Your next purchase?

[Warped9]

I wanted this as a general discussion, but here goes.

Browsing through threads here you might think people are buying new Apple products practically every year, but thats not likely. So I thought we could share what we might be planning to buy next.


I currently have a mid 2011 21.5 iMac with upgraded hardware. It runs really well, but nonetheless within the next year or so I intend to finally replace it most likely with a new 24in. iMac. I am waiting to see what the new 27in. iMac will be like, but I suspect it will be priced a bit more for my liking than an optioned out 24. So I am more interested in seeing the M2 iMac 24 and what other (if any) tweaks they might make.

I currently have an iPad Pro 10.5 that I am thinking of replacing, either wth a new iPad Air or a 9th or 10th GEN iPad.

I have my old iPhone 4 that I use as a glorified iPod Touch (it replaced my loved ten year old iPod Nano when it finally died). But it can be a bit slow so I’m thinking of replacing it with a new iPod Touch in the very near future.

My current iPhone 8+ I have no intention of replacing anytime soon given it works really well and I am very happy with it.

 

[Fatus_Asticus]

I have a MBP 16 inch 16gb 1tb, Iphone 13 PM

Looking to buy the iMac 27 pro when it comes out. I'm passing on the 24 inch because I want the pro motion screen and the larger footprint.

 

[Fishrrman]

I'm expecting $1,900 or $2,000 as the "rock bottom" entry-level price for the upcoming iMac Pro 27" with the m1pro CPU. That would be "the base model", which I expect to have 16gb of RAM and a 512gb SSD.

That will be "Apple's price". An I'm being optimistic -- it could be higher.

I would also expect 3rd party authorized resellers to offer modest discounts, probably 100, 150 or 200 off, not too long after the introduction...

 

[Bazza1]

I currently have a 2017 13" Air (so out of AppleCare warranty), which I'm now using as my SOHO machine, having recently acquired an inexpensive ($250) 'disposable' Win11 laptop to act as my work travel notebook. Its smaller and I'll be significantly less concerned with the day-to-day bumps and 'oops' on it than I was with my Air - and replacing the Win a lot less a shock to my bank manager than replacing the Air.

That said, I suspect that when the time comes to upgrade my Mac (my last 11" Air lasted 6 years, and only because I wanted a slightly larger screen and I had hit the OS-upgrade wall with it) - and assuming this same sort of device usage - I'm thinking I'll likely get an iMac. I know I am certainly going against the popular grain when I say I'm not in any hurry t see a 27" (and greater) iMac - and I would have preferred it if they had kept a 21" model. Footprint and the desire to not have a honking great screen take over as a design feature of my work-from-home environment, mostly. But then, I'd rather have a MX5 than a Hummer, too.

 

[Warped9]

^^ While the current 24in. iMac has a larger display than the previous 21.5in. it is actually only marginally larger in height and width, so marginal it’s negligible—less than a inch larger each way.

 

[TechRunner]

I'm due for a new phone in the next couple of months, and am considering a handful of options, including the 13 Mini and 13 Pro. Also would like to replace my 2K Lenovo monitor with something a bit higher in resolution for photo editing, so hoping for some good news regarding the impending Apple-branded monitors that LG is working on.

Otherwise, I'm good with the rest of my gear, though I might look at AW7 if I switch to an iPhone.

 

[wilberforce]

I'm expecting $1,900 or $2,000 as the "rock bottom" entry-level price for the upcoming iMac Pro 27" with the m1pro CPU. That would be "the base model", which I expect to have 16gb of RAM and a 512gb SSD.

That will be "Apple's price". An I'm being optimistic -- it could be higher.

I would also expect 3rd party authorized resellers to offer modest discounts, probably 100, 150 or 200 off, not too long after the introduction...

For the model you describe, I expect $2,499.

There may be a low-spec base model around $1,900 with a binned M1 (or M2) processor with 8GB RAM (basically the same innards as the base 24" iMac), which will sell like hot cakes through Amazon with ~$150 discount.

The trend is for Apple to unlink processor capability and screen size. (Example: the new MBPs)

 

[Bazza1]

^^ While the current 24in. iMac has a larger display than the previous 21.5in. it is actually only marginally larger in height and width, so marginal it’s negligible—less than a inch larger each way.

Good to note - even though every 'marginal' adds up to a larger and larger product. And everyone seems to be jonesing for 27" and larger - so you have to wonder how long 24" will last.

 

[stillcrazyman]

I currently have an i7 2018 Mini w/ 32GB/1TB as my desktop.
I‘ve been less than satisfied with the iGPU on it. I did try an eGPU but had too many flaky issues with it.
I’ve been used to having an iMac or a tower (back in the day). Photography and editing are my main workflows.

So, I’ll be waiting to see what the new iMac is going to be. Prices will be a factor.

 

[Warped9]

If the new 27in. iMac is spec’d and priced like the new MacBook Pro 14in. then it’s a maybe because a spec’d out (to my liking) 24in. iMac would be around the same price.

Size could be another consideration. The new 27in., although smaller overall than the current 27 (because of smaller bezels), will still be distinctly larger than the 24in.

 

[rasputin666]

having the original M1 Mini, next purchase will be either the next Mini or the next mac pro, assuming it's M chip based and much cheaper than the last pro version. i only went with the mini b/c my trashcan pro from 2013 was having HW glitches and i didn't feel like spending money to repair 7 yr old mac.

 

[fivenotrump]

Good to note - even though every 'marginal' adds up to a larger and larger product. And everyone seems to be jonesing for 27" and larger - so you have to wonder how long 24" will last.

I hope that it will last at least until I have to replace my (ordered on the day of announcement) 24" iMac. I could certainly afford the imminent(?) super-duper big iMac but 24" is just right for me.

 

[lilface]

When it comes to iPhones, I upgrade every year to every other year. Currently on a 12 max pro, and will likely upgrade this fall.

As far as my iMac though, I’m running on a fully loaded late 2012 27in iMac. It still runs pretty well! I use it for two things, playing games and graphic design. I can play games on lower settings just fine (WoW and League) and as far as design goes it might struggle with heavy photoshop files but overall I am happy with its performance for being an almost 10 year old machine.

That being said I am 100% upgrading to the new 27in iMac Pro with M? chip as soon as it’s announced/available. I would have purchased it last year or in 2020 if it was available, but here we are… just patiently waiting. Looking forward to it and I’m pretty happy with spending some $$$$ on a computer that will last me 10 years.

The real question is, what should I do with my current late 2012?! It’s definitely not trash, I probably can’t sell it for much. But it’s totally still useable and I would hate to let it go to waste.

 

[Warped9]

The real question is, what should I do with my current late 2012?! It’s definitely not trash, I probably can’t sell it for much. But it’s totally still useable and I would hate to let it go to waste.

I get it. My upgraded 2011 21.5 is a machine that works great even if it doesn’t have a more current OS. I actually feel conflicted about replacing it.

 

[lilface]

I get it. My upgraded 2011 21.5 is a machine that works great even if it doesn’t have a more current OS. I actually feel conflicted about replacing it.

Right?! I feel a certain feeling towards this machine that has been through so many years and been so good to me. As excited as I am to upgrade and get the new one, it’s like saying goodbye forever to an old friend.

 

[Warped9]

I get it. My upgraded 2011 21.5 is a machine that works great even if it doesn’t have a more current OS. I actually feel conflicted about replacing it.

Honestly I find myself pondering whether to just continue with my computer as is until I actually start to have issues. The new iMacs are only going to get better.

I have an old iPhone 4 I use as a glorified iPod. I think about buying a new iPod Touch, but my IP4 still works fine for its purpose. I think about a new 9th generation iPad 10.2 or iPad Air 10.9, but my current iPad Pro 10.5 also still works fine for its purpose.

I have a 17 year old 2004 Ford Crown Victoria (with a few mods) with only 120,000 kilometres on it in exceptional condition and no issues. I think about a new car, but I have no practical reasons to replace what I have which, now, is distinctive from most everything else I see on the road. I’m also quite fond of it as it used to be my father’s car.

 

[JahBoolean]

The iPhone: An 11 pro that I won't upgrade until 5G has become ubiquitous and a bit more power efficient, If I can hold on it through the pillbox redesign years, all the better.

The iPad: Just got a 2021 12.9 Pro. I cannot currently forsee a reason for me to upgrade.

The Mac: That I am currently on the fence aboiut, my furnace of an Intel 2019 i9 is becoming quite the annoyance, with it's laughable battery life (compared with the efficiency offered by the M chips) and tinnitus inducing whine (worsened by a recent drop).

I would have downsized to a M1 Air (considering my changing need for compute horsepower) had it not been for the limited ram and inability to support more than one extra monitor (natively, to make use of my current thunderbolt docking setup).

Very curious to see what the M2 will promise, although very sober about apple pigeonholding some of the features outlined above to properly segregate their lineup.

 

[Warped9]

Today I finally saw an iMac 24in. in person. It was pink.

I like the design overall. In person you are struck by how crazy thin it is. I’m okay with the light bezels.

I can see why the colours are controversial. I like the pink on the pedestal, but I don’t care for it on the chin. I think it would look better if the chin were exactly the same as the pedestal. And while the back isn’t really seen I think it would look better overall if the entire chassis were the colour of the pedestal. Finally, yeah, Apple should have put the logo on the chin.

Now pink wouldn’t be the colour I’d choose. And my reservations wouldn’t keep me from buying one if I go this route.

 

[Fishrrman]

Warped wrote:
"I have a 17 year old 2004 Ford Crown Victoria (with a few mods) with only 120,000 kilometres on it in exceptional condition and no issues. I think about a new car, but I have no practical reasons to replace what I have which, now, is distinctive from most everything else I see on the road. I’m also quite fond of it as it used to be my father’s car."

Time to put it into "semi-retirement" and get a replacement as your daily driver.
Save your dad's car for nice days, Sundays, etc., when you can take it out for a drive "in memory of him"...

 

[Warped9]

Warped wrote:
"I have a 17 year old 2004 Ford Crown Victoria (with a few mods) with only 120,000 kilometres on it in exceptional condition and no issues. I think about a new car, but I have no practical reasons to replace what I have which, now, is distinctive from most everything else I see on the road. I’m also quite fond of it as it used to be my father’s car."

Time to put it into "semi-retirement" and get a replacement as your daily driver.
Save your dad's car for nice days, Sundays, etc., when you can take it out for a drive "in memory of him"...

I’m not broke or on the edge of being in the street, but I can’t afford to do that.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Long, LONG time iMac(s) owner here. However, my next is going to separate monitor from Mac, even if the value proposition much favors the new iMac. iMac tends to be "best value" going in but then it's messy at upgrade time. Now I have this perfectly-good monitor with guts that can no longer be upgraded to the latest OS. That basically means "throw baby out with the bathwater" unless I perhaps hang on to it for legacy software purposes.

So next Mac for me is rumored Mac Mini MAX or Mac Pro Jr with an ultra-wide monitor from some other brand name- probably the Dell 5K2K 40"

With bootcamp basically killed in the transition, I'll prob also pick up a mini-like PC to hook into the same monitor (that Dell can easily handle 2 separate computers and includes built-in KVM)... to get what amounts to hardware bootcamp. Yes, I know that Parallels can run ARM Windows but ARM Windows is not broadly compatible with all Windows software... unlike this aging iMac which can bootcamp mainstream Windows and thus run anything when needed.

3 things that would make me re-think this:

1. Surprise Apple-made, Ultra-wide iMac. Nary a rumor about this one but I'd love to see it
2. Some kind of Target Disk Mode resurrection so that I could buy an iMac that could later become a monitor when its guts are no longer able to run macOS upgrades. Nary a rumor about this one too but there are a lot of rumors about an HDMI jack, which only makes some sense if it is HDMI OUT... but what if it is HDMI IN? I don't expect that but if Macs are going to get on iPhone-like upgrade cycles with macOS not able to fully support hardware only a few years old, I'm not too interested in buying a built-in monitor that will have to be retired well before it actually needs to be.
3. Surprise guts-swap option so when Mac hardware gets too old for macOS updates, new guts could be slugged in and continue using the same iMac monitor. Nary a rumor about this either but it seems a good way to make the natural longevity of good monitors work with accelerated hardware obsolescence cycles to prompt "buy new."

I'm hoping for some great monitor-less Mac options in 2022.

 

[Fatus_Asticus]

If you go 24 inch it might behoove you to get the double fan version. The lower core version only has a single fan.

 

[hpucker99]

I recently bought a 2021 MBP 14 inch last fall to replace my 2018 MBP 13 inch. It is much faster than the 2018 MBP and my 2013 iMac 27 inch. I am waiting to see what the upgraded 27 inch with Apple Silicon is capable of. Not sure if it comes maxed out with the M1 MAX CPU it is worth the upgrade. Other option is to wait for the new Mac Pro and lower cost Apple displays.

 

[blairh]

I wanted this as a general discussion, but here goes.

Browsing through threads here you might think people are buying new Apple products practically every year, but thats not likely. So I thought we could share what we might be planning to buy next.


I currently have a mid 2011 21.5 iMac with upgraded hardware. It runs really well, but nonetheless within the next year or so I intend to finally replace it most likely with a new 24in. iMac. I am waiting to see what the new 27in. iMac will be like, but I suspect it will be priced a bit more for my liking than an optioned out 24. So I am more interested in seeing the M2 iMac 24 and what other (if any) tweaks they might make.

I currently have an iPad Pro 10.5 that I am thinking of replacing, either wth a new iPad Air or a 9th or 10th GEN iPad.

I have my old iPhone 4 that I use as a glorified iPod Touch (it replaced my loved ten year old iPod Nano when it finally died). But it can be a bit slow so I’m thinking of replacing it with a new iPod Touch in the very near future.

My current iPhone 8+ I have no intention of replacing anytime soon given it works really well and I am very happy with it.

Why replace the 10.5 iPad Pro? I have the 2017 model. No issues and I love it. I purchased a refurbished 11 iPP with cellular thinking I would make that my new all-in-one device and take it everywhere, etc. Well it had no split keyboard (to my dismay), my left thumb would naturally cover the Face ID camera each time in landscape while holding the device, and swiping up from the home bar in landscape with my right thumb was so uncomfortable each time. (Again, while holding and using the device with two hands.) I immediately returned it and now appreciate my 10.5 iPP much more.

As for your general question, I just replaced my iPhone 12 PM with the 13. Much happier with the smaller size/lighter weight and I won't be upgrading again until (hopefully) we get a folding iPhone in late 2024.

I would love to sell my 5K iMac for the upcoming updated model. We shall see.

I'll keep my MBP until it no longer works. Probably will get that redesigned MBA coming later this year when needed.

iPad Mini cellular arriving tomorrow. Going to see if I can use it instead of my iPhone 13 in many situations and have it be a stop-gap device until the folding iPhone comes.

I will use my 10.5 iPP till it no longer works properly. When the time comes where I have to replace it I'll have to look at the iPad lineup and make a decision.

I'm expecting a 47mm Apple Watch this fall. Ross Young says we are getting a 3rd size. I will trade in my SE and purchase that on day one. I want a much larger screen.

 

[Warped9]

My iPad Pro might be replaced because my mother (she is 91) has an old iPad Air that is very slow except for the jigsaw puzzle and solitaire apps she uses. It would be nice for her to have a larger screen. So either I give her my 10.5 Pro and get something new for myself or I get her a new 9th gen 10.2 iPad and keep my current Pro. Another possibility is to find a good second hand iPad Pro, maybe a 12.9, for her for her games. She doesn’t use the iPad for anything else.