3 Apple devices you definitely shouldn't buy this month (and 9 to get instead)

It’s been a busy few weeks for Apple and an equally busy time for the wallets of Apple fans. We got a brand-new iPhone 16e –Apple’s replacement to the iPhone SE — as well as a new iPad and iPad Air, both of which really needed an update.

Also: I replaced my iPhone 16 Pro with the 16e for a week – here’s my buying advice now

There was also a new 13-inch MacBook Air and 15-inch MacBook Air, both upgraded with the M4 chip, while the pro-oriented Mac Studio got the much-anticipated M4 Max and M3 Ultra chips.

So what’s left for Apple to do this year? Quite a bit, actually. We can expect a new iPad Pro, iPhone, Apple Watch, MacBook Pro with the upcoming M5 processor, and more. Here’s what products to watch out for, and which to hold on purchasing in 2025.

Tariffs and trade wars

Tariffs are in the news a lot. One moment they’re on, next they’re off, then they’re on again with a list of exemptions that might not stay.

CNET: Tracking tariff prices: See how the new tariffs are hitting these 11 popular products

When asked about any potential tariff impacts during Apple’s last earnings call, CEO Tim Cook had this to say: “We are monitoring the situation and don’t have anything more to add than that.” It’ll be interesting to see if Apple has any more to say in the next earnings call (watch this space!).

Right now, it’s all uncertain. One thing we know for sure, Apple isn’t going to be building any iPhones in America… your next iPhone will likely have “Made in India” on the back.

Upcoming Apple products to keep an eye on (near and far)

1. M5 Chip

We’re still hot on the heels of the M4 processor in the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, but yes, the M5 chip is already on the horizon. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in the Power On newsletter, the M5 will find its way into the MacBook Pro and iPad Pro later this year, most likely in the fall.

2. Apple TV

It’s coming; we’re just not sure when. It’s rumored to make use of Apple’s new networking chip, adding support for Wi-Fi 6E, and will be powered by the A15 chip, which opens the door to Apple Intelligence features.

3. AirTag Update

I’m a massive AirTag fan, and since Apple released them, the market has exploded with third-party offerings. While only Apple can offer precision finding, there are now tags that are smaller, thinner and even rechargeable finder tags.

Also: How to find out if an AirTag is tracking you – and what to do about it

The new AirTags are expected to use a new Ultra Wideband chip, bringing improved range and accuracy. Apple is also allegedly making the speaker more difficult to disable, serving as a countermeasure to prevent tags from being used to stalk people.

Given how trivial it is to modify AirTags, and how you can even buy them pre-modified, this will be a welcome change.

The ‘don’t buy’ list

Give these Apple devices a pass for now, as we’re likely to see refreshed versions soon.

• Apple TV: Last updated in October 2022, this device is due for a refresh. Rumors suggest a fourth-gen Apple TV 4K will be announced during the first half of this year.
• HomePod Mini: Released in October 2020, this is officially Apple’s oldest product. While there’s nothing wrong with it technically, it’s hard to recommend paying full price for such old hardware.
• Vision Pro: It’s hard to bet against Apple, and it’s difficult to put something with so much potential on the naughty list, but if rumors are true that Apple has pulled the plug on production because sales have slumped, it’s hard to have faith in the product. I’d hold out and see what Apple has planned. Current rumors point to a 2026 refresh.

Then there are these, which aren’t a hard pass, but it’s definitely worth thinking about if you can’t wait a few months for a refresh to land, especially if you want to get a few years out of the device:

• iPad Pro: This is rumored to be getting the M5 chip upgrade, which should offer a very significant boost in performance over the existing silicon.
• MacBook Pro: With the M5 chip on the horizon, it might be worth making your existing hardware last a few more months and picking up the latest and greatest.

The ‘do buy’ list

These Apple devices are worth springing for now, since it’ll be a while before we see significant hardware upgrades.

1. iPad Air

The newly refreshed iPad Air is decked out with the M3 chip. Prices start at $599 for the 11-inch version and $799 for the 13-inch version.

2. MacBook Air

Both the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air laptops get an upgrade to the 10-core CPU/10-core GPU M4 processor, and battery life is boosted to as much as 18 hours. Prices start at $999, but with enough upgrades you can get it up to $2,399.

3. Mac Studio

Apple’s pro-grade alternative to the Mac mini gets a serious processing boost, with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra offered in a range of configurations. Prices start at $1,999 but can go as high as $14,099 for a fully tricked-out system.

4. Apple iMac

The M4 iMac got a refresh to bring it up to speed with Apple Intelligence. With specs ranging from an eight-core CPU and GPU, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage priced at $1,299, all the way up to a 10-core CPU and GPU, 24GB of RAM, and 512GB of storage for $1,899, there’s an iMac to suit most workloads and budgets.

5. Apple Mac Mini

Apple’s smallest Mac got an upgrade to the M4 and M4 Pro processors. It’s also the cheapest Mac you can buy, as a Mac Mini with the 10-core CPU and GPU model, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage costs only $599.

6. Apple iPad Mini

The all-new 2024 iPad Mini replaced the three-year-old model with one powered by an A17 Pro chip that’s Apple Intelligence-ready and comes in a range of colors: blue, purple, starlight, and space gray, and storage capacities: 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB. Prices range from $499 to $799.

7. Apple iPhone 16

From a Camera Control button, an Action button, and the new A18 chipset, the iPhone 16 has been built from the ground up to handle AI workloads.

8. Apple Watch Series 10

The Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for GPS and $499 for cellular. It comes in three colors: jet black, rose gold, and silver aluminum. The new black Apple Watch Ultra 2 starts at $799.

9. Apple M4 MacBook Pro

Need a Mac that combines portability with power? You need a MacBook Pro.

But it’s less a case of how fast a laptop you need and more a case of how much you want to spend. With prices for the 14-inch M4 MacBook Pro starting at $1,599, and the 16-inch version starting at $900 more (and going all the way up to a whopping $7,349 for the 40-core, 128GB of RAM, and 8TB of storage behemoth), these systems represent some serious processing power but power that comes at a price.

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