Buyer's Guide
From Mac Guides
Welcome to the MacRumors Buyer's Guide.
- See also: Buyer's Guide (time-ordered)
This page provides a product summary for each Apple model. The intent is to provide our best recommendations regarding current product cycles, and to provide a summary of currently available rumors for each model.
Extra information and recommendations are available for each product on their individual Buyer's Guide pages, which are linked to at the top of that product's section on this page.
Disclaimer: This page is based on rumors and speculation and we provide no guarantee to its accuracy. We take no responsibility for purchase decisions made based on this information.
Contents |
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iPod
- Main article: iPod Buyer's Guide
The iPod is Apple's highly successful MP3 player range, which includes:
- iPod classic (high end, hard disk, screen)
- iPod touch (flash memory, touch screen)
- iPod nano (mid-range, flash memory, screen - now touch screen) - this replaced the hard disk based iPod mini
- iPod shuffle (low end, flash memory, no screen)
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iPod classic
The iPod classic is the hard drive based iPod; it was previously simply known as the iPod.
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iPod touch
Recent Releases  ??? 9/2010 9/2009 9/2008 2/2008 |
05/12: Apple Patent Application Suggests Camera-Equipped iPod Nano With Situation-Aware Screen Savers
05/10: Clipless Next-Generation iPod Nano With 1.3-Megapixel Rear Camera? 05/04: Apple Releases iOS 4.3.3 With Location Tracking Bug Fixes 04/20: iOS Platform Reach Exceeds Android's By 59% in U.S. 04/19: Analysis of Apple's Lawsuit Against Samsung, Includes iOS Device Sales Numbers ...more... |
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iPod nano
The iPod nano is Apple's midrange iPod; it was previously known as the iPod mini
Recent Releases ??? 9/2010 9/2009 9/2008 9/2007 9/2006 2/2006 9/2005 2/2005 |
05/12: Apple Patent Application Suggests Camera-Equipped iPod Nano With Situation-Aware Screen Savers
05/10: Clipless Next-Generation iPod Nano With 1.3-Megapixel Rear Camera? 05/04: Apple Releases iOS 4.3.3 With Location Tracking Bug Fixes 04/20: iOS Platform Reach Exceeds Android's By 59% in U.S. 04/19: Analysis of Apple's Lawsuit Against Samsung, Includes iOS Device Sales Numbers ...more... |
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iPod shuffle
Recent Releases ??? 9/2010 9/2009 3/2009 9/2008 2/2008 9/2007 1/2007 9/2006 2/2006 |
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Desktop Macs
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Mac mini
- Main article: Mac mini Buyer's Guide
The Mac mini is Apple's low end desktop.
Recent Releases ??? 6/2010 10/2009 3/2009 8/2007 9/2006 2/2006 9/2005 7/2005 |
02/24: Apple Drops Build-to-Order RAM and Hard Drive Prices, Offers New RAM Options
11/02: Apple Drops Price of Mac Mini Internationally 06/18: New Mac Mini Supports SDXC Specification for Memory Cards Up to 2 TB 06/16: Mac Mini Mid 2010 Teardown Photos 06/15: Apple Updates Mac Mini with New Design, Faster Graphics 06/03: Supply Shortages Hint at Possible Mac Mini Refresh 03/01: Apple Preparing to Add HDMI to Macs? 11/20: iFixit Launches Nearly 250 Repair Manuals for iMac and Mac Mini 10/22: New Product Teardowns Continue: iMac, Mac Mini, Magic Mouse 10/20: Apple Updates Mac Mini and Adds Server Option ...more... |
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iMac
- Main article: iMac Buyer's Guide
The iMac is Apple's all-in-one form factor desktop.
Recent Releases ??? 5/2011 7/2010 10/2009 3/2009 4/2008 8/2007 9/2006 1/2006 10/2005 5/2005 8/2004 11/2003 9/2003 2/2003 |
05/12: Apple Restricts Hard Drive Replacements on New iMacs
05/11: Intel's Z68 Chipset and SSD Caching Reviewed 05/06: New iMacs Offer 25% Performance Improvement Over Previous Generation 05/06: New iMac Joins MacBook Pro in Supporting 450 Mbit/sec Wi-Fi 05/05: iMac EFI Update 1.6 Adds 6 Gb/s SATA Capabilities 05/05: Apple Gains Early Access to Intel's Z68 Chipset for New iMacs 05/04: Thunderbolt iMac Torn Down and Benchmarked 05/03: 2011 iMac Notes: Magic Trackpad Option, Display Connectivity, Boot Camp Update 05/03: Apple Releases New Sandy Bridge Quad-Core iMacs with Thunderbolt 04/30: Sandy Bridge iMacs Due Next Week 04/25: Apple Releases iMac Hard Drive Firmware Update 1.0 for 2010 Models ...more... |
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Mac Pro
- Main article: Mac Pro Buyer's Guide
The Mac Pro is Apple's high end desktop; it was formerly known as the Power Mac.
Recent Releases ??? 7/2010 3/2009 1/2008 4/2007 8/2006 10/2005 4/2005 6/2004 11/2003 6/2003 1/2003 8/2002 |
04/21: Apple Developing Narrower, Rackmountable Mac Pro Prototypes?
02/24: Apple Drops Build-to-Order RAM and Hard Drive Prices, Offers New RAM Options 11/16: NVIDIA Launches Quadro 4000 GPU for Mac Pro 11/05: Apple Releases New 'Server' Configuration of Mac Pro to Replace Xserve 11/04: LaCie Brings USB 3.0 Hard Drive Support to Mac Pros and MacBook Pros 10/28: Apple Releases Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.5 09/27: Apple Finally Acknowledges and Addresses ATI X1900 XT Issue 08/24: Apple's ATI Radeon HD 5870 Works in 2008 Mac Pro 08/23: Mac Pro Unboxing Photos, Early Benchmarks and Notes 08/09: Apple to Offer ATI Radeon HD 5870 Card for 2009 Mac Pro ...more... |
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Portable Macs
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MacBook
- Main article: MacBook Buyer's Guide
The MacBook is Apple's consumer laptop; it was formerly known as the iBook.
Recent Releases ??? 5/2010 10/2009 5/2009 10/2008 2/2008 11/2007 5/2007 11/2006 5/2006 7/2005 10/2004 4/2004 10/2003 4/2003 11/2002 |
05/06: Apple to Move from Intel to ARM Processors in Future Laptops?
03/07: 'Secret' Firmware Update Unlocks Support for 8 GB RAM on 'Late 2008' Notebooks 02/24: Apple Drops Build-to-Order RAM and Hard Drive Prices, Offers New RAM Options 02/22: MacBook Pro Specs Leaked? SSD, Better Battery, New Technology? 02/10: Apple Doubling Production of Certain 'Hot-Selling' Notebook Models? 02/07: Intel to Ship Dual-Core Sandy Bridge CPUs on February 20th 01/10: Intel and NVIDIA Team Up for Future Processors 01/10: NVIDIA and Intel Settle, NVIDIA Still Prohibited from Building Chipsets for Newest Intel Processors ...more... |
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MacBook Pro
- Main article: MacBook Pro Buyer's Guide
The MacBook Pro is Apple's professional laptop; it was formerly known as the PowerBook.
Recent Releases ??? 2/2011 4/2010 6/2009 10/2008 2/2008 6/2007 10/2006 4/2006 1/2006 10/2005 1/2005 4/2004 9/2003 1/2003 11/2002 |
05/06: Apple to Move from Intel to ARM Processors in Future Laptops?
04/25: Next MacBook Pro to Get New Case Design 04/18: New MacBook Pro to Drive Strong First Quarter Mac Sales Growth? 04/18: Fix for 2011 17-Inch MacBook Pro SATA Issues Found 04/11: ThunderBolt Products Starting to Roll Out at NAB 03/21: 2011 MacBook Pros Crashing Under Load? 03/17: 2011 MacBook Pros Experiencing Issues With Home Sharing in iTunes 03/11: Some New MacBook Pros Causing Flickering in 24-Inch Cinema Displays? 03/09: 16 GB RAM Upgrades for New MacBook Pros Now Available 03/07: 'Secret' Firmware Update Unlocks Support for 8 GB RAM on 'Late 2008' Notebooks ...more... |
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MacBook Air
- Main article: MacBook Air Buyer's Guide
The MacBook Air is Apple's ultrathin portable. It was originally introduced at Macworld San Francisco 2008.
Recent Releases ??? 10/2010 6/2009 10/2008 |
05/06: Apple to Move from Intel to ARM Processors in Future Laptops?
03/07: 'Secret' Firmware Update Unlocks Support for 8 GB RAM on 'Late 2008' Notebooks 02/24: Apple Drops Build-to-Order RAM and Hard Drive Prices, Offers New RAM Options 02/22: MacBook Pro Specs Leaked? SSD, Better Battery, New Technology? 02/10: Apple Doubling Production of Certain 'Hot-Selling' Notebook Models? 02/07: Intel to Ship Dual-Core Sandy Bridge CPUs on February 20th 01/10: Intel and NVIDIA Team Up for Future Processors 01/10: NVIDIA and Intel Settle, NVIDIA Still Prohibited from Building Chipsets for Newest Intel Processors 01/03: Intel Announces 'Sandy Bridge' Core Processors 12/20: NVIDIA Exits Chipset Business for Good? Apple to Continue to Use Old NVIDIA Chipsets? ...more... |
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iPad
- Main article: iPad Buyer's Guide
The iPad is Apple's tablet computer.
Recent Releases ??? 3/2011 |
05/12: Shortages of Components and Labor Affecting iPhone and iPad Production?
05/09: 'The New Yorker' Subscriptions Go Live on iPad 05/09: Amazon Cloud Player Gains iOS Compatibility 05/06: Apple Negotiating Deal With Nuance for Speech Recognition in iOS 5? 05/06: Conde Nast to Offer In App Subscriptions for iPad 05/06: iPad Display Shortages Linked to Light Leakage on LG-Produced Units 05/06: iPad 2 Launches in China to Long Lines and Sellouts 05/05: Apple Seeking New Vendor for Improved iPhone Ambient Light Sensor? 05/05: Hearst Magazines Join Apple's 'In App Subscription' Program 05/04: iOS 5 to Finally Deliver Over-The-Air Updates? ...more... |
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iPhone
- Main article: iPhone Buyer's Guide
The iPhone is Apple's mobile smartphone.
Recent Releases ??? 6/2010 6/2009 7/2008 2/2008 9/2007 |
05/12: Shortages of Components and Labor Affecting iPhone and iPad Production?
05/11: Apple Pulls iAds From Kid-Focused Apps as Advertisers Target Efforts 05/10: Apple Testifies on Mobile Privacy, Location Cache Encryption Coming to iOS 05/09: Apple's New Data Center Focus of Nuance Voice Recognition Partnership? 05/09: Amazon Cloud Player Gains iOS Compatibility 05/06: Apple Negotiating Deal With Nuance for Speech Recognition in iOS 5? 05/05: Apple Continues to Close on Nokia for Title of World's Top Smartphone Vendor 05/05: Apple Seeking New Vendor for Improved iPhone Ambient Light Sensor? 05/04: iOS 5 to Finally Deliver Over-The-Air Updates? ...more... |
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Other Apple Products
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Apple Cinema Displays
- Main article: LCD Buyer's Guide
The Apple Cinema Displays are Apple's range of LCD monitors.
Recent Releases ??? 7/2010 10/2008 4/2007 8/2006 3/2006 10/2005 4/2005 1/2005 6/2004 1/2003 |
03/11: Some New MacBook Pros Causing Flickering in 24-Inch Cinema Displays?
12/16: Apple Addresses Cinema Display Audio Issues With Firmware Update 09/22: 27-Inch LED Cinema Displays Shipping For Delivery Tomorrow, Apple TV Orders Being Charged 09/22: Apple Releases Software Updates to Support New 27-Inch LED Cinema Display 09/17: Apple's 27" LED Cinema Display Now On Sale 07/27: Apple Officially Discontinues 30-Inch and 24-Inch Cinema Displays 07/27: Apple Announces 27-Inch LED Cinema Display 07/26: 27-Inch LED Cinema Display Coming Tomorrow Alongside iMacs and Mac Pros? 04/19: Shipping Window for 30-Inch Cinema Display Slips 03/18: Apple Preparing to Launch 27-Inch LED Cinema Display, Mac Pro Update by June? ...more... |
| Buyer's Guide | |
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iPhone | iPod | iPad | Mac mini | iMac | Mac Pro | MacBook | MacBook Pro | MacBook Air | Apple Cinema Displays | |
