5 Apple Products Not to Buy Right Now (November 2026)
Nov 9, 2026 · AppleBitcoin
Last updated 9 November 2026. Prices are Apple US list prices unless stated.
Short answer: don't buy the base iPad (A16), the full-size HomePod, the iPhone 17e, the M5 iPad Pro or — for most people — the touchscreen PROLED XDR MacBook Pro right now. Each is either overdue for a replacement, just got more expensive, or costs far more than a newer alternative that does the same job. None of them is a bad device; they are bad timing.
Apple refreshes most products every 12 to 18 months, and buying in the last months of a cycle means paying full price for hardware that is about to be superseded. Apple also raised prices on Macs and iPads in June 2026 and on older iPhones in September 2026, which changed the value maths on several models. This list is based on release dates, MacRumors' Buyer's Guide status and the most reliable reporting on what comes next.
| Skip | Why | Buy instead |
|---|---|---|
| iPad (A16) | 20 months old, $100 price rise, no Apple Intelligence | iPad Air M4 or wait for iPad 12 |
| HomePod (2nd gen) | Released January 2023 | HomePod mini 2 or HomeView |
| iPhone 17e | Now $699, iPhone 18e due spring 2027 | iPhone 17 or a discounted 17 Pro |
| iPad Pro (M5) | M6 model expected spring 2027 | iPad Air M4 or iPad mini A20 Pro |
| MacBook Pro PROLED XDR | $900 premium, March 2026 chips, first-gen touch | MacBook Pro 14" M6 |
1. iPad (A16) — the one with a "Don't Buy" label
Apple's entry-level iPad was last updated in March 2025, and in June 2026 its price went from $349 to $449. MacRumors currently rates it "Don't Buy — Updates Soon". The A16 chip cannot run Apple Intelligence, and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects a 12th-generation iPad with an A19 chip, Wi-Fi 7 and Apple Intelligence in the first half of 2027. Instead: if you need a tablet now, the iPad Air M4 ($749) will stay current for years; if you can wait, wait. Our guide to the best time to buy an iPad covers the cycle.
2. HomePod (2nd generation) — nearly four years old
The full-size HomePod came out in January 2023 with an S7 chip, and MacRumors marks it "Caution — Approaching End of Cycle". Apple has since launched the HomePod mini 2 (S10 chip, Siri AI, $149) and the HomeView smart-home hub with a 7-inch display. A new full-size HomePod is rumoured but has no date. Instead: a pair of HomePod mini 2s, or read our HomePod verdict if room-filling sound is the priority.
3. iPhone 17e — the budget iPhone that stopped being cheap
The iPhone 17e launched in March 2026 at $599 with an A19 chip and a single rear camera. When Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro in September, it raised every older iPhone by $100, taking the 17e to $699 — just $200 below the iPhone 17, which has a dual camera and a 120Hz ProMotion display. Reports from MacRumors and supply-chain sources point to an iPhone 18e arriving alongside the standard iPhone 18 in spring 2027. Instead: stretch to the iPhone 17, or look for a discounted iPhone 17 Pro while retailers clear stock.
4. iPad Pro (M5) — great now, replaced soon
The M5 iPad Pro arrived in October 2025 and now starts at $1,199 (11-inch) and $1,499 (13-inch) after June's price increase. Gurman reports an M6 iPad Pro with a vapour-chamber cooling system in the first half of 2027, on Apple's usual 18-month rhythm. Meanwhile the new iPad mini has an OLED screen and a newer A20 Pro chip for $699. Instead: unless you need the Pro's 13-inch tandem OLED or Thunderbolt today, buy an iPad Air M4 — or a heavily discounted M5 Pro on Black Friday.
5. MacBook Pro PROLED XDR — for most buyers
Apple's first touchscreen Mac is a genuinely beautiful machine: a 120Hz tandem OLED that Notebookcheck rates as outstanding. But it starts at $2,899 with the M5 Pro chip Apple released in March, about $400 more than the non-touch M5 Pro model and $900 more than the brand-new MacBook Pro with M6. First-generation Apple hardware improves sharply in its second version. Instead: the M6 MacBook Pro for most people, or the standard M5 Pro if you need the extra cores. See which MacBook to buy.
Also think twice about
- Mac Pro — discontinued in March 2026 with no replacement; avoid any remaining new stock.
- MacBook Air M5 at full price — still a great laptop, but an M6 model is expected around March 2027. Buy it discounted, not at $1,299.
- Apple TV 4K and HomeView pre-orders at launch price — both ship 13 November; early reviews will tell you more than the keynote did.
Looking for what to buy instead? Here are the 5 best Apple products to buy this holiday season.
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Sources
- MacRumors Buyer's Guide
- AppleWorld.Today — New iPad Air, iPad Pro and entry-level iPad expected H1 2027
- tech-ish — Apple raises all iPhone prices by $100, discontinues iPhone 17 Pro
- MacRumors — No standard iPhone 18 launch this year
- TechRepublic — Touchscreen MacBook Pro vs M6
- Notebookcheck — MacBook Pro 14 PROLED XDR review
- BGR — Apple products you can skip after the price hikes
Frequently asked questions
Which Apple products should you not buy right now?
In November 2026: the base iPad (A16), the full-size HomePod 2nd generation, the iPhone 17e, the M5 iPad Pro and, for most people, the touchscreen PROLED XDR MacBook Pro. Each is near the end of its cycle, recently repriced or poor value next to a newer model.
Is the base iPad worth buying in 2026?
Not at the moment. It dates from March 2025, rose from $349 to $449 in June 2026, cannot run Apple Intelligence, and a new A19 model is expected in the first half of 2027. The iPad Air M4 is the safer buy now.
When is the next iPad Pro coming out?
An M6 iPad Pro with improved cooling is expected in the first half of 2027, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, roughly 18 months after the M5 model launched in October 2025. Apple has not confirmed a date.
Is the iPhone 17e still worth it?
Less than it was. Its price rose from $599 to $699 in September 2026, only $200 below the iPhone 17, which adds a second camera and a 120Hz display. An iPhone 18e is expected in spring 2027.
Should I buy the HomePod in 2026?
Probably not. The current full-size HomePod was released in January 2023. Apple's newer HomePod mini 2 ($149, S10 chip, Siri AI) and the HomeView hub are better buys unless you need the larger speaker's sound.
Is the touchscreen MacBook Pro worth buying?
For most people, not yet. It starts at $2,899 with March 2026 M5 Pro chips, $900 more than the new MacBook Pro with M6. The OLED touch display is excellent, but it is a first-generation design.
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