Are you going back to work or school? In a world of new ways to engage with others, both in person and remote, many folks are realizing their current Macs are not up to the task and it’s time to consider something new.

But how do you choose a computer that both satisfies your needs today and can accommodate what you might want to do in a few years?

New, Used, or Refurbished

If you’re in the market for a new computer, the accepted wisdom is that Macs refurbished by Apple are potentially better than new ones because they’ve been in front of an Apple technician.

While we don’t know why a Mac was returned to Apple after being sold at retail (new), we are confident in a technician’s assurance that the “refurbished” unit meets Apple’s strict quality standards. Plus, we benefit from the standard 15% discount and fast shipping (1–2 days).

You can browse Apple’s website or search on Refurb Tracker for your desired model.

If your budget is tight, you might seek out a used or refurbished Mac from a third party like Back Market. However, within the present transition to Apple Silicon, current models are tremendously more powerful than their year-ago Intel counterparts and I strongly encourage you to consider investing in something new.

Additionally, you may be able reduce your spend by trading in your current Mac, either for credit toward a new Mac or a gift card that you might use over the coming months or years toward products and services sold by Apple.

Overall, if you need a new Mac right away and would be satisfied with a stock configuration, if you want to trade in your current Mac for credit on a new purchase, and/or if the configuration you want is not available refurbished at time of need, feel free to go to an Apple Store or apple.com and buy it.

What Model?

The first order of business is to decide between desktop and laptop. Do you need to transport your Mac around your house or office or to other locations, or will it consistently sit in one spot?

Second, how much storage are you using? Check  > About This Mac > Storage. Most new models come with 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB of storage capacity. I generally recommend getting the amount that accommodates twice what you’re using now.

Third: memory. On Apple Silicon models, most users will be fine with just 8GB. Let’s discuss how you plan to use your new Mac before we decide whether getting more memory would be valuable to you.

Finally, there are a few differences between Mac models within the desktop and laptop categories that may be worth reviewing before making a final decision. For example, some units have or don’t have certain features related to seeing, hearing, or touching.

What About Peripherals?

Yep, the next question is what devices do you need to be able to connect to your Mac? More importantly, which ones do you consistently need to connect simultaneously? This will help us determine whether you need any adapters or hubs to add ports to your Mac, as current models may have fewer ports or port choices compared to your current Mac.

Consider, for example, your backup drive, iPhone, and/or network cable. If you’re a photographer, you might need a memory card slot. If you still use CDs or DVDs, you might need an optical drive and a way to connect it to your Mac.

I can help you think through all of these possibilities and recommend one or more products that satisfy your needs.

Even if your current Mac is only 3–5 years old, it might be underpowered and unable to support some of your computing expectations, such as virtual backgrounds in Zoom or the current software your employer needs you to use. Trading in toward the cost of a replacement computer may be your best bet.

Are you ready to consider something new? Feel free to reach out for my insight and recommendations.