9 Apple Products You Should Not Buy (At Least Right Now)
Credit: iMore
The great thing about buying an Apple product is that you know it's going to last for a really long time. As long as you take good care of it, you won't need to upgrade for at least a few years.
However, if you want to have the most up-to-date Apple product you can, you don't just need to know what to buy, but when to buy it.
Since Apple doesn't really confirm which products are coming until they are already here, it can be hard to know when to buy a product that will not become outdated in a few weeks or months.
That's why we often need to rely on rumors and leaks. Granted, many rumors end up being completely false, but they give you enough time and information to decide whether you really want to buy an Apple product right now or wait a few months and see if the company launches an upgraded version for the same price.
With that in mind, if you're not in a hurry and willing to wait a few months, or you just don't want to waste money on products that aren't worth it, read on for 9 Apple products you shouldn't buy — at least not right now.
Apple Watch Ultra 2
In 2024, Apple decided to skip an upgrade for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and only introduce a new color, hoping that people would buy it.
While the Apple Watch Ultra 2 is a solid smartwatch capable of handling anything outdoors and indoors, you might be better off waiting a few months.
Rumor has it that Apple will launch the Apple Watch Ultra 3 in 2025, and we're expecting it to be released alongside the Apple Watch Series 11 and iPhone 17 lineup near the end of the year.
While the third-generation Apple Watch Ultra likely won't see any design changes, there are a couple rumored upgrades that could make it worth the wait. For starters, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 is rumored to have a new blood pressure sensor and the ability to send text messages via satellite.
iPhone SE 3
The current iPhone SE is a phone that you shouldn't even think about buying right now since if the rumors are true, you'll only need to wait a couple more months to get the next-generation iPhone SE 4.
The fourth-generation iPhone SE is rumored to feature a complete redesign. Instead of looking like the old iPhone 8, the new iPhone SE will have a design similar to the iPhone 14. This means Apple will finally ditch Touch ID and use Face ID on all iPhone models.
Of course, that means the notch will be back as well, as the TrueDepth camera must use Face ID. Speaking of cameras, the iPhone SE will continue to have a single camera lens on the back, but now it will be 48 megapixels, which is a huge upgrade from the current iPhone SE's 12-megapixel camera.
Overall, the new iPhone SE is probably going to be Apple's biggest upgrade of the year, and you should wait to get it. According to some rumors, we can expect to see a launch in the first quarter of 2025.
If Apple continues to use the same release date as previous iPhone SE models, we might see this new iPhone as soon as March.
AirPods Pro 2
As of right now, the AirPods Pro are the best AirPods to get from Apple, and you won't regret getting the second generation AirPods Pro, as they come with so many amazing and exclusive features.
That said, if you're willing to wait until the end of the year, you won't regret it, as Apple is rumored to launch the third generation AirPods Pro in 2025.
One of the rumors is that the new AirPods Pro 3 will feature a brand-new design. We don't exactly know what that might look like, but it's possible that Apple will want to change the AirPods Pro as the current generation looks too similar to the regular AirPods 4.
Additionally, Apple is expected to improve sound quality, Active Noise Cancellation, and Adaptive Audio.
Last but not least, there are rumors that Apple might add a couple of health features to the AirPods Pro 3. The company might add a body temperature sensor and even a heart rate monitor.
Of course, these rumors have been circulating for quite some time, so take them with a grain of salt, but one thing's for sure: it will be worth the wait.
AirPods Max
Even though there aren't many rumors about a new AirPods Max model coming any time soon, we still suggest that you avoid these AirPods.
The reason is that they're underwhelming, especially compared to their more affordable counterparts. The AirPods Pro 2 have way more features than the AirPods Max.
Not only that but for the price, you can get many other over-ear headphones with higher sound quality and longer battery life. Even the Beats Studio Pro, which are made by Apple's Beats division, provide many of the same features are a better price.
Unfortunately, it doesn't seem like Apple will upgrade the AirPods Max in 2025, or even 2026, for that matter. The company did "upgrade" the AirPods Max last year by adding a USB-C port instead of Lightning, but that was the only change, and in doing so it actually removed a feature: the ability to use wired audio with the comapny's 3.5mm to Lightning cable.
Needless to say, if Apple doesn't care about the AirPods Max, neither should you.
Apple Vision Pro
The Apple Vision Pro hasn't been as big of a success as Apple hoped for and for a good reason: the price is too steep for the average consumer.
Still, if you're thinking of buying an Apple Vision Pro, you might be better off waiting a few months. Overall, there aren't any solid rumors that Apple will upgrade the Vision Pro this year. Ming-Chi Kuo, a well-known Apple analyst, suggested that the company might start production on the new headset later this year, but that likely still points to a 2026 launch at the soonest.
Changes to the "Vision Pro 2" are only expected to come on the inside, as Apple plans to upgrade the M2 chip to a more powerful M5 processor. It's reportedly also working on ways to reduce the weight and make it more comfortable, but the overall design is likely to remain very similar.
There have been more rumors that Apple is prioritizing a more affordable "Vision" headset. This one is in development and might launch later this year and will cut some corners to get the price down to about half of what the Vision Pro costs.
If that's true, you might get a better deal for the Apple Vision Pro if you wait a little longer.
Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch SE
If you're considering upgrading your current Apple Watch, you might be better off waiting until the fall to make your purchase.
The reason is that many rumors suggest that Apple will launch both the Apple Watch Series 11 and the third-generation Apple Watch SE.
While the Apple Watch SE will only receive a minimal hardware upgrade, the Apple Watch Series 11 is said to feature a brand new health feature that will allow users to monitor high blood pressure.
Of course, this feature will only be available if Apple manages to work it out in time. Still, even if it can't, you will still have a more modern Apple Watch just for waiting a few more months. Plus, it would give you time to save more money for the Series 11 if you wanted to get the Apple Watch SE.
10th Generation iPad
Apple's standard iPad is no longer the favorite, and the company has spent a lot of time without giving it some love, with the 10th-generation model released in 2022.
So, if you're planning on getting a base-model iPad, you'll want to wait a few more months. Some rumors say Apple is planning on launching the 11th-generation iPad as soon as this March.
This new iPad won't feature any major design changes. Instead, Apple will only upgrade the chip and the RAM as it did with the iPad mini.
The new iPad is expected to get at least an A17 Pro chip, although it's possible it might move to an M1 or an A18, plus 8 GB of RAM. These are the minimum requirements to support Apple Intelligence, which is what Apple is focusing on moving forward. Those chips will also make the new iPad capable of handling AAA console games like Assassin's Creed Mirage and Resident Evil Village that came to the App Store after the iPhone 15 Pro was released in 2023.
So, if you want an iPad that will be able to support new AI features and serious gaming, you should wait a little longer.
iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus
This is more of a public service announcement. Don't get us wrong; the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are great devices, and if you already have one, it will surely work wonderfully for years to come.
That said, if you're planning to buy a new one, you probably shouldn't. As we mentioned before, Apple is betting heavily on Apple Intelligence, which is a technology that the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus don't support.
Instead, you should try to get at least an iPhone 15 Pro, as this model supports Apple's new AI technology. Granted, you can't buy this model from Apple or most big-box retailers anymore, as Apple discontinued it after the iPhone 16 lineup was released last fall, but some carriers and sites like Amazon have them around until stock levels run out.
Of course, if you're willing to wait, you might get a better deal. Apple will launch the iPhone 17 near the end of 2025. If you don't want to spend that much money on Apple's latest and greatest, you'll be able to get the iPhone 16 at a much better price later this year when it becomes "last year's model."
When the company releases a new iPhone, Apple still leaves the last generation's base model available for purchase. It is usually $100 cheaper, which would be a much better deal than buying an iPhone right now.
AirTags
If you plan on buying a couple of AirTags for a trip or keeping track of your stuff, then you shouldn't have a problem with the current model.
They're great and will help you find everything you usually lose. However, if you don't have to buy them right away, you could probably wait, as there have been rumors that Apple will launch the next generation AirTags in 2025.
If the rumors are true, the new trackers will come with an improved Ultra Wideband chip to increase the distance you can track your AirTags.
Of course, since the AirTags are really affordable, you can buy one or two right now and wait until Apple launches the new ones to buy a couple more.