There is no doubt that Apple makes some great products. If you’re an Apple fan, or have been an Apple fan in your life, you’ve probably already considered putting AirPods, iPhones, and iPads under the tree this year.
You can’t go wrong with an iPhone 14 Pro, iPad Air (2022), or the latest AirPods Pro, but not everything Apple has on the market today is an obvious purchase choice. There are a few things you should probably avoid, or at least think carefully before not using a credit card or clicking a buy button.
iPad (10th generation, 2022)
This year, Apple unified the design language of its iPad lineup, finally updating the standard iPad to match the more premium iPad Air and iPad Pro. Unfortunately, this was not the refreshment many were hoping for.
For one thing, it’s not an entry-level iPad replacement, as evidenced by Apple selling last year’s model for the same $329 price. The new iPad (2022) will set you back $449, almost half the price of the pretty good iPad Air (2022).
Additionally, despite the new design, the iPad (2022) does not support the 2nd generation Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard. Instead, Apple has introduced a new $249 Magic Keyboard Folio designed explicitly for his iPad model. It’s $100 cheaper than the full Magic Keyboard, but it’s a purchase tied to its low-end model. Magic Keyboard Folio does not work with iPad Air or iPad Pro. The same is true for the 1st generation Apple Pencil. It still has a Lightning connector, and newer USB-C equipped iPads require a more complicated charging process.
In short, the iPad (2022) is in a rather odd position in Apple’s lineup. Not a bad choice, but definitely a niche product. The iPad (2021) is still available, and while it doesn’t have the glossy new design of this year’s model, it’s $120 cheaper and offers nearly the same performance, making it a great iPad for those on a tight budget. Meanwhile, for just $150 more than the iPad (2022), you can get an iPad Air (2022) with Apple’s M1 chip, much better Apple Pencil and Magic Keyboard support, and a fully laminated It has an anti-reflective display.
iPhone12
With each new iPhone release, Apple typically keeps two years’ worth of previous-generation iPhones on the market, dropping prices for those looking for more affordable options. Following the launch of the iPhone 14 this fall, the 2020 iPhone 12 has moved down the tier and can now be purchased for just $599.
At first glance it looks like a good deal. However, if you take a closer look, you won’t be able to sell it. First, the base model iPhone 12 only has 64GB of storage. Not much in today’s world of sophisticated apps and his 4K video recording. Moving to the 128GB version (the minimum we can afford) raises the price to $649, and moving to 256GB will set you back $749.
By comparison, the iPhone 13 starts with 128GB of storage and costs $699 for the base model, just $50 more than the 128GB iPhone 12. At the same $599 asking price as the iPhone 12. The iPhone 13 offers a faster A15 chip, improved cameras that support cinematic video recording, and longer battery life.
The iPhone SE (2022), on the other hand, has the A15 chip, which is almost identical to the iPhone 13 and this year’s iPhone 14, plus 5G support. Of course, you won’t get the best camera or fastest mmWave 5G, but it’s still a great iPhone if you’re looking for the most affordable option.
airpods 2
Apple’s second-generation AirPods may seem like a bargain (especially when they’re on sale), but it’s important to remember that these wireless earbuds have been on the market for four years. . These were Apple’s newest AirPods when the iPhone 11 was still the smartphone to buy.
Unlike the iPhone lineup, Apple doesn’t release new AirPods every year — it seems to be on a roughly two-year cycle — but even by that standard, the AirPods 2 are an aging product that will soon be put to the pasture. There is a possibility. Third-generation AirPods will replace them in 2021, and it’s entirely possible we’ll see “AirPods 4” by this time next year.
AirPods 2 have the same core technologies as AirPods 3, including seamless pairing, hands-free Siri and audio sharing support. However, the AirPods 3 have significantly improved sound quality with features like Adaptive EQ and Spatial Audio that were previously the exclusive domain of Apple’s pricier AirPods Pro and AirPods Max lineup. Comes with the same custom drivers, amplifiers and mics used in our latest AirPods Pro.
The latest AirPods are also sweat and water resistant, allowing you to listen to music for an hour longer than its predecessor. Combined with a charging case that also features wireless charging, you get an extra 6 hours of power. All of that is included in a package that costs just $50, so unless you’re on a tight budget or find a bargain on the AirPods 2, you’re far better off spending a little extra on the latest AirPods.
35W Dual USB-C Port Power Adapter
As Apple’s first multi-port plug, Apple’s dual USB-C port power adapter caused a bit of buzz when it debuted alongside the M2 MacBook Air earlier this year. Available in standard and compact versions, both share the same charging specifications.
But don’t let the 35W speed fool you. As with most dual-port chargers, this is the combined output of both ports. This means that if you’re charging multiple devices, that 35W will be shared between them.
Worse, Apple’s adapters do this in a particular way. There isn’t much intelligent power management here. Often the power output is split evenly. Each device has a charging speed of 17.5W. That’s well below the fastest charging speed for an iPhone, iPad, or MacBook.
If you just want to charge your Apple Watch or a set of AirPods, this isn’t too bad. Because these consume only 7.5W of power, leaving him 27.5W on the iPhone. Still, third-party options could do better, especially considering Apple’s $59 asking price for dual-port adapters.
Apple Pencil (1st generation)
If you still have Apple’s older iPad, or opted for this year’s iPad (2022), you won’t be able to take advantage of the much better second-generation Apple Pencil designed for the iPad Air and iPad. Professional. But that doesn’t necessarily mean you want to settle for Apple’s first-generation stylus.
For one thing, it’s unclear if future iPad models will support this, so you may be throwing good money at it. If you upgrade to Apple’s high-end tablet, you’ll need to replace it. iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro all require the new Apple Pencil. Apple made the strange decision to adopt the first generation of his Apple Pencil in the standard model of this year’s iPad, so we don’t know if that will continue with next year’s model.
Keep in mind that if you can’t afford to own Apple’s high-end iPad and still need a stylus, the Apple Pencil isn’t your only option. Along with a number of passive styluses, there’s the Logitech Crayon, an active stylus that offers many of the same features at a significantly more affordable price than the Apple Pencil. The most important omission is pressure sensitivity, which is a big problem for artists, but not necessary if you just want to jot down notes on your iPad.
However, Logitech’s Crayon is more durable, doesn’t roll around, and is far less annoying to charge. A male Lightning port under the cap accepts a standard Lightning cable. No more fussing with adapters or hanging off the edge of your iPad’s bottom port. It also has an off switch so it doesn’t consume power when not in use. Unlike Apple’s two generations of Pencil, Logitech’s Crayon boasts compatibility across the entire iPad lineup, from the 6th generation iPad (2018) to the latest M2 iPad Pro (2022).
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