updated: October 2018. Why you should avoid: The current iPad Pro line was updated well over a year ago, and that's an awful long time in tech years. As a device that's been pitched as a laptop replacement, it's hard to recommend something that's now fundamentally so old. HomePod Hardware last updated: February 2018. Why you should avoid: The current HomePod is a first-generation device that was released over two years ago as a response to devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home speaker. Rumors suggest that a HomePod 2 will make an appearance this spring, so if you've held out on buying one so far, you might as well hold onto your money for a little longer.. Apple TV fifth-gen Hardware last updated: September 2017. Why you should avoid: Apple's 5th-generation Apple TV, built around the A10X Fusion processor and coming with a choice of 32GB or 64GB of storage, was last released two and a half years ago and while it's still perfectly functional, $179 is a lot of money to pay for something as old.
Old and outdated Apple products not worth spending money on (April 2020 edition) April 1, 2020 https://www.zdnet.com/article/old-a...t-worth-spending-money-on-april-2020-edition/ Spoiler: Products Mac Mini Hardware last updated: March 2020 [...] the underlying hardware is unchanged from October 2018, which means Apple is asking a lot of money for old hardware. iMac Pro Hardware last updated: December 2017 [...] with a starting price of $4,999, it's hard to justify spending that sort of money on something that is now over two years old. iMac Hardware last updated: March 2019 Why you should avoid: Not old by Apple standards, but there are rumors making the rounds that Apple plans to release an update for the iMac line soon. iPad mini Hardware last updated: March 2019 Still a good product, but at last year's prices, and with an update likely to come soon, probably not the wisest way to spend your money. HomePod Hardware last updated: February 2018 Rumors suggest that a HomePod 2 will make an appearance this spring, so if you've held out on buying one so far, you might as well hold onto your money for a little longer.
Old, outdated Apple products you shouldn't buy (June 2020 edition) June 1, 2020 https://www.zdnet.com/article/old-a...ot-worth-spending-money-on-june-2020-edition/ Spoiler: Products iMac Hardware last updated: March 2019 Why you should avoid: Not old by Apple standards, but old by PC standards for sure. Rumors continue ot circulate that Apple plans to release an update for the iMac line soon. So best to hold onto your money, folks. Mac Mini Hardware last updated: March 2020 Why you should avoid: There's a lot to love about the Mac mini. It's small, yet powerful, and a great system for those replacing a PC and who don't need a keyboard and display. iMac Pro Hardware last updated: December 2017 Why you should avoid: An absolute powerhouse of a system when first released, with an equally amazing price tag. But even for a workstation system, the iMac Pro is now starting to show its age, and with a starting price of $4,999, it's hard to justify spending that sort of money on something that is now over two years old. iPad mini Hardware last updated: March 2019 Why to avoid: Happy birthday iPad mini, now a year old. Still a good product, but at last year's prices, and with an update likely to come soon, probably not the wisest way to spend your money. HomePod Hardware last updated: February 2018 Why you should avoid: The current HomePod is a first-generation device that was released over two years ago as a response to devices such as the Amazon Echo and Google Home speaker. Rumors suggest that a HomePod 2 will make an appearance this spring, so if you've held out on buying one so far, you might as well hold onto your money for a little longer.
Don't waste your money on these Apple products: October 2021 edition October 11, 2021 https://www.zdnet.com/article/dont-waste-your-money-on-these-apple-products-october-2021-edition/
