Are Discounted Apple Computers Offered by JB Hi-Fi Clearance Models?

lightfoot on 05/05/2021 - 15:02

I've always wondered and this and have debated with many regarding this. For instance, JBHIFI gave 10% off MacBook computers. Does this mean these were old clearance models? Are these models from 2020? Like if I didn't take the 10% off and went and bought directly from Apple, will I get a newer model? (Same 2020 M1 chip but newly released hardware)

Reason is, on previous MacBook computers, they even though a computer was released once a year they had models like:
Early 2017, Mid 2017, Late 2017 etc.

So the question is, does the same apply to M1 MacBooks?

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Comments

  • brendanm on 05/05/2021 - 16:28
    +3

    debated with many regarding this.

    Seriously?

    • spackbace on 05/05/2021 - 17:39
      +7

      They've mass-debated over it

      • brendanm on 05/05/2021 - 17:44

        That's probably the real reason they're discounted, the keyboards are all sticky.

  • DJR9000 on 05/05/2021 - 16:30

    Just look up the product ID/model code. They should be normal stock, not clearance stock. Beats me why they would only offer a 10% discount on clearance stock.

  • samyall on 05/05/2021 - 16:30

    Apple does yearly releases with unique model numbers. If the model numbers match, then the hardware can be considered identical.

    In fact, this is true worldwide with Macs having a global warranty. I picked up a Macbook Pro on a 20% eBay sale from Kogan as a grey import a few years ago. It had some battery issues (after 4 years) and I took it to a local Apple store where it had its battery and screen replaced all for free.

    • lightfoot on 06/05/2021 - 10:28

      Any cons to buying grey imports?

      • samyall on 06/05/2021 - 16:24

        My last purchase was 5 years ago so you may want to find some newer advice, but from my perspective, there are zero cons.

        Laptop arrived quickly from Kogan and support was identical to the support for my previous Australian bought laptop.

        Similarly, I would check out the Apple certified refurbished models as that's what my girlfriend bought, and again, her experience has been nothing but perfect.

  • zonra on 05/05/2021 - 17:06

    Like if I didn't take the 10% off and went and bought directly from Apple, will I get a newer model?

    Just look at the model number when you order. That’ll be what you are getting regardless of price and/or sales.

  • GordonR on 05/05/2021 - 19:01

    The model number on a Mac does not determine its configuration.

    For example A2289 is a MacBook Pro that can have either an i5 or i7 chip.

    See https://everymac.com/systems/by_year/macs-released-in-2020.h… for more details.

  • lightfoot on 07/05/2021 - 09:26

    If anyone can really answer, then what does the 'Early 2017, Mid 2017, Late 2017 etc.' really mean if it was a laptop that was released that year?

    • doot on 17/05/2021 - 15:20

      It's just the revision that Apple put out. Minor hardware alterations. You can look up the general model (eg. Macbook Air, Mac Mini) on Wikipedia and it'll usually have all revisions and differences there.

  • deliriouss on 11/05/2021 - 02:38

    All Mac (Pro, Air, iMac, Mini) with M1 chips in them are the latest model as there hasn't been a second release/2021 update yet. The M1 models with 10% off at JB-Hifi are exactly the same as the ones being sold at Apple Store.

    Apple tends to do a minor refresh every 6-9 months and a major re-design every 3-4 years. Minor refresh usually has something to do with the availability of newer generation processors e.g. 8th gen i5 vs 9th gen i5 and minor variation in features (not necessarily an improvement).
    We probably won't see a major update for MBA until 2022 but the 13" MBP is due for re-design this year.

    I don't think there has ever been an early 2017 Mac at all, all MB/MBA/MBP refresh took place in June that year (Mid-2017) and there was only one Mac update in late 2017 which is for iMac Pro. As mentioned, usually you only get one update per model & size per year, but ocassionally you get a minor refresh followed by a major update in the same year.
    For example both the 13" and 15" MBP was updated in May 2019 but 15" was discontinued and replaced by 16" MBP in Nov 2019. In the case of the 2019 update, since the size was different, they were just labelled as MBP (15", 2019) and MBP (16", 2019) but in case of the 2013 update, MBP(13", Late 2013) has a retina display whereas MBP(13", Early 2013) doesn't.

    The 5 digit model number of a Mac tells you the size and design used, the 7 digit order number is the one that tells you the exact specification. Just check the order number if you aren't sure whether it is the latest available.

    • lightfoot on 12/05/2021 - 15:21

      So what did those 'Early, Mid and Late' really mean?

      • deliriouss on 12/05/2021 - 15:41

        It is just the time when that specific model+configuration was first released. The mid-2017 MBP for example was introduced in June 2017 and discontinued in July 2018. Mid-2017 MBP was the most up-to-date MBP you could have gotten if you bought one in June 2018. There is only the mid-2017 MBP, as there has never been an early 2017 or late 2017 MBP model. Had you gotten the iMac Pro though, it would be a late 2017 model as there has never been an early 2017 or mid-2017 version for iMac Pro.

        Bear in mind, newer models aren't necessarily better than the old ones, for example, the early 2015 13" MBP with scissor switch keyboard, HDMI port, SDXC slot and removable SSD was superior to its successor - the late 2016 13" MBP (came with the notorious butterfly keyboard and known to have flexgate issue with the display) in my humble opinion.

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