As any Mac user knows, it’s always a good time to buy a new MacBook. However, choosing the best time to buy a new MacBook is a little more difficult. There are a few things to consider when you make the decision. In this article, we’ll take you through them and show you when is the best time to buy a MacBook.
What is the best time to buy a new MacBook?
There are a few things to consider when you’re trying to work out the best time to buy a new MacBook:
- Is there a new MacBook about to be launched?
- When are there likely to be deals on new MacBooks?
- Is the next generation of MacBooks likely to see a major redesign or new architecture?
Trying to guess the answer to the first of those and time your purchase accordingly is very difficult. While you could monitor the rumors sites for information on upcoming launches, they aren’t always accurate when it comes to timings, and new releases are often delayed at the last minute.
So, if the current lineup meets your needs, it’s best not to wait just in case the next release will allow you to buy a faster MacBook for the same money. If anything, the way that RAM and storage prices are rising at the moment, in early 2026, there’s a chance that the next MacBook lineup will be more expensive than the current range.
The exception to that advice is where Apple is changing the architecture of its Macs. For example, it wouldn’t have made sense to buy an Intel-based MacBook after Apple had announced the transition to its own chip — Apple silicon — at least on the surface.
On the other hand, the transition to a new architecture is often lengthy and frequently plagued by problems. It can take a year or more from the announcement of a move to a new architecture and the completion of the transition. And software developers may take longer to optimize their applications — some may decide not to bother. If you need a new MacBook and have applications that you rely on, buying the last model in the old architecture might make sense.
Getting the best deal
The other factor that is likely to affect the decision on when to buy a new MacBook is price. Apple doesn’t often do discounts or sales. However, it does run incentive campaigns. For example, during Back to School season, it often gives away a gift card with the purchase of a new Mac. It also usually runs incentives during Black Friday week.
And remember, you don’t have to buy from Apple. Other retailers may offer discounts during Black Friday, as well as in end-of-year sales. And Amazon has been known to discount Macs during its Prime Day campaigns, as well as during its Black Friday sale weeks.
Does new have to mean brand new?
If you want the absolute best deal on a new MacBook, it’s a good idea to look beyond the front page of Apple’s website or the listings on online retailers. The refurbished section of Apple’s website is often a rich seam of recent MacBooks that have been refurbished by Apple and are sold at very reasonable discounts. If you’re happy to buy a recent older model, it’s a very good way of getting your hands on a MacBook and saving $100 or more, depending on the model.
How to keep your Mac running smoothly
Whenever you buy a MacBook, it’s likely that after a few weeks of using it, you will notice that it starts to slow down. That’s because junk files and clutter accumulate, sometimes conflicting with other files on your Mac. It could also be down to extensions running in the background, applications needing to be updated, or even malware.
Dealing with all that yourself is a lot of work. Thankfully, you don’t need to. CleanMyMac’s Smart Care feature can do it for you. It scans your Mac checking for malware, applications that have updates available, junk files and clutter, and maintenance tasks that need to be run. Then, with one click, it will get rid of any malware, junk files and clutter, run maintenance tasks, and update applications.
- Get your free CleanMyMac trial — check out how it works for 7 days for free.
- Launch CleanMyMac and choose Smart Care in the sidebar.
- Click Scan.
- When it’s finished, click Run to run all recommended tasks or Review to see what it has found.
Follow the advice above, and you’ll find out the best time to buy a new MacBook for you.
Frequently asked questions
Should I wait until the next MacBook is launched?
Most of the time, no. There are always new Apple products just around the corner, and if you wait for the next one, there will be another one coming soon after that. If there’s a MacBook in the current lineup that does what you need it to do, buy it. Don’t wait.
Is Apple likely to move to a new architecture soon?
We said above that this would be the exception to our ‘don’t wait’ rule. But it’s not likely to happen. 14 years passed between Apple moving to Intel and transitioning to its Apple silicon in 2020. Now that it designs its own chips, it’s unlikely to change.
Should I buy Apple Care?
That’s very much a personal decision. If you travel a lot and use your MacBook for work, it’s probably a good idea. If you use your MacBook mostly at home for hobbies and fun, then it’s probably not necessary, unless you want the extra peace of mind.
