These Apple products are getting upgraded soon, so it’s either the best or worst time to buy

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Apple is preparing several product launches for early 2025, including new iPads, a very popular Mac, a new iPhone, and more. Here’s a look at what’s coming, and why now may be either the best or worst time to buy Apple’s existing products.

Buy now or wait? Here’s what you should know

Most of the time when Apple launches new devices, it discontinues the previous versions of those products. So for example, when a new Mac is released, the prior model is no longer available for sale.

And typically, when you get closer to new products launching, the existing devices can be found at some heavily discounted rates. Partly because they’ve been around a while, but also because Apple needs to clear inventory for the new upgrades coming.

For a variety of upgrades coming in early 2025, that makes right now either the best or worst time to buy their predecessors:

If you can’t stand the thought of a new device surpassing your fresh purchase, now’s probably a bad time to buy.
But if you are looking for the best deals on still-powerful hardware, now’s a great time to buy.

Here are the devices that have upgrades coming soon, and the best deals available for these current hardware offerings.

M3 MacBook Air

Apple’s most popular Mac, the MacBook Air, is getting an M4 upgrade in early 2025.

Based on what we’ve seen with Apple’s recent M4 Macs, you can expect to see features like:

a 12MP Center Stage camera
improved battery life
likely a nano-texture display option

Overall it should be a solid buy, but cost-conscious buyers should also know that the M3 MacBook Air was recently upgraded to 16GB of RAM. It’s also currently only $844 (down from $1,099). So you have to ask yourself: are the new features worth the extra $250?

iPhone SE 3

There’s a huge upgrade to the iPhone SE expected in March, featuring an edge-to-edge OLED display with Face ID and notch, an A18 chip for Apple Intelligence support, a 48MP main camera, USB-C, and more.

For most buyers, I’d say the new iPhone SE 4 is well worth waiting for. However, for anyone who wants to keep the Home Button on their iPhone, now’s the time to buy the current SE 3 before it’s likely discontinued. Currently you can grab it as low as $183 refurbished.

iPad (10th generation)

Apple’s base-model iPad hasn’t been updated since late 2022, but that last upgrade was a strong one. It removed the Home Button, reduced bezels, and provided an overall more modern design.

A new 11th generation iPad is expected in early 2025, but details on its features are largely unknown. It’s likely we’ll see an Apple Intelligence-compatible chip added, but even that’s not a certainty for Apple’s budget iPad.

If you’re interested in getting an iPad now, the 10th generation model is currently only $249 w/ coupon (down from $349)—a huge discount for what’s still a great product.

M2 iPad Air

Apple just released a new M2 iPad Air in May, yet reports have indicated a new model may arrive in early 2025. I’d bet it’s closer to mid-year, perhaps in May again. In any case, little is known about the new Air other than its expected upgrade to the M3 chip.

Should that delay your upgrade? Probably not, especially since you can get a 13-inch M2 Air for $699 (down from $799) and most 11-inch models are $100 off too.

Wildcards: Apple Watch SE and AirTag

Two more products may see updates in early 2025, but they could also just as easily arrive later.

Rumors have long pointed to another Apple Watch SE being in the works, and there’s a chance Apple could launch it alongside the iPhone SE 4. However, it’s also just as possible we’ll have to wait until the fall for a new version. Meanwhile, the current Apple Watch SE is available for just $149 at the moment, down from $249.

AirTag 2 is also coming in 2025, and the latest reporting pins it for mid-year. But if you’re in the market for an AirTag, and aren’t able to wait that long, you can pick up the current AirTag for $24 (down from $30) or grab a 4-pack for $73 (down from $99).

Are you planning to pick up any of the devices above? Holding off for their 2025 upgrades? Let us know in the comments.