Should You Buy An Apple Watch Right Now? It's Complicated

Should You Buy An Apple Watch Right Now? It's Complicated

This story is part of Focal Point iPhone 2022, CNET's collection of news, tips and advice around Apple's most popular product.

Apple's September event is coming up in just a few days, which means new iPhones and Apple Watches are likely right around the corner. With that in mind, you might be wondering whether it's worth buying an Apple Watch right now. The answer is complicated, and it depends on how much you're willing to spend and what you want out of a smartwatch.

Apple is expected to release three new Apple Watch models this year: the Series 8 (the successor to the Series 7), the Apple Watch SE (a new version of Apple's $279 watch) and the Apple Watch Pro (a high-end sports watch). The Series 8 and 8 Pro are expected to include a temperature sensor that may be capable of detecting whether you have a fever, according to Bloomberg. Both watches will also likely come with a new processor, but only the Pro is expected to feature a larger display, longer battery life and a sturdier design. 

The new SE, by comparison, would be a refreshed version of Apple's budget watch, meaning it might run on an older processor and could be missing certain features like ECG monitoring and an always-on display. 

If you're considering the Series 7, buying one right now is potentially a wise move -- as long as you can find a deal. If you don't care about having the rumored upgrades mentioned above, this could be your last chance to snag the Series 7. 

Get ready for Apple's next event

You can get the GPS-only version of the Series 7 for just $300 at Walmart, which is $100 less than Apple's usual $400 price. Amazon is also currently offering the cellular version of the Apple Watch Series 7 for $400, a notable drop from the $500 that Apple typically charges. Check out our full story on Apple Watch deals for even more discounts.

Although it'll be missing the Series 8's upgrades, the Series 7 still has a large screen with a keyboard, a recent processor, health features like ECG and blood oxygen tracking and compatibility with Apple's upcoming WatchOS 9 update. 

But remember there's a chance retailers could knock down the Series 7's price following the Series 8's debut -- especially as Black Friday approaches. A second Amazon Prime Day is also rumored for October. But the Series 7 may also become more difficult to find after the Series 8 arrives, and deals may sell out quickly.

The case is a little different if you're thinking about buying the Apple Watch SE. Amazon is offering a pretty compelling deal that brings the price for the GPS-only 40-millimeter model down to about $230. That's a decent discount compared to Apple's regular $279 price, but it might be worth waiting to see what Apple has in store for the rumored second generation Apple Watch SE. 

The current model is probably fine for most casual users, but it also runs on Apple's S5 processor that will likely soon be three generations old. If you're able to stretch your budget, you might be able to get a newer watch that will last longer. (Plus, I'm hoping to see some upgrades like the addition of an always-on display in the 2022 model).

So, should you buy an Apple Watch right now? If you can find a good deal on the Series 7, go for it. Buying a discounted Apple Watch SE (if you can find one) isn't a terrible idea. But you might not get as much mileage out of it since it's already running on an older processor. And don't even think about buying an Apple Watch Series 3. It runs on a much older processor, which means it will probably start to feel slow, and it isn't compatible with the latest Apple Watch software. 

We'll know more about what's next for the Apple Watch when Apple holds its next event on Sept. 7.

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Should you buy a new Mac now, or should you wait?

Should you buy a new Mac now, or should you wait?

This story is part of WWDC 2022, CNET's complete coverage from and about Apple's annual developers conference.

At Apple's WWDC 2021 keynote, new Mac hardware was nowhere to be seen. After a seven-month stretch that brought us new M1-powered laptops and desktops, there's still been no official announcement of an Apple silicon Mac Pro, larger-screen MacBook Pro or 27-inch iMac (although some rumors have popped up).

As part of its aggressive move away from Intel-powered computers, the company introduced a MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac Mini desktop using its own M1 processors in late 2020. In April 2021, the smaller of two iMac desktop models was redesigned with a larger 24-inch screen, an M1 chip and a new, colorful body. The last new Intel-powered Mac to be announced was the Intel Core i9 27-inch iMac in the summer of 2020, which was most notable for adding an excellent 1080p webcam, a version of which is now in the 24-inch iMac. 

But left out of the first two rounds of M1 Macs were systems for the kind of high-end creative professionals who rely on the more powerful Mac Pro or 16-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 Macs are currently limited to 16GB of RAM and don't offer the discrete AMD graphics cards available in some Intel-powered Macs. 

With WWDC so focused on developers, it would have been the perfect time to introduce new Mac hardware for these power users, but it was not to be. New MacBook Pro models, potentially in 14- and 16-inch versions are still a possibility for this summer or later in 2021. 

With new MacOS updates and potential upcoming hardware in mind, here's where each of the current Macs sit in the lineup, and who should consider buying now and who should consider waiting. 

The M1 MacBook Air.

Dan Ackerman/CNET

MacBook Air

With the latest M1 version, introduced in late 2020, the classic $999 MacBook Air once again became one of the most universally useful laptops you can buy. It has essentially the same M1 CPU as the 13-inch Pro and 24-inch iMac, along with excellent battery life and a slim, light design. The biggest performance differences among M1 systems come from seven- versus eight-core graphics built into the M1, and the additional performance overhead available in systems with fans, like the MacBook Pro and 24-inch iMac, which lets systems run hotter, longer. 

For students, writers, work-from-home types and most mainstream users, I still think the MacBook Air represents a great value and a good place to start (and maybe finish) your hunt for a new computer. 

Read more: MacBook Air M1 review: Big changes from Apple silicon

MacBook Pro

My take on the M1 13-inch MacBook Pro has not changed much since it was introduced last year. With essentially identical performance to the less-expensive Air, you're paying for a slightly brighter screen, the Touch Bar and fan-based cooling. Unless you're a Touch Bar fan, I'd stick with the Air. 

The 16-inch Pro remains an Intel-only system, and can ramp up to 64GB of RAM and an AMD 5600M GPU, making it much more suitable for true "pro" users who are holding off on an Apple silicon Mac until there's something like the rumored M2 version with GPU support. 

Apple's M1 Mac Mini. 

Dan Ackerman/CNET

Mac Mini

The often-overlooked Mac Mini is the least-expensive way to get both a MacOS system and an M1 device. In testing, we found it offers performance on par with or slightly better than the M1 MacBook Pro, which costs nearly twice as much. But the Mac Mini is also a niche product. It's great if you're working on not-too-taxing video work or podcasting and want to use your own display and input devices. It's a great computer for small production studios, because it can be tucked away almost anywhere. 

iMac

The 24-inch iMac is the first Mac designed from the ground up as an M1 system, and also the first major design update to the iMac line in about eight years. While it doesn't move the bar on performance or component options from the earlier M1 Macs, the excellent camera, much lighter weight and smaller, smarter-looking design all come together to make this a great family or home office computer. I'd consider it best for the work-from-home type who wants a bigger screen. 

Read more: Apple 24-inch iMac review: A colorful new M1 Mac for the post-quarantine world

Mac Pro 

The Mac Pro feels like a lifetime away from something like the MacBook Air. It's been through so many completely different iterations over the years, from the trash can mini-desktop to the current industrial tower design. Starting at $6,000, no one is going to confuse this for one the M1 Macs. It starts with Intel Xeon processors and offers various AMD Radeon GPUs and up to 1.5TB of RAM (which is literally a $25,000 upgrade). And don't forget the $400 wheels. 

My advice as of right now is that, if you're waiting for an AMD-equipped pro-level new Mac, either go with the still-available Intel versions, which will be supported for years to come, or keep waiting to see what happens later in 2021. If you're a student or casual user who has been waiting to buy a new MacBook, I can safely say that after seven months, I've only had a couple of very minor compatibility issues with the M1 MacBook Air, and it is hands-down my pick for the most practical Mac. I'm still waiting for a 27-inch version of the sleek new iMac, but the 24-inch model has almost everything else I want, as long as you're ok with the smaller screen. 

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