With new models expected to land in September, if you've managed to hold out buying an iPhone 8/8 Plus so far, I'd suggest waiting a few more weeks for the new models to land.
Guidance: If you think the iPhone 8/8 Plus is too old, remember the iPhone X is only a month younger.
If you are going to put down a thousand dollars for a smartphone, I'd recommend making sure that you get as much life out of it as possible. Since the iPhone X was unveiled alongside the iPhone 8/8 Plus, and the expected unveiling of the next iPhone is just around the corner, it might be a good idea to hold on to your cash for a few more weeks and see what Apple has to offer when it comes to the next-generation iPhone X.
Guidance: A year is a long time, and both models are rumored to be getting an upgrade soon.
Guidance: It's hard to recommend buying a computer that's over a year old.
No matter how much Apple's new "Behind the Mac" ads ty to convince me that Macs have a longer lifespan than a PC, I still find it hard to recommend people spend top dollar on technology that's over a year old.
Guidance: Buy now and you might regret it when a newer version drops.
With rumors of updated AirPods circulating, now may not be the time to shell out $159 on Apple's wireless earphones.
There are also a whole raft of other earphones out there that are worth taking a look at.
While the iPhone SE got a storage bump in March 2017, the underlying hardware remains the same as the original hardware released in March 2016. It's essentially an iPhone 6s in a different shell.
This one is a tough call. While it's a solid entry-level device, given the age of the technology it's a tough call as to whether to recommend it or not, especially given the persistent rumors of an iPhone SE2 upgrade being in the works.
Guidance: This is a lot of money for what is an ancient laptop.
Once Apple's thinnest and lightest laptop, it now is neither of these things, with the MacBook taking that spot in the lineup.
The MacBook Air was last given a significant upgrade back on March of 2015, and rumors that it is being discontinued have been circulating for months.
Apple could dramatically simplify its Mac lineup by letting this ancient one go.
As the iPhone gets bigger, the case of the iPad mini gets weaker. This is doubly so if the OLED iPhone 8 ships with the rumored 5.8-inch display.
The iPad mini is also getting old, with the September 2016 update being only a storage bump.
There are also some pretty strong rumors that suggest Apple is getting ready to drop the iPad mini from its line up.
Guidance: Old, but still works, but expensive for what it is now.
This one is tricky. The hardware of the iPod touch was last updated back in July 2015, which means that by modern standards it's getting quite long in the tooth. However, the July 2017 price cut means that it's a better deal than it was a few weeks ago.
Personally, I'd see what happens at the next iPhone launch. It's quite possible that the price cut was a way for Apple to clear stock of the 6th-generation models before making an update. Or it may be a way to clear stock before killing it off altogether.
Either way, I'd wait and see what happens later this year.
Guidance: Avoid unless you have to.
Once the apex of Apple's computer line, the Mac Pro is now a dinosaur.
Now that Apple has confirmed that there won't be a new Mac Pro until next year (presumably so as not to cannibalize iMac Pro sales), I think that 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).
Guidance: This is a total fossil!
Once the low-cost gateway device into the Mac ecosystem, the Mac mini last saw refresh love from Apple in October 2014.
Nothing about the Mac mini makes sense any more. The form factor was based around the footprint of an optical drive, and the idea was that those switching up from a PC could keep their old peripherals and just slot the Mac mini into their workflow. Nowadays the focus is more on laptops, and the Mac mini feels like a relic of a bygone era.
But it's a shame. I've owned a number of Mac minis and they were all awesome workhorses. It's also real shame that Apple has nothing to replace them with, especially since this was popular amongst those switching from PC to Mac.
Now that Apple has discontinued this product, I don't recommend buying an AirPort router anymore (even though Apple is selling off the remaining stock).
This is a shame since these products were rock solid and both easy enough for newbies to set up yet powerful and versatile enough for enthusiasts.
Guidance: 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.
The only time I recommend buying an Apple cable is if you want USB-C fast charging capability on the iPhone X or iPhone 8. Only the genuine Apple cable is currently compatible with this feature (some more unscrupulous sellers may claim to support fast charging, but they don't).
We think of Apple as being at the absolute cutting-edge of technology, but the truth is that when you walk into an Apple Store you are in fact surrounded by a lot of old, and even outdated devices that are badly in need of a refresh. This guide helps you navigate yourself around Apple's lineup when thinking about making a purchase.