Shopping for a pre-owned Apple product but unsure which one is right for you? Whether you're a student, a creative professional, a business owner, or just looking for a reliable device for everyday use, we've got you covered.
At iStore Pre-owned, we offer a wide range of certified pre-owned Apple products, from MacBook and iPad to iPhone and Apple Watch—all at unbeatable prices. To help you find the best match, we've grouped our top picks into categories based on how you’ll be using your device.
1. Best for Designers & Creatives
If you’re a graphic designer, video editor, digital artist, or photographer, you need a powerful device with an accurate display and strong processing power.
Top Apple Devices for Creatives:
|
Device |
Why It’s Great for Creatives |
|
MacBook Pro (2017 – 2024) |
High-speed processors, Retina/XDR display, perfect for Adobe Suite & Final Cut Pro. |
|
iMac (2017 – 2024) |
Large 4K/5K displays, desktop power, ideal for video and photo editing. |
|
Mac Studio (2022 – 2024) |
Ultra-powerful for 3D rendering, animation, and film production. |
|
iPad Pro (2018 – 2024) |
Apple Pencil support, ProMotion display, best for digital artists and sketching. |
2. Best for Students & Note-Taking
For students, a lightweight, affordable device with long battery life is key. Whether you're taking notes, researching, or writing essays, these options will keep up with your workload.
Top Apple Devices for Students:
|
Device |
Why It’s Great for Students |
|
MacBook Air (2017 – 2024) |
Thin, lightweight, long battery life, perfect for essays and research. |
|
MacBook Pro (2017 – 2024) |
More power for students using engineering, coding, or creative software. |
|
iPad (2018 – 2024) |
Supports Apple Pencil, ideal for handwritten notes and e-books. |
|
iPad Air (2020 – 2024) |
More powerful than a standard iPad, works with Magic Keyboard. |
|
iPhone SE (2020 – 2022) |
Budget-friendly iPhone with strong performance. |
|
iPhone 11 – iPhone 14 |
Large screen, good battery life, great for organizing schedules and apps. |
3. Best for Work & Productivity
Business professionals and entrepreneurs need a device that handles multitasking, emails, presentations, and meetings with ease.
Top Apple Devices for Work:
|
Device |
Why It’s Great for Work |
|
MacBook Air (2017 – 2024) |
Ultra-portable, long battery life, perfect for office and travel. |
|
MacBook Pro (2017 – 2024) |
More power, better for heavy multitasking and professional use. |
|
iMac (2017 – 2024) |
Large screen, powerful desktop setup for home or office. |
|
Mac Mini (2018 – 2024) |
Compact and budget-friendly desktop option for businesses. |
|
iPad Pro (2018 – 2024) |
Laptop replacement with powerful multitasking features. |
4. Best for Everyday Use & Entertainment
If you just need a device for browsing, streaming, social media, and everyday tasks, these options offer great performance without breaking the bank.
Top Apple Devices for Everyday Use:
|
Device |
Why It’s Great for Everyday Use |
|
iPhone 8 – iPhone 14 |
Reliable, affordable, great for calls, browsing, and social media. |
|
iPhone SE (2020 – 2022) |
Compact, budget-friendly, handles essential apps well. |
|
MacBook Air (2017 – 2024) |
Lightweight, ideal for browsing, Netflix, and light work. |
|
iPad (2018 – 2024) |
Great for reading, video calls, and watching movies. |
5. Best for Gamers
Apple devices have become more gaming-friendly with Apple Arcade and strong GPU performance.
Top Apple Devices for Gaming:
|
Device |
Why It’s Great for Gaming |
|
MacBook Pro (2018 – 2024) |
High refresh rate, great for casual and pro-level gaming. |
|
Mac Mini (2018 – 2024) |
Can be paired with an external GPU for Mac gaming. |
|
Mac Studio (2022 – 2024) |
Handles heavy graphics and high-performance gaming. |
|
iPhone 12 Pro – iPhone 15 Pro |
High refresh rate, smooth performance for mobile gaming. |
|
iPad Pro (2018 – 2024) |
Large screen, powerful graphics, perfect for Apple Arcade. |
It is important to consider software compatibility and app support. Different devices support different versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, which can affect performance, security updates, and access to the latest apps.
To help you make an informed decision, we’ve put together two key tables:
- Operating System Compatibility – Check which Apple devices support the latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS.
-
App Compatibility – See which popular apps work best on iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Whether you're looking for a powerful Mac for work, an iPad for studying, or an iPhone for everyday use, these tables will help you choose the perfect device.
This table helps you check which Apple devices support the latest operating systems and what that means for performance, updates, and security.
|
Device |
Latest Supported OS |
What This Means |
|
iPhone 8 – iPhone X |
iOS 16 |
Still runs smoothly but may stop receiving future updates. |
|
iPhone XR – iPhone 14 |
iOS 17 |
Fully compatible with the latest features and updates. |
|
iPhone 15 Series |
iOS 17+ |
Future-proof with long-term iOS support. |
|
iPad (2018 – 2022) |
iPadOS 16 – iPadOS 17 |
Supports most modern apps and multitasking features. |
|
iPad Air (2020 – 2024) |
iPadOS 17 |
Ideal for students and professionals needing a portable laptop alternative. |
|
iPad Pro (2018 – 2024) |
iPadOS 17 |
Powerful for creative professionals and digital artists. |
|
MacBook Air (2017 – 2024) |
macOS Ventura – macOS Sonoma |
Great for students and everyday users. |
|
MacBook Pro (2017 – 2024) |
macOS Ventura – macOS Sonoma |
Ideal for professionals needing power and longevity. |
|
iMac (2017 – 2024) |
macOS Ventura – macOS Sonoma |
Reliable and perfect for home or office setups. |
|
Mac Mini (2018 – 2024) |
macOS Ventura – macOS Sonoma |
Good for businesses and home office setups. |
|
Mac Studio (2022 - 2024) |
macOS Sonoma |
Built for high-performance creative workloads. |
This table covers trending apps, most searched apps, and commonly used software for Apple devices.
|
App |
iPhone |
iPad |
Mac |
|
|
✔️ |
✔️ (WhatsApp Web) |
✔️ (WhatsApp Web) |
|
|
✔️ |
✔️ |
❌ (Web version only) |
|
|
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
TikTok |
✔️ |
✔️ |
❌ (Web version only) |
|
Snapchat |
✔️ |
✔️ |
❌ |
|
X (formerly Twitter) |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Threads |
✔️ |
✔️ |
❌ |
|
|
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Slack |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Microsoft Teams |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Zoom |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Google Meet |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Skype |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Microsoft Outlook |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Gmail |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Google Docs, Sheets, Slides |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Notion |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Evernote |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Asana |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Trello |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Dropbox |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Google Drive |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
OneDrive |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Adobe Acrobat Reader |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Adobe Photoshop |
❌ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Adobe Lightroom |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Adobe Premiere Pro |
❌ |
❌ |
✔️ |
|
Final Cut Pro |
❌ |
✔️ (iPad Pro only) |
✔️ |
|
Procreate |
❌ |
✔️ |
❌ |
|
Canva |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
CapCut (Video Editing) |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Google Chrome |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Safari |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Minecraft |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Roblox |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Fortnite |
❌ (Removed from App Store) |
❌ |
✔️ |
|
Call of Duty: Mobile |
✔️ |
✔️ |
❌ |
|
Genshin Impact |
✔️ |
✔️ |
✔️ |
|
Diablo Immortal |
✔️ |
✔️ |
❌ |
Key Takeaways
- Social media apps (Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, Snapchat) work best on iPhone and iPad but have limited Mac support.
- Streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, YouTube, Prime Video) are available across all devices.
- Productivity apps (Microsoft Office, Google Docs, Notion) are fully supported on all Apple devices.
- Creative apps (Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut Pro, Procreate) work best on iPad Pro and Mac due to their processing power.
-
Gaming apps vary by device—mobile games work well on iPhone and iPad, while high-performance gaming is best on Mac.
Find Your Perfect Apple Device Today!
No matter your needs, there’s an Apple device for you. Whether you're a designer, student, gamer, or entrepreneur, you can shop high-quality, certified pre-owned Apple devices at iStore Pre-owned—at a fraction of the cost.
Why Buy from iStore Pre-owned?
* Pre-owned Apple products are iStore certified
* Guaranteed quality & fully tested
* 2-year warranty on iPhone
* 1-year warranty on Mac, iPad & Apple Watch
* Free nationwide delivery.