Apple is revamping its shopping website – worse price overview for Macs
Previously, Apple always displayed some basic Mac models with prices on an overview page. Now users have to click through configurations first.
Apple Online Store: What you see when you want to configure a Mac.
(Image: Screenshot Apple.com)
Less overview, which may lead to more expensive configurations being purchased: Apple has made changes to its online store when it comes to purchasing Macs. Previously, there were always a whole series of sensible standard configurations that appeared when you pressed the “Buy” button; now, customers are immediately taken to the configurator to click together their desired model. Only the minimum cost of a Mac appears, and the final price is only shown at the very end.
Colors and Sizes
The change affects all Mac series. If several sizes or colors are offered for a machine, for example with the MacBook Pro (size) or the iMac (color), the Apple Online Store starts with this selection. Otherwise, for example with the Mac mini or Mac Studio, the processor selection appears first. Then you click through the configuration step by step, from the display type on corresponding machines, through RAM and SSD, to the power adapter (for the MacBook Pro). The final price is at the very bottom. If you want to test multiple configurations, you have to click an enormous amount, and there are no longer any pre-selections by standard configurations.
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While the latter were not always ideal, they at least allowed for a quick overview of the offers available for the different M-chip variants. The redesign is reminiscent of the configuration of iPads, which always worked that way, but also offer far fewer configuration options. The process of configuring iPhones also always worked that way. What Apple hopes to achieve with this is unclear – but it is conceivable that it is a revenue-boosting measure. The pre-selection for Macs is at least becoming more research-intensive.
Macs cheaper at resellers
In general, purchasing Macs from resellers, i.e., retailers, is usually cheaper anyway. Especially with more expensive configurations, hundreds of euros can be saved this way. It is therefore advisable to use price comparison sites like the one from heise online. There, it is possible in advance to configure a suitable machine before initiating a market search.
When Macs are freshly released, Apple usually has them first, while you have to wait a bit with resellers. It can also be worthwhile to delay the purchase by a few months, as prices in retail then (further) decrease.
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