Is Now a Good Time to Buy a MacBook?
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Hardcore Apple fans have complained that Apple doesn’t update its MacBook computers as often as it should. Most were basically the same for years, and some people got tired of it quickly. That’s why Apple has been refreshing the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro mostly every year, with the most recent models being from late 2020. And if rumors are true, there are at least three more MacBooks in the works as we speak, which is pretty sweet. But all of this can be a bit overwhelming..
With so many MacBooks to choose from and even more coming in the next few months, how can you tell if it’s a good time to buy a MacBook?
Should you buy the best MacBook now or wait a few months until the next best MacBook arrives?
The truth is, there’s no one size fits all answer for this – but, before you buy your new MacBook, here’s what you need to consider.
Should I Buy an M1 MacBook Now or Wait?
There’s no doubt that the M1 MacBooks are the best on the market right now, and if you buy one, you won’t regret it. But if you’re looking to buy the absolute best MacBook available, and money and time aren’t an issue, then you might be better off waiting a few more months.
Why? There are many rumors that Apple is preparing a couple of new surprises for us this year, albeit you should always take these murmurs with a grain of salt. For example, most were sure that Apple would reveal a new MacBook Pro during WWDC21. But as we know, that didn’t happen.
Still, there are other leaks and rumors about upcoming MacBooks that’ll be even more powerful than the current M1 Apple Silicon MacBooks. More on those below.
Which New MacBooks Are Coming?
We never really know for sure what Apple’s working on, but a lot of analysts and leakers claim to know Apple will release these MacBooks in the near future.
A New MacBook Air
There have been many rumors lately that Apple’s planning to release a high-end MacBook Air, with the so-called M2 chip, a bigger mini-LED display, and the (re)introduction of MagSafe.
Rumors suggest that Apple will release this MacBook sometime during the second half of 2021, but that seems a bit unlikely since it hasn’t even been a year since Apple launched the M1 MacBook Air. Instead, it’s more likely that we’ll see this MacBook during 2022, as other rumors suggest.
14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro
Another ongoing rumor is that Apple’s developing a new, high-end MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon. This MacBook Pro will come in two different sizes at 14- and 16-inches and it will be the most powerful MacBook Pro yet, with the new M2 or M1X chip.
Both models will also feature mini-LED displays and MagSafe charging. However, according to rumors, what’s different about these MacBooks is that they’ll have more Thunderbolt ports, SD card slots, and maybe even an HDMI port.
When it comes to the release date, however, we can’t really say for sure. Most well-known Apple leakers were 100% sure that Apple would release these MacBooks during this year’s WWDC, which never happened. Now, people speculate that Apple will release the new MacBook Pro either in the fourth quarter of 2021 or the first quarter of 2022.
Before Buying, Ask Yourself This..
As we mentioned, there isn’t one answer for everyone, but you can ask yourself a couple of questions in order to find out if you should buy a MacBook right now or if you’re better off waiting a while longer.
Do I Need a MacBook Right Now?
We’re talking about really needing a new MacBook at this very moment. Do you need to upgrade your older MacBook for a new model right now, or do you simply want to upgrade? Do you want a new MacBook right now just because you want to try a new toy? Some of us need our Macs to work, so not having one can affect our livelihood. If that’s your case, then there’s no time like the present to buy a new MacBook!
If you only want to buy a new MacBook for fun or novelty, consider this. Do you want to have the latest M1 MacBook, or wait until the next-latest M2 or M1X chip comes out? If you’re all about having the latest and greatest, then you might be better off just waiting a few more months until Apple releases a new, even more insanely powerful MacBook.
Which Model Do I Really Want?
There’s no question that buying an Intel-based MacBook is not the best option. Apple switching to Apple Silicon is clearly the future of all Macs, and you’re better off waiting if you want the 16-inch MacBook, for example. The same goes for the MacBook Air. There are a lot of strong rumors about the new MacBook Air that’ll feature the successor of the M1 chip. It’s going to be more powerful and thinner than ever.
If you’re thinking about getting an M1 MacBook Air, but you can wait a few more months, then the new MacBook Air that’s rumored to come out at the end of the year will be well worth the wait.
Is There Ever a Good Time to Buy a New MacBook?
In a world where Apple upgrades its MacBook lineup almost yearly, it’s not always feasible to have the latest and greatest. Even if you wait to buy an upcoming MacBook, there’s always going to be a newer, more powerful model in the near future…
If you need a new MacBook right now, whether it’s for work or to study, and your current MacBook doesn’t cut it anymore, then, by all means, get a new M1 MacBook. They’re super fast, ultra-powerful, and you can rest assured that you can use yours every day without worrying about performance for many years.
On the other hand, if you can wait, then I suggest that you should. Apple’s newer MacBooks are just around the corner, at least according to what rumors say. If you can wait a few more months, then you’ll get yourself Apple’s best MacBook yet with a new design along with many other upgrades.
The good news is that, whether you want to buy a MacBook right now or wait a little longer, you’ll still get one of the most powerful laptop computers in the world, and you won’t regret it no matter which one you choose.
