Apple Buyer's Guide: When to Buy

Data-driven timing recommendations based on product release cycles

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MacBook Pro 14-in. (M5) product image

MacBook Pro 14-in. (M5)

Buy Now
Early Cycle

Supercharged by M5.

Days Since Release 31 days
7%
2025-10-15

Average Cycle 450 days

Refresh History

MacBook Pro 14-in. (M4)
2024-10350 days
MacBook Pro 14-in. (M3)
2023-10366 days
MacBook Pro (13-inch, M2, 2022)
2022-06511 days
MacBook Pro 13-in. (M1, 2020)
2020-11573 days
MacBook Air 15-in. (M4) product image

MacBook Air 15-in. (M4)

Caution
Late-cycle

The new MacBook Air comes in an all-new color — sky blue, featuring the blazing-fast performance of the M4 chip, up to 18 hours of battery life, a new 12MP Center Stage camera, and a lower starting price. It also offers support for up to two external displays in addition to the built-in display, 16GB of starting unified memory.

Days Since Release 255 days
80%
2025-03-05

Average Cycle 320 days

Refresh History

MacBook Air 15-in. (M3)
2024-03366 days
MacBook Air 15-in. (M2, 2023)
2023-06273 days
MacBook Air 13-in. (M4) product image

MacBook Air 13-in. (M4)

Neutral
Mid-cycle

The new MacBook Air comes in an all-new color — sky blue, featuring the blazing-fast performance of the M4 chip, up to 18 hours of battery life, a new 12MP Center Stage camera, and a lower starting price. It also offers support for up to two external displays in addition to the built-in display, 16GB of starting unified memory.

Days Since Release 255 days
56%
2025-03-05

Average Cycle 453 days

Refresh History

MacBook Air 13-in. (M3)
2024-03366 days
MacBook Air 13-in. (M2)
2022-06637 days
MacBook Air 13-in. (M1, 2020)
2020-11573 days
MacBook Air (Intel, 2020)
2020-03237 days
Mac Studio (M4 Max or M3 Ultra) product image

Mac Studio (M4 Max or M3 Ultra)

Neutral
Mid-cycle

The new Mac Studio, featuring M4 Max and the new M3 Ultra chip. With Thunderbolt 5, up to 512GB of unified memory, and an up to 16TB SSD, the ultimate pro desktop delivers even more performance.

Days Since Release 255 days
47%
2025-03-05

Average Cycle 547 days

Refresh History

Mac Studio (M2 Max or M2 Ultra)
2023-06639 days
Mac Studio (M1 Max or M1 Ultra, 2022)
2022-03454 days
MacBook Pro 14-in. (M4 Pro or M4 Max) product image

MacBook Pro 14-in. (M4 Pro or M4 Max)

Wait
Overdue

With an advanced 12MP Center Stage camera, Thunderbolt 5 on M4 Pro and M4 Max models, and an all-new nano-texture display option, MacBook Pro gets even more capable and even more pro.

Days Since Release 381 days
103%
2024-10-30

Average Cycle 369 days

Refresh History

MacBook Pro 14-in. (M3 Pro or M3 Max)
2023-10366 days
MacBook Pro 14-in. (M2 Pro or M2 Max, 2023)
2023-01286 days
MacBook Pro 14-in. (M1 Pro or M1 Max, 2021)
2021-10456 days
MacBook Pro 16-in. (M4 Pro or M4 Max) product image

MacBook Pro 16-in. (M4 Pro or M4 Max)

Wait
Overdue

With an advanced 12MP Center Stage camera, Thunderbolt 5 on M4 Pro and M4 Max models, and an all-new nano-texture display option, MacBook Pro gets even more capable and even more pro.

Days Since Release 381 days
103%
2024-10-30

Average Cycle 369 days

Refresh History

MacBook Pro 16-in. (M3 Pro or M3 Max)
2023-10366 days
MacBook Pro 16-in. (M2 Pro or M2 Max, 2023)
2023-01286 days
MacBook Pro 16-in. (M1 Pro or M1 Max, 2021)
2021-10456 days
Mac mini (M4 or M4 Pro) product image

Mac mini (M4 or M4 Pro)

Neutral
Mid-cycle

The compact, do-it-all desktop now features the power of M4 and M4 Pro, and marks an important environmental milestone as the first carbon neutral Mac.

Days Since Release 382 days
53%
2024-10-29

Average Cycle 725 days

Refresh History

Mac mini (M2 or M2 Pro)
2023-01651 days
Mac mini (M1, 2020)
2020-11798 days
iMac (M4, four ports) product image

iMac (M4, four ports)

Neutral
Mid-cycle

The world’s best all-in-one desktop features even more performance, a nano-texture display option, a 12MP Center Stage camera, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity — all in a strikingly thin design.

Days Since Release 383 days
59%
2024-10-28

Average Cycle 644 days

Refresh History

iMac (M3, four ports)
2023-10364 days
iMac 24-in. (M1, four ports, 2021)
2021-04923 days
iMac (M4, two ports) product image

iMac (M4, two ports)

Neutral
Mid-cycle

The world’s best all-in-one desktop features even more performance, a nano-texture display option, a 12MP Center Stage camera, and Thunderbolt 4 connectivity — all in a strikingly thin design.

Days Since Release 383 days
59%
2024-10-28

Average Cycle 644 days

Refresh History

iMac (M3, two ports)
2023-10364 days
iMac 24-in. (M1, two ports, 2021)
2021-04923 days
Mac Pro (M2 Ultra) product image

Mac Pro (M2 Ultra)

Neutral
Mid-cycle

Mac Pro, now featuring M2 Ultra, combines the unprecedented performance of Apple’s most powerful chip with the versatility of PCIe expansion.

Days Since Release 894 days
61%
2023-06-05

Average Cycle 1463 days

Refresh History

Mac Pro (2019)Mac Pro (Rack, 2019)
2019-061463 days
Studio Display product image

Studio Display

First Generation
Refer to Release Days

Studio Display features an expansive 27-inch 5K Retina screen, an advanced camera with Center Stage, and amazing high-fidelity audio.

Days Since Release 1348 days
100%
2022-03-08
Pro Display XDR product image

Pro Display XDR

First Generation
Refer to Release Days

Pro Display XDR features a massive 32-inch Retina 6K display with gorgeous P3 wide and 10-bit color, an extreme 1,600 nits of peak brightness, an incredible 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio and a superwide viewing angle, all at a breakthrough price point.

Days Since Release 2357 days
100%
2019-06-03