The Apple iPhone is incredibly popular, but looking beyond just using an iPhone — Apple ties everything together really well. For example, if you’re an iPhone user, you likely use the Messages app. And, if you also use an Apple Watch, or an iPad or MacBook — you can then get your messages and respond on whichever device happens to be most convenient at the time.
Unfortunately, if you aren’t careful, buying into the complete Apple ecosystem can get really expensive — especially around the holiday shopping season when people are already testing the limit of their budgets. Swappa can help keep your budget in check, so make sure to keep reading if you’re looking to fill out someone’s Apple ecosystem this holiday season.
Which Apple gear should I buy?
This is the million-dollar question, or slightly more accurately when it comes to buying into the Apple ecosystem, the multi-thousand dollar question (but don’t worry, buying gently used on Swappa is a great way to spend less). What follows in this post are three Apple ecosystem setups. First, a few simple words of advice when it comes to buying Apple hardware:
- Apple makes quality products that easily last for years into the future, so be comfortable buying a gently used model instead of a brand new model.
- Apple releases updated hardware in almost every device category on a yearly basis so don’t worry about having the latest and greatest. The best route is to buy the newest model that meets your usage needs and fits comfortably within your budget.
Feel free to mix and match these ecosystem setups — and remember that while it would be nice to buy an Apple notebook, along with an iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and some AirPods or a HomePod mini — most people really don’t need one of each thing Apple makes.
Best Apple setup for most people
Finding the best for everyone, or even the best for most is difficult because everyone has different use cases and different needs when it comes to technology. Taking that into consideration, we’re defining best as being relatively new because we are under the assumption this gear will be kept and used for a handful of years into the future.
The cornerstone for this setup is the iPhone 12. The iPhone 12 offers 5G connectivity, an HDR display, MagSafe charging — all of which are features that weren’t available on the iPhone 11. The iPhone 12 also has the same size (6.1”) display as the iPhone 11, but because of shrinking bezels, the phone is smaller in overall size. And, because the iPhone 13 is now available you will be able to get a great deal on an iPhone 12.
Apple recently released the Apple Watch Series 7, which means now is a great time to pick up a gently used Series 6 Apple Watch. With features like an always-on Retina LTPO OLED display, the S6 SiP processor with U1 (Ultra Wideband) chip, water resistance to 50 meters, GPS, and numerous health sensors such as blood oxygen sensor, the Apple Watch Series 6 will easily last several years into the future.
Our iPad and MacBook recommendations look more towards current-generation models, which differs from the iPhone and Apple Watch recommendations in this category. But the 9th generation iPad and the 2020 M1 MacBook Air brought major improvements compared to previous-generation models.
The 9th generation iPad has a True Tone display, up to 256GB of internal storage space, and a 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage. The 2020 M1 MacBook Air is powered by the new Apple M1 chip, which means much better performance and battery life. The 2020 M1 MacBook Air offers up to 18 hours of battery life, and in comparison, the 2020 Intel MacBook Air offers up to 12 hours of battery life.
Best Apple setup for those on a budget
This is the best on a budget option, but in reality, this is a great setup that will easily last for years into the future without the need to upgrade for a while.
The iPhone 11 is a great choice for anyone looking to get an iPhone that isn’t going to feel outdated in the near future. With features like a 6.1” display, Apple A13 Bionic chip, up to 128GB of storage space, and a dual 12MP wide and ultra-wide rear camera setup the iPhone 11 will meet your needs with ease.
The Apple Watch Series 5 was released in 2019, which is the same time Apple introduced the iPhone 11. While there are now newer models of the Apple Watch — the Series 5 remains an excellent choice due to the mix of features and low prices.
Rounding out the best Apple ecosystem set up for those on a budget and we’re once again going back a generation. Essentially, this means you’ll be getting a relatively new item (that will get updates from Apple long into the future), but you’ll be getting it for a much lower price as compared to the newer models.
The 7th generation and 8th generation iPad models share lots of similarities, and the 2018 and 2019 MacBook Air models also share lots of similarities. Essentially, this is to say you have some options to pick here. Our best recommendation would be to get the 8th generation iPad and a 2019 MacBook Air provided they fit within your budget. Otherwise, it would be safe to go back to the 7th generation iPad or the 2018 MacBook Air without worry. The reason for recommending the slightly newer model is simply because they will be supported by Apple for one year longer into the future.
Best Apple setup for those feeling the need to flex
What can we say here — if you want to flex some Apple cred — you’re likely going to want the latest and greatest in every device category. Now, we realize it isn’t cheap to buy a handful of different Apple products, but we are confident when we say — buying gently used will save you money.
The iPhone 13 Pro has a great camera (amongst many other features), the Apple Watch Series 7 features 50% more screen area as compared to previous models, the 11” iPad Pro with M1 chip has a great display and is probably more powerful than most people need from an iPad, and the 14” MacBook Pro with M1 is, well, a supremely powerful laptop.
Whichever Apple gear you ultimately decide to buy as gifts — you can have confidence when buying from the Swappa marketplace. Swappa is the safest marketplace to buy gently used tech, and Swappa is an active marketplace, which means you’ll find a wide variety of listings to choose between to find the deals that best suit your needs and budget. And Swappa makes buying even easier with Buy Now, Pay Later. Get the tech you want today, and pay for it in 4 easy installments spread over time.
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