Apple Prices Are Dropping -- August 10, 2023

Locator: 45408AAPL.

Apple, the computer company, tends to lag compared to Big Box stores when it comes to sales on Apple products, but even now, Apple -- the company itself -- is starting to lower prices.

Amazon and others started dropping prices about a month ago (?). 

All signs are pointing to huge announcements -- plural -- in September when Apple will introduce new products. To make room for all these new products, retailers (and Apple) have to clear their shelves of their current inventory.

Generally speaking, Apple products last five to ten years. If one's Apple product is serving you well and it's less than five years old there's little reason to upgrade.

Except.

Except.

If they go on sale for a ridiculous amount.

I've been doing that since 1984. I never used to buy a new Apple product. When new products were about to be introduced I bought the "old" models when prices were cut.

"I never used to buy" is important. Now that I am in the later autumn of my life, let's say November, I find myself interested in buying newer Apple products.

I just replaced my iPhone SE which was the first generation, released in 2016. That's seven years ago and the phone that replaced my Nokia flip phone.

About six months earlier, the MacBook Air with the new (at the time) M1 chip was on sale and I bought one. Bought through Amazon, on sale, and with the Amazon card got 1-to-5-percent cash back (I don't know the cash back rules). I didn't open that MacBook Air until two days -- it's been in the bedroom unopened for six months. In the meantime, I spruced up my current MacBook Air (2020?) and it is still my primary computer.

The new MacBook Air will be used, maybe once a month or so.

I've been drooling after the iPad mini -- a long, long story. But I had no reason to buy it. I've been following YouTube reviews of the iPad and they all say the same thing: there is no known reason for owning and iPad mini. But once you have it, it's the greatest thing since sliced bread. But I still wouldn't but it.

Until.

Until.

Amazon put the iPad mini for 20% off sometime last week. I ordered one on a Saturday or Sunday morning, probably Saturday, I forget, and it arrived that same afternoon.

Now, I see Amazon has taken $300 off the 2023 MacBook Pro "with multiple record low prices." Link here.