How you can get your Apple gear for less

Shopping around won’t find you much of a discount on new Apple products. It’s worth a shot, though, especially after a range update, when store managers want to shift old stock. “Back to school” promotions are another chance, with even Apple doing bundle offers, while Black Friday (27 November this year) might see some third– party reductions.

Refurbished products give you more for your money. Stock changes regularly in Apple’s Refurbished and Clearance store, which is linked at the bottom of apple.com. Items are guaranteed for a year and can be returned within 14 days. Discounts aren’t generous, though. Search “refurbished Mac” (or iPad, or iPhone) online for third-party offers: these vary from overstock and customer returns, like Apple’s, to used kit that’s had a test and clean-up.

Check that the vendor is a US company – so you can enforce your consumer rights – and what their grades mean in terms of cosmetic state and warranty. Batteries are rarely guaranteed, though good Mac resellers will give a cycle count to check against bit.ly/ml169btcyc. Paying over $500 with a credit card means you can claim back from the issuer if you’re ripped off, while eBay offers cover if you buy with PayPal.

You can trade in current kit with Apple (see bit.ly/ml169trdin) for a modest discount; search “sell my Mac” (or whatever product) for alternative quotes. Check discounts or subsidies available from your employer or any reward schemes you’re in, and remember students and teachers get education pricing at ( bit.ly/ ml169apledu).

Replacing the iPhone 8, the relaunched SE shares its waterproof glass–backed design (with wireless charging) and the Touch ID home button below a 4.7-inch P3 screen. The single rear camera lacks the iPhone 11’s Night Mode, but still takes superbly balanced pictures, and both this and the depth– sensing front camera have Portrait Mode with Depth Control. With the iPhone 11’s A13 Bionic processor, and 64GB of storage as standard, it’s fantastic value.