Apple Buyer’s Guide 2025: Top Macs, iPhones, iPads and More
Looking to upgrade your Apple device in 2025? This complete buyer’s guide helps you decide which Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, AirPods, and more are worth buying now, which to wait for, and which to avoid.
This guide is based on hands-on experience, expert reviews, and Apple’s expected update cycles—so you can make smart purchase decisions.
📱 iPhone Buyer’s Guide 2025
Model | Chip | Rating | Next Update Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
iPhone 17 Pro Max | A19 Pro | ✅ Best Buy | Sep 2026 |
iPhone 17 Air | A19 Pro | ✅ Best Buy | Sep 2026 |
iPhone 17 | A19 | ✅ Best Buy | Sep 2026 |
iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max | A18 Pro | 👍 Good if discounted | Sep 2025 |
iPhone 16 / 16 Plus | A18 | ⚠ Limited value | Sep 2025 |
iPhone 15 Pro / Pro Max | A17 Pro | 👍 Good if discounted | Soon replaced |
iPhone 14 Pro Max | A16 | 👍 Only if heavily discounted | Aging |
iPhone 13 / 12 Series | A15 / A14 | ⛔ Avoid | Outdated |
Quick Takeaway:
Best choice: iPhone 17 lineup
Value: iPhone 16 Pro / Pro Max (discounted)
Avoid: iPhone 13 series and older
💻 Mac & MacBook Buyer’s Guide 2025
Model | Chip | Rating | Next Update Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
MacBook Air 13” / 15” (2025) | M4 | ✅ Best Buy Now | Mid 2026 |
MacBook Air 13” / 15” (2024) | M3 | 👍 Good if discounted | Mid 2026 |
MacBook Air 13” (2022) | M2 | 👍 Good if discounted | Replaced by M4 |
MacBook Air 13” (2020) | M1 | ❌ Only if budget-limited | End of support soon |
MacBook Air (Intel 2020) | Intel | ⛔ Avoid | Obsolete |
MacBook Pro 14” / 16” (2024) | M4 Pro / M4 Max | 🤔 Wait | M5 due late 2025 |
MacBook Pro 14” / 16” (2023) | M3 Pro / M3 Max | ✅ Still excellent | Recently updated |
MacBook Pro 14” / 16” (2021) | M1 Pro / M1 Max | 👍 Still usable | Support until ~2027 |
MacBook Pro 13” (2022) | M2 | ⛔ Avoid (Touch Bar) | Discontinued |
MacBook Pro (Intel 2019–2020) | Intel | ⛔ Avoid | Obsolete |
Mac Mini (2024) | M4 / Pro | ✅ Best Buy Now | 2026 |
Mac Mini (2023) | M2 / Pro | 👍 Good if discounted | Replaced |
Mac Mini (2020) | M1 | ⛔ Avoid | Outdated |
iMac 24” (2024) | M4 | ✅ Best Buy Now | 2026 |
iMac (2021 M1) | M1 | ⛔ Avoid | Replaced |
Mac Studio (2024) | M4 Max / M3 Ultra | 🤔 Wait | M5 due late 2025 |
Mac Pro (2023) | M2 Ultra | ⛔ Avoid | Redesign coming |
Pro Display XDR (2019) | — | ⛔ Avoid | Replacement soon |
Quick Takeaway:
Best for most buyers: MacBook Air (M4), Mac Mini (M4), iMac 24” (M4)
Power users: MacBook Pro (2023, M3 Pro/Max)
Wait: MacBook Pro (2024, M4 Pro/Max), Mac Studio (2024)
Avoid: Intel Macs, older M1 models, Touch Bar models
⌚ Apple Watch Buyer’s Guide 2025
Model | Chip | Rating | Next Update Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
Series 11 (2025) | S10 | ✅ Best Buy | Sep 2026 |
Series 10 | S10 | 👍 Good if discounted | Sep 2025 |
SE (3rd Gen) | S10 | ✅ Budget Pick | Sep 2025 |
Ultra 3 (2025) | S10 | ✅ Recommended | Sep 2026 |
Ultra 2 | S9 | 👍 Good if discounted | Sep 2025 |
Series 9 & older | S9 or below | ⛔ Avoid | Outdated |
Quick Takeaway:
Best overall: Series 11 and Ultra 3
Budget-friendly: SE (3rd Gen)
Avoid: Series 8 or older
🎧 AirPods Buyer’s Guide 2025
Model | Chip | Rating | Next Update Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
AirPods Pro (3rd Gen, USB-C) | H2 + HR sensor | ✅ Best Overall | Minor refresh 2025 |
AirPods Pro (2nd Gen, USB-C) | H2 | 👍 Still great | Replaced |
AirPods (4th Gen upcoming) | H2 | 🤔 Wait | Late 2025 |
AirPods (3rd Gen) | H1 | 👍 Good if discounted | May be replaced in 2025 |
AirPods Max (2020) | H1 | 🤔 Wait | New model in 2026–2027 |
AirPods Pro (1st Gen) / AirPods 2 | H1 | ⛔ Avoid | Obsolete |
Quick Takeaway:
Best overall: AirPods Pro (3rd Gen USB-C)
Wait: AirPods (4th Gen) and AirPods Max 2
Avoid: AirPods Pro (1st Gen) and AirPods 2
📱 iPad Buyer’s Guide 2025
Model | Chip | Rating | Next Update Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
iPad Air (2025, 11” & 13”) | M3 | ✅ Best Buy | 2026 |
iPad Pro (2024, 11” & 13”) | M4 | 🤔 Wait | Late 2025 |
iPad (11th Gen, 2025) | A16 | ✅ Best Buy | 2026 |
iPad mini (2024) | A17 Pro | ✅ Buy Now | OLED in 2026 |
iPad Air (2024, M2) | M2 | 👍 Good if discounted | Replaced |
iPad 10th / 9th Gen | A14 / A13 | ⛔ Avoid | Outdated |
Quick Takeaway:
Best: iPad Air (M3) and iPad mini (A17 Pro)
Base model: iPad 11th Gen (A16)
Avoid: older A14 or below
🏠 Apple Home & Accessories 2025
Product | Chip | Rating | Next Update Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
HomePod (2nd Gen) | S7 | ✅ Buy Now | 2026 |
Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) | A15 | ⏳ Wait | Late 2025 |
HomePod mini | S5 | ⏳ Wait | Update coming |
AirTag (1st Gen) | U1 | ⏳ Wait | 2nd Gen late 2025 |
🥽 Apple Vision Pro
Model | Chip | Rating | Next Update Expected |
|---|---|---|---|
Vision Pro (1st Gen) | M2 / R1 | 🤔 For devs & enthusiasts | 2026–2027 |
🔧 Apple Software Updates 2025
Platform | Current Version | Next Release (Sep 2026) |
|---|---|---|
iOS | iOS 26 | iOS 27 |
iPadOS | iPadOS 26 | iPadOS 27 |
macOS | macOS 26 Tahoe | macOS 27 |
watchOS | watchOS 26 | watchOS 27 |
tvOS | tvOS 26 | tvOS 27 |
visionOS | visionOS 26 | visionOS 27 |
Quick Takeaway:
Apple’s major OS updates are set for September 2026, bringing iOS 27, macOS 27, and more.
📌 Final Word: What to Buy in 2025
Best Buys: MacBook Air (M4), iPhone 17 series, iPad Air (M3), Apple Watch Series 11 or Ultra 3, AirPods Pro (3rd Gen)
Worth Waiting For: MacBook Pro (M4 Pro/Max), Mac Studio (M5), AirPods (4th Gen), Vision Pro 2
Avoid: Intel Macs, iPhone 13 and older, Apple Watch Series 8 or older, outdated AirPods
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