How to save money when buying a MacBook?

Commercial message: The Macbook is definitely not as expensive a device as it used to be. However, it is still a more expensive option if you are planning to buy a new laptop. We have some tips for you to buy a new macbook cheaper.

Pay attention to the hardware

The original Macbooks had a diagonal of 13,3". However, the MacBook Pro is sold with a 13,3", 15,4" or 17" display. This parameter may not play such a role. After all, it is cheaper models with a smaller display may be more suitable for travel. However, if you want a macbook, for example, to work with photos or videos, you most likely cannot do without a larger screen. A good option might be to combine the smaller screen of the macbook itself with the fact that you get one for work at your desk separate monitor, which in some cases can come out cheaper than a macbook with a bigger screen. In addition, you can combine compact, travel, dimensions and a larger screen when working at home or in the office.

In this regard, it is still necessary to emphasize that some older models may only have a lower-quality integrated graphics card. You are with her you are also not good enough to work with video. After all, if you are looking for electronics for such purposes, in general, we would not recommend you to save excessively. The saved finances can be redeemed by insufficient work performance.

The new Macbooks are of high quality Apple M1 processors and currently already Apple M2, with older models using Intel processors. In this regard, it depends on what performance and compatibility you expect. Although applications must be programmed differently for both variants, compatibility is also good with Apple's own processors. However, newer (and more expensive) machines tend to have better performance, which is logical. 

More expensive Macbook Pro models may have 32 GB RAM or more and up to 2TB of storage. Significantly cheaper devices do not even come close to these values. You should therefore consider whether the basic 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage will be sufficient for your activities. This way you can save a lot of money, but on the other hand it affects the performance of the given machine and the size of the storage space. We would recommend going for the s model at least 16 GB of RAM memory, this size is already sufficient for almost all work, unless it is some really extremely demanding audiovisual creation. Also, large internal storage is usually not needed, if you have fast internet and the cloud, you can easily save and download files from iCloud.

The original Macbooks had a battery life of five to seven hours, however, this time has increased significantly with newer devices, so it is several tens of hours. In this regard, it depends on the fact that you want to use the device for a long time without the presence of a power source. If so, you should definitely not skimp on battery life, as it may not meet your requirements. However, it is good to keep in mind that the indicated battery life time is only indicative and you will not normally achieve such a time. In the same way, the battery will start to lose its capacity over time. The size of the battery should definitely not be a major criterion in the selection.

Get a used Macbook

New Macbooks usually you will not get under 20 CZK, while some models can even exceed this amount several times. In the case of used (or refurbished) equipment, it is possible to consider a much lower purchase price.

However, the question arises whether it is really worth investing in a used Macbook. Of course it depends on the seller. You should only focus on verified shops, while used models are also offered by Apple itself on their website. The manufacturer also guarantees in this case guarantee, for a period of six months. However, some sellers provide a warranty of even 12 months, which can often be extended by another 12 months.

Please note: many older devices will have an old macOS operating system installed, but that's not such a problem. It can be updated and it doesn't have to be complicated.

Although in general the quality of bazaar Macbooks is at a good level, this option needs to be carefully considered. If you need a laptop for regular work without demands for greater performance, this option may suit you. However, if this is your main work tool and you will occasionally require more performance from your device, we recommend reaching for a new model. The price difference between bazaar and new devices is not nearly as vast as some might imagine. In addition, bazaar and refurbished models are often already outdated, and their purchase can thus bring more trouble than benefit.

Focus on discount events

The easiest way to save when buying a new Macbook is various discount events. Individual stores offer regular discounts, with the monitoring of which you can be helped by price comparators, of which you can find a wide range on the Internet. It is also possible to use discount codes, which you will find on discount portals. You can try, for example coupons on Okay.cz, but of course also to other stores (including specialized ones) such as iStyle.cz or Smarty.cz.

There are also quite frequent sales in specialized stores, which usually follow the release of a new generation of devices. So if by chance new models are about to be released, it pays to wait an extra week and then buy your chosen model at a better price.

Nowadays, it is becoming more and more popular as well cashback, which allows you to get part of the money spent back into your account. When shopping in e-shops, it is also usually possible to save for transport, or can be purchased during the marketing event Black Friday, which takes place every year at the end of November, and individual stores offer their customers really significant discounts (sometimes even in the amount of many tens of percent). There are many ways to save on the purchase itself.