Hey,
It’s Pete Matheson with a new issue of Experiments in Progress.
Apple wants you to think every device is one generation from obsolete. It's not.
This issue's for budget-conscious Apple buyers.
I'm breaking down every category, what's genuinely fine to buy a generation (or three) old, and the one product where going cheap will cost you more in frustration than you saved in cash.
The Smart Buyer's Apple Guide: New vs Old
So here's my category-by-category breakdown of where to save your money and where not to:
📱 iPhone: buy old, no contest
There hasn't been a meaningful iPhone change in years, if we're honest.
If you want the newest Apple Intelligence features or the new Gemini-powered Siri landing soon, fine, buy new. Otherwise, go old.
Check Apple's own Certified Refurbished Store first
Battery condition is the only thing that actually matters on a used or refurbished phone — check it before anything else
The thing is, unless you specifically need this year's chip, an older iPhone with a healthy battery does everything most people need.
💻 MacBook: buy old, and don't feel bad about it
M1 or M2 MacBook Air is more than adequate for most people
Going for a Pro? An M1 or M2 Pro lets you spec up to the max chip, more memory, more storage — for a fraction of new Pro pricing
Battery life on Apple Silicon Macs is genuinely excellent even a few generations back — again, just check the battery health before buying
📱 iPad: buy old, seriously
Most people using an iPad are watching videos, scrolling, and replying to email:
iPad Air M1 (2022) is plenty of tablet for most people, and refurbished units start around $260–300
Don't need Pencil support or heavy multitasking? A basic 10th-gen iPad refurbished is enough
There's basically nothing "processor intensive" happening on the average person's iPad.
⌚ Apple Watch: this is where old bites you
Here's the one exception. Buy newer here if you can.
Watch batteries are small and degrade fast. Plenty of people I know with an older Apple Watch are down to 4–5 hours before a recharge
Rather than hunting for an old Series model with a worn battery, just buy the current-gen SE. It gets you a brand-new battery, warranty, and most of the features that matter
Getting the battery replaced on an old Watch is an option too, but by the time you factor in the service cost, the SE 3 usually wins
🎧 AirPods: buy new-ish, never buy used
AirPods Pro 3 are $249 list but routinely dip to $189–199 on sale — genuinely worth grabbing at that price for the 2× better noise cancellation and heart-rate sensing
AirPods 4 are a great buy-new option too, and honestly hard to beat for comfort (they stay in my ears better than the Pro line, if I'm being fair)
Never buy used in-ear earbuds. That's just a bit icky, and you can't fully clean out someone else's ear tips
If you want "old but safe," go refurbished/certified rather than a random used pair from a marketplace listing
🍏 Buy Old or Buy New: The Apple Cheat Sheet
Category | Verdict |
|---|---|
iPhone | Buy old (refurbished 1–3 gens back) |
MacBook | Buy old (M1/M2 is plenty) |
iPad | Buy old (Air M1 or basic iPad) |
Apple Watch | Buy new (SE 3) |
AirPods | Buy new-ish, never used |
What's your biggest "I definitely overpaid for this" Apple regret?
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Google and Samsung dropped their new smartwatches within weeks of each other, so I spent real time with all three: the Galaxy Watch 9, the Watch Ultra 2, and the Pixel Watch 5.
Here's the twist — one of these used to be my absolute favourite Android smartwatch, and after this testing... it's not anymore.
Which of the three actually has the better everyday battery life
Whether the Watch Ultra 2 is worth the jump over the standard Watch 9
How the Pixel Watch 5 compares on comfort and everyday wear
The one thing that knocked my former favourite off the top spot
Which watch pairs best depending on your phone
My honest pick if you're buying an Android watch today
and more…
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