6 Low-Cost Apple Devices That Will Make Your Life Easier
Written by
Joel Lim
Edited by
Rebekah Evans
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Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you likely realize that the Apple ecosystem is unmatched. It’s so convenient to have all of your electronic devices interconnected that it’s almost as if other products don’t even exist. They simply cannot live up to what Apple products offer.
The downside? Apple isn’t cheap.
Because of the price point, which can see desktops run into the thousands and even Apple Watches well into the hundreds of dollars, many consumers feel as if Apple is out of reach. But it doesn’t have to be that way. You can access all of your Apple products for a low price if you know how to shop and are okay with refurbished technology.
The below refurbished Apple products are more affordable and just like new. They’ve been restored by an expert and a new owner should be able to use the product for the entire lifetime of the device.
Refurbished AirPods 4
- Price: $79.99 at Best Buy
AirPods serve more purposes than simply to play your music (though that is nice). When you have an iPhone, your AirPods will connect to your phone and function as tiny phones in your ear. They’ll read your messages to you, alert you when you have emails, texts and other notifications and even allow you to seamlessly switch between other Apple devices. If you don’t care about going wireless, you can even use the Lightning Connector EarBuds for just $19.99.
Bonus: If you’re prone to losing your devices, you can set up your AirPods on the “Find My” setting on your phone and you can always locate them.
Restored Apple Watch Series 4
- Price: $82.59 at Walmart
The Apple Watch is one of the most marvelous inventions Apple has come up with. It will read your heart rate, track your workouts and monitor all your iPhone activity for you. The latest models are also waterproof.
Bonus: You can use your iWatch to take pictures from your phone remotely.
AirTag
- Price: $22.99 at Walmart
Do you lose your keys, your wallet or your head if it wasn’t attached? AirTags are one of the most convenient electronic devices you can own today. You can attach this small tag to pretty much any object and then find whatever you lose. All you have to do is program it with your iPhone, iPad or MacBook, so the tag “knows” who it belongs to.
Bonus: The AirTag has an anti-stalking feature that ensures someone else isn’t trying to tap into your AirTag and, by extension, your valuables.
Refurbished iPhone (iPhone 14 and under)
- Price: $214.99 (iPhone 12) on Amazon
Of course, the iPhone is pricey in its original form, usually costing hundreds of dollars. But for many people, it’s worth the price because of how conveniently it operates with every other Apple device. It’s also easy to use, it has great security and it has an amazing camera for photos and videos.
Bonus: Even older, refurbished models get frequent software updates and stay fresh for years.
Refurbished iPad (9th Gen)
- Price: $174.97 at Walmart
Now, when it comes to larger products, like the iPad and the MacBook, you’ll want a reliable source that’s been around for a long time. The iPad is a great product to have if you want a larger screen that’s not a full-blown laptop. You can watch movies, stream shows, create content and even make music. It’s the perfect middle ground between an iPhone and a MacBook.
Bonus: If you invest a few extra bucks in a keyboard for your iPad, this device can act as a mini laptop, so you’ll never even need to shell out the hundreds for a MacBook.
Refurbished MacBook Pro
- Price: $364.99 on Mac of All Trades
Finally, if you’re doing more heavy-duty work and you have to have a full computer, it’s helpful to add a MacBook to your Apple ecosystem. It will sync with all of your other Apple products and function as a work computer for all of your business needs. You can also create music, watch films with high-quality visuals and audio and count on the stellar security that helps you avoid most bugs and malware.
Bonus: The battery life on the MacBook lasts for hours, so you can use the laptop without having to rush to a charger.
There you have it. In relative terms, you could invest in an entire Apple ecosystem, with a watch, a phone, AirTags, an iPad, earbuds and even a MacBook, all for under $1,200. That’s a low-cost luxury that makes your life easier.
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