Apple is transitioning its line of Macs from Intel-based processors to its own ARM-based processors over the next few years. That begs the question of whether it’s smart to upgrade now or wait for Apple’s silicon Macs to launch.
Why should you wait for Apple Silicon Macs?
Apple’s transition to its own internal silicon for the Mac line is a big problem. Large enough that Apple has previously announced the transition at least two years in advance, giving developers time to work on their apps, as well as a timeline for consumers considering buying a Mac in the coming years. 12 months or so.
We’ve already seen a decline in Mac sales as users expect Apple’s new machines to show off some variant of its powerful A-series chips.
As with any Apple product, there is great appeal in being one of the first to adopt, jumping on the bandwagon of Apple’s “newest and best” technology. That giveaway can’t be overstated as reason enough not to buy a new Mac now, but to wait for the new line.
These new machines will surely be tempting as Apple tries to justify its transition by talking about its new hardware and the power and efficiency of its own chips over Intel’s. These machines are likely to be quite powerful and have exceptional battery life.
As Apple releases these machines, they are likely to come with other new features or optimizations that their Intel Macs don’t have. We may not see that now, but in future versions of macOS, there are likely to be Apple specific silicon features that do not pertain to Intel machines.
Not to mention updated form factors. Most anticipated is the redesigned “redesigned 14-inch MacBook Pro” that looks likely for early 2021.
At the same time, there are many reasons why one can expect to buy an Apple Silicon Mac and buy one right now.
Why should you buy a Mac now?
The first reason users may want to wait is if they need a Mac now, rather than later. Apple has just updated both the 13-inch MacBook Pro and the MacBook Air, two of its most popular machines. Apple will continue to release Intel Macs for at least the next year or so as it slowly transitions to Apple’s silicon. Support for those Macs won’t go away anytime soon, so you can buy a machine now and expect it to work for years to come as always.
As mentioned, current rumors suggest that Apple’s first silicon Macs will be the 13-inch Pro and MacBook Air, with others to follow. If that’s really the case, users will have to wait at least until 2021 at the latest before they can buy a 16-inch silicon Apple MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac Pro, Mac Pro, or any other new Mac that’s ready to go. debut
So if you are looking for something else it may be beneficial to buy now then sell and upgrade later when a suitable machine is available.
There is also a risk of being one of the first to adopt. Every time a new product is introduced, there are likely to be bugs or hard spots to be fixed or optimized in the second generation versions. Users generally want to keep their machines for many years, so it may be a safer bet to wait for a second-generation Apple silicon machine before getting on board for Apple to refine the design.
Not to mention that all of the apps at this point are optimized for Intel processors. Apple gave developers a huge advantage in starting work on their software for their ARM processors, but the transition will not be instantaneous. Many large applications will be forced to run in emulation using Rosetta 2, without taking full advantage of Apple’s silicon.
If you’re depending on Windows in any way, that’s yet another reason to stick with Intel-based Macs that can run Boot Camp since that feature is set to be removed with Apple’s ARM transition.
Current offers on Mac
If you’re looking for a Mac, there are plenty of aggressive deals out there now, long before the new Apple Silicon Macs hit the shelves.
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