Don’t Waste Your Money On These Apple Products: January 2022 Edition

The year 2022 has arrived. Yes, a new year awaits us. This is the time of year when consumer electronics sales experience a slight dip after the holiday season. But with the coronavirus continuing to make the headlines, and teleworking and distance education seemingly set to become mainstream in the near future, people will be looking to buy products.

And a lot of those products will be Apple branded.

Apple is an interesting company. Some products go through a regular refresh cycle (iPhone being the one most people are familiar with), while other products are left behind. This means that there are some products that are fresh, and some that are not. Here is my list of products to avoid, as well as a list of Apple products that I recommend.

The list of Apple devices “to avoid”:

• IPhone SE: it was a great smartphone when it first came out, but it hasn’t seen a change this year. And now that it’s over a year old, that’s not the great deal it was when it launched in 2020, especially since its price remains unchanged.
• The HomePod: it’s no, but you can fall back on the HomePod Mini.
• Apple Watch SE and Apple Watch Series 3: I would leave them both aside. The SE is one year old, and the Series 3 is still hanging on four years after its release. Both seem overpriced compared to the Series 7, especially since I often hear bad echoes from those who still use the Series 3.
• The Mac Pro: with the transition to Apple Silicon underway, this huge monetary investment just doesn’t make sense at this point.
• IPod Touch: don’t touch it! This product hasn’t been improved for a long time, and it just might be this year.

The list of “recommended” Apple devices:

AirTag

Apple AirTag – Best prices:

Outperforming the competition, Apple AirTags are the perfect gift for people who constantly lose their items. Well made, sturdy and with a replaceable battery, with them lost keys and wallets will be a thing of the past.

AirPods Pro

Apple AirPods 3 (2021) – Best prices:

The best headphones on the market, which integrate so well with the rest of the Apple ecosystem. Exceptional sound, exceptional comfort and excellent battery life. Two years after their release, these are still my favorite headphones.

iPhone 13 Pro

Apple iPhone 13 – Best prices:

Without a doubt, it is the best smartphone around. The screen is beautiful, the camera is superb and the battery life is far ahead of the competition.

12.9-inch iPad Pro

Apple iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2021) – Best prices:

It’s a great alternative to a laptop (especially for those who are part of the Apple ecosystem). Powered by Apple’s M1 chip, this is a huge upgrade from previous iPad Pro tablets. Paired with a gorgeous XDR display and a camera set that includes a 12MP wide camera, 10MP ultra-wide camera, and even a LiDAR scanner, this is a great product for both work and play.

13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple’s M1 chip

This is a super powerful laptop in a small 13.3 inch form factor. The M1 chip surpasses anything Intel has done for a Mac and delivers incredible performance paired with unprecedented battery life.

My top tips for buying Apple products

• Compare prices. The Apple Store, physical or online, isn’t the cheapest place to buy Apple products. Even if for some products, it is the only one.
• Order early. The global microchip shortage is resulting in longer than usual delivery times for some products, so plan ahead!
• Check what you are buying. For example, the latest AirPods are third generation models, not second generation versions (which I still see on sale at a high price in many places).
• Consult the guarantees. Apple has no problem with new and genuine products purchased from third parties, so don’t feel pressured to buy directly from Apple.

  Source: ZDNet.com