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Introduction
For years, buying affordable Apple products meant buying old. A clearance model, a refurbished handset, or last year’s spec dressed up as a deal.
Not anymore. In March 2026, Apple launched the MacBook Neo. They also launched the iPhone 17e. These products are genuinely new and being offered at prices Apple has never attempted before. Add the AirPods 4, Apple Watch SE 3, and the iPad 10th Gen to that lineup. And you have a five-product budget lineup that is actually worth owning.
I have ranked every product on this list strictly by value. This means what you get for your money, not the price tag itself. Some of the best value plays are the cheapest and some are worth stretching the budget for. I will tell you exactly which is which throughout this review guide.
Pros & Cons at a Glance
| Product | 🟢 Biggest Pro | 🔴 Biggest Con |
|---|---|---|
| 1. AirPods 4 | H2 chip audio — market-leading at this price | No ANC on the base model |
| 2. Apple Watch SE 3 | Full watchOS experience | No always-on display |
| 3. iPad 10th Gen | Best all-round tablet | A14 chip — no Apple Intelligence |
| 4. iPhone 17e | A19 chip — same processor as the iPhone 17 | 60Hz display in a world of 120Hz rivals |
| 5. MacBook Neo | Cheapest Mac Apple has ever made | 8GB RAM ceiling with no upgrade option |
Quick Navigation Links:
#1 Apple AirPods 4 — Editor’s Choice
The Best Product Apple Make at This Price
The AirPods 4 just dethroned Amazon’s own Echo Dot as the number one best-selling electronics product on Amazon globally. That does not happen by accident, and it does not happen with a bad product. Starting at approximately £99, these are not a step-down from something better. They are the recommendation.
Apple took the H2 chip from the AirPods Pro. They redesigned the fit with shorter stems and a more secure in-ear shape. The Adaptive EQ adjusts to your ear in real time. They added Spatial Audio and put it all in a USB-C charging case with 30 hours total battery life. The result sounds better than most earphones at two or three times the price.
The transparency mode is genuinely excellent — you can hold a conversation without removing them. Call quality is far ahead of what the price suggests. They pair instantly with any Apple device, switching between iPhone, iPad, and Mac without the usual Bluetooth friction.
Honest caveat: the base model at £99 does not have Active Noise Cancellation. If you need ANC, the AirPods 4 ANC model is a few quid more but still exceptional value. The AirPods Pro 3 are the premium choice for a full noise-canceling experience. However, for most people the entry level Airpods 4 model is genuinely all you need.
| 🟢 Pros | 🔴 Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Number one best-selling electronics product on Amazon globally | 🔴 No Active Noise Cancellation on the base model |
| 🟢 H2 chip — same silicon as the AirPods Pro | 🔴 Fit will not work for every ear shape |
| 🟢 Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ at this price is exceptional | 🔴 Transparency mode not as refined as AirPods Pro |
| 🟢 30-hour total battery life with USB-C case | 🔴 No in-bud volume control |
| 🟢 Instant pairing across all Apple devices | 🔴 Not rated for intense sport use |
#2 Apple Watch SE 3 — Best Smartwatch Under £220
Everything a Smartwatch Needs. Nothing It Doesn’t
Most Apple Watch buyers are paying for features they will never use. The Apple Watch Series 11 gets you an ECG sensor you may glance at here and there. A blood oxygen reading of debatable practical value, and an always-on display that drains your battery by early evening. The Apple Watch SE 3 is available at approximately £220. It skips unnecessary features but keeps every feature that actually improves your day.
You get heart rate monitoring, activity tracking across all major workout types, and sleep tracking. It also features Crash Detection and Emergency SOS. Additionally, it includes the full watchOS app library. It runs the S9 chip that connects to your iPhone instantly. It handles calls and messages from your wrist whilst delivering 18 hours of battery life. In real-world terms, this means all-day usage and into the evening without anxiety.
The build quality feels identical to more expensive models. It has the same aluminum case, the same watch faces, and the same interchangeable bands. You are not wearing a lesser product on your wrist. You are wearing a smarter purchasing choice.
Wrist-based heart rate readings on all Apple Watch models serve as a useful daily indicator. However, they are not intended as a clinical diagnostic tool.
| 🟢 Pros | 🔴 Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Full watchOS — identical app library to the Series 11 | 🔴 No always-on display |
| 🟢 Crash Detection and Emergency SOS included | 🔴 No ECG or blood oxygen sensor |
| 🟢 Current price is great value for money | 🔴 S9 chip rather than the newer S10 |
| 🟢 Available in 40mm and 44mm sizes | 🔴 60Hz display — no ProMotion |
| 🟢 Same aluminum build quality as Series 11 | 🔴 No fast charging support |
#3 Apple iPad 10th Generation — Best Value Tablet
The Best All-Round Tablet Under £300. Still.
Apple launched the iPad 10th Gen in 2022 at £499. It now sits at approximately £299 on Amazon UK. This makes it one of the best value tablets on the market from any brand at that price point. Apple still sells it because nothing has come along at this price and beaten it—yet.
You get a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display. It is genuinely excellent for streaming and reading. It also comes with USB-C. There is a 12MP landscape-facing front camera that finally makes video calls usable. The device features the A14 Bionic chip and offers up to 10 hours of battery life. The aluminum build quality feels like a product that costs £500. It handles every major app, every streaming service, light work, note-taking, and casual gaming without complaint.
Honest caveat: The A14 chip and Apple Intelligence are not present here. Apple’s suite of AI writing, summarisation, and image tools — requires the A17 Pro chip or newer. For the vast majority of users, this wont matter. However, if Apple Intelligence is important to you, consider stepping up to the iPad mini with A17 Pro. The next link provides an overview of Apple Intelligence’s offerings. This way, you can decide whether it is worth the extra cost to you.
| 🟢 Pros | 🔴 Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Best price this device has been | 🔴 A14 chip — no Apple Intelligence support |
| 🟢 10.9″ Liquid Retina display — excellent for streaming and work | 🔴 64GB base storage — fills faster than expected |
| 🟢 Landscape front camera — genuinely improved video call experience | 🔴 60Hz display only — no ProMotion |
| 🟢 USB-C — same cable as your phone and laptop | 🔴 Apple Pencil 1st gen requires a USB-C adapter to work |
| 🟢 Runs all major apps and games without issue | 🔴 No Smart Connector on the base Wi-Fi model |
#4 Apple iPhone 17e — Best Value iPhone Ever?
Apple Finally Took the Budget iPhone Seriously
The IPhone 17e launched on 11 March 2026 and immediately rewrote what a budget iPhone is allowed to be. Apple used the A19 chip in the Iphone 17e. It is the exact same processor inside the flagship iPhone 17. They put it into a smaller, more affordable body with 256GB of base storage. That is double the storage of last year’s iPhone 16e at the same price point and finally brought MagSafe back to the budget lineup.
What the money gets you is flagship processor performance, 26 hours of video playback, MagSafe at 15W, a 48MP Fusion camera with 4K Dolby Vision, full Apple Intelligence, and Ceramic Shield 2 glass — a list that would have been impossible at this price two years ago.
The cuts Apple made to hit the price are real and worth knowing before you buy. The display runs at 60Hz — Android rivals at similar prices routinely offer 120Hz. The 17e keeps the traditional notch rather than Dynamic Island. There is a single rear camera with no dedicated telephoto. The A19 chip is a binned variant — a 4-core GPU versus the 5-core in the standard iPhone 17.
For anyone upgrading from an iPhone 13 or older, this is the most compelling entry point Apple has ever offered. If you are switching from Android and want access to the Apple ecosystem, this is the best option available. Apple devices receive iOS updates for a minimum of six years. You can find the full iOS security update policy documented at support.apple.com/en-gb. This means a 17e purchased today will be supported well into the early 2030s.
| 🟢 Pros | 🔴 Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 A19 chip — identical to the processor in the iPhone 17 | 🔴 60Hz display — rivals offer 120Hz at this price |
| 🟢 256GB base storage — doubled from last year at the same price | 🔴 Single rear camera — no telephoto lens |
| 🟢 MagSafe wireless charging finally included | 🔴 Traditional notch — no Dynamic Island |
| 🟢 26 hours video playback battery life | 🔴 Binned A19 — 4-core GPU not the 5-core in iPhone 17 |
| 🟢 Full Apple Intelligence support | 🔴 No ProMotion, no always-on display |
| 🟢 Ceramic Shield 2 — significantly improved scratch resistance | 🔴 £200 more than the top three products on this list |
#5 Apple MacBook Neo — Historic or Compromise?
The Cheapest Mac Apple Has Ever Made
Apple has never sold a brand new laptop under £600 before. The MacBook Neo launched on 11 March 2026 at £599. It is the most accessible entry point to macOS in the company’s history. Independent reviewers like myself have been notably surprised by how much Apple got right at this price point.
The Neo runs macOS Tahoe on an Apple A18 Pro chip. This is the same silicon that powered the iPhone 16 Pro. The 13-inch Liquid Retina display has been consistently praised. Battery life reaches up to 16 hours. The enclosure is aluminum and the track-pad is a MacBook track-pad, which remains the best in the industry. For everyday tasks — browsing, email, video calls, documents, streaming — the Neo handles everything cleanly and quickly.
The limitations are pretty specific. There is no backlit keyboard. This is a real omission at this price point that will frustrate anyone who works in low light. RAM is fixed at 8GB with no upgrade path whatsoever. The base model has 256GB of storage; the 512GB model costs approximately £110 more. There are only two USB-C ports and no Thunderbolt.
The display uses sRGB colour rather than the P3 wide colour of the MacBook Air. There is no fast charging. iFixit have highlighted the Neo as the most repairable MacBook in 14 years. This is a meaningful point for longevity. None of that changes the RAM ceiling unfortunately. If you edit video, run virtual machines, or use Thunderbolt peripherals—the MacBook Air M5 is the smarter buy for you. The Neo is for everyone else.
| 🟢 Pros | 🔴 Cons |
|---|---|
| 🟢 Cheapest new Mac Apple has ever sold | 🔴 No backlit keyboard — noticeable at this price |
| 🟢 A18 Pro chip — fast for all everyday tasks | 🔴 8GB RAM with no upgrade option |
| 🟢 Up to 16 hours real-world battery life | 🔴 Two USB-C ports only — no Thunderbolt |
| 🟢 13″ Liquid Retina display — excellent quality | 🔴 sRGB screen — not the P3 wide colour of MacBook Air |
| 🟢 Full macOS Tahoe — not a stripped-back OS | 🔴 256GB base storage feels tight in 2026 |
| 🟢 Four colour options with matched keyboards | 🔴 No fast charging |
| 🟢 Most repairable MacBook in 14 years per iFixit | 🔴 Apple limits purchases to 2 units per person |
TRUK Scorecard
Apple AirPods 4
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Build Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Longevity / Software Support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of Recommendation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Apple Watch SE 3
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Build Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Longevity / Software Support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of Recommendation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Apple iPad 10th Gen
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Build Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Longevity / Software Support | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of Recommendation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Apple iPhone 17e
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Build Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Longevity / Software Support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of Recommendation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
Apple MacBook Neo
⭐⭐⭐⭐½
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Value for Money | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Performance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Build Quality | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Longevity / Software Support | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Ease of Recommendation | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
TRUK Final Verdict
2026 is the best year in Apple’s history to buy on a budget. The AirPods 4 at around £99 is the easiest recommendation I have made in years. It’s the best-selling electronics product on Amazon globally for a reason. The Apple Watch SE 3 around £220 gives you everything a smartwatch genuinely needs to. The iPad 10th Gen for approximately £299 is a complete, premium-feeling tablet. It’s offered at a price that seemed impossible at launch four years ago.
The iPhone 17e and MacBook Neo are more considered purchases. Both are priced between £500 – £600. They both offer honest trade-offs which are worth it for the right buyer. The 17e is the correct iPhone for anyone who can not justify flagship prices. The MacBook Neo is the first Mac that ordinary buyers can genuinely afford without compromise on the ownership experience.
If you are building an Apple setup from scratch on the tightest possible budget, consider this combination. The AirPods 4, Apple Watch SE 3, and the iPad 10th Gen together can come in at approximately £618. That is a complete Apple ecosystem costing only £38 more than the price of a single iPhone 17e.
Apple AirPods 4
Arguably the best product Apple make at this price.
Apple Watch SE 3
Everything that matters in a smartwatch. Nothing that doesn’t.
Apple iPad 10th Gen
The iPad 10th Gen is still the best entry-level tablet.
Apple iPhone 17e
Apple’s most affordable current iPhone.
Apple MacBook Neo
The most affordable Mac Apple has ever made
FAQs
Q: Which Apple product is the best value for money in 2026?
The AirPods 4 represents the strongest value-per-pound of any Apple product right now. You are getting the H2 chip. Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ, and 30 hours of battery for the price of budget earphones.
Q: Is the MacBook Neo worth buying over a Windows laptop at the same price?
If you are already in the Apple ecosystem, Yes. The seamless Handoff, iCloud integration, and macOS experience add genuine daily value.
Q: Should I buy the iPhone 17e now or wait for the iPhone 18?
If you need a phone now, buy the 17e. The 17e is the best value iPhone Apple has ever made and will be supported well into the early 2030s. If you can comfortably wait, the iPhone 18 is expected in September 2026 with full flagship pricing. A budget 18e is not expected until Spring 2027 at the earliest, and will almost certainly cost more than the 17e does today.
Review By René. R
Affordable Apple Products Of 2026
A ranked roundup of the best value Apple products available in the UK in 2026 — AirPods 4, Apple Watch SE 3, iPad 10th Gen, iPhone 17e, and MacBook Neo.
Product Brand: Apple
Product In Stock: InStock
4.5
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