sponsored post

The MacBook is one of the most powerful tools of the modern age. Most people will spend years of their lives in front of their computer. So it makes sense to have a great one.

But the way we buy them is broken.

High cost. Trade-in headaches. Endless upgrade cycles.

For most people, spending upwards of $2,000 upfront puts a huge hole in your pocket, not to mention the hassle and time spent reselling it when you’re ready to upgrade.

But there’s a newer option…and it’s growing fast among professionals, creatives, developers, and students who want better tools without the stress. It’s called Upgraded, and it’s a MacBook Upgrade Program where you can get a brand new MacBook every 2 years, starting at $33.28/mo. Here’s how it works:

With Apple’s latest MacBooks pushing performance further than ever, buyers are moving away from the old-school, pay-upfront model. And one company is quietly reshaping how Mac users get their next device.

For years, Apple fans had two options: pay thousands of dollars upfront or finance through a 12-month plan (often with limited availability). But now there’s a third option that’s gaining traction: Upgraded, a MacBook subscription service built to make getting a new MacBook as easy and affordable as humanly possible.

Most Mac users stick with their machines longer than they want to. Not because they love the slowdowns — but because upgrading is expensive, and reselling takes time most people don’t have.

That’s where Upgraded comes in.

It’s a smarter way to stay current — without the upfront cost or the trade-in hassle. You get a new MacBook, pay monthly (starting at $33.28/mo), and every 2 years, you’re eligible to trade up. It’s simple, clear, and now even more accessible.

And now that we’re approaching WWDC 2025 and macOS 26, it’s a great time to upgrade your Mac hardware and ensure you can run all of Apple’s new features.

It’s great to be able to stay connected when traveling, and an iPad can be the perfect travel companion – a bigger screen than your iPhone, but sleeker and lighter than a MacBook. But roaming fees on your existing carrier can be expensive, which is where a travel eSIM comes into play.

Finding the right eSIM deal can be challenging, but Nomad eSIM makes it easy through a combination of great value and flexible plans. Unlike many iPad plans, you can even use yours as a hotspot for other devices, meaning a single eSIM is all you need …

Anyone who’s ever used a MacBook knows how much value they can add to your personal and professional life. But for power users, the device you need can range anywhere from $1,600-$6,000. If you’re looking for a smarter way to buy, Upgraded makes it easy and affordable with one low monthly subscription.

Apple has long offered their iPhone upgrade program. But there’s no equivalent for MacBooks. Until now.

John, the founder of Upgraded, used to constantly buy MacBooks to keep up with demands from his work. He tried to resell old devices on Facebook Marketplace, but it was slow, tiring, and constantly messaging buyers distracted him from the rest of life. He thought, “Why isn’t there an easy way to get the latest MacBook?” …

Apple offers the iPhone Upgrade Program, but with no equivalent for MacBooks, Upgraded has stepped in to fill the gap with a flexible program using trusted Apple partners.

The program lets you choose any MacBook model – and with the new M4 MacBook Air just out, this could be the perfect opportunity for anyone looking to not only upgrade from an older model but to keep themselves up to date from now on …

We’re huge fans of the Ottocast suite of connected car accessories, and 9to5Mac readers can upgrade the car entertainment system while saving 20% for the holidays! From the wireless CarPlay AI box to the newly launched CloudSIM solution, Ottocast has the best solutions for enhancing your trip.

I’ve written before about Copilot’s crucial role in my life, making it extraordinarily easy (and even enjoyable!) to track my finances. Over the last several months, Copilot has gotten even better with new “Tags” and “Cash Flow” features.

Copilot is also expanding to yet another platform: the iPad. Here’s everything you need to know about what’s new with Copilot and how I’m using the new features every day.

Before we begin, a quick reminder that 9to5Mac readers can use code 9TO5MAC to unlock an extended two-month free trial of Copilot.

This might just be the MacBook upgrade program that Apple refuses to offer. Upgraded is a new subscription service powered by trusted partners that helps you get a new Mac every two years. Monthly payments start at just $36.06 with 0% interest, and AppleCare+ is included in the price.

Here’s how it works…

With ever-increasing online activity for parents and students alike, the return to school is a great time to ensure your whole family’s digital life is secure. Right now, you can get a free 14-day trial of 1Password for Families to see for yourself just how easy it is to keep your family’s data safe. And save 25% on your first year subscription.

The plan covers up to five family members on an unlimited number of devices, offering an unrivalled combination of security features …

25% Off All Black Friday Services from 11/22 through 12/5! Use coupon code BFCM25OFF.

Data privacy is extremely important. At the same time, some people would be surprised at how much of their personal information someone can obtain with just a quick online search. Luckily, DeleteMe helps you remove your personal data from data brokers – and consequently from other parts of the internet.

If your car has factory-installed CarPlay or Android, Ottocast, the wireless vehicle entertainment experts, are here to elevate your in-car experience. For a limited time, 9to5Mac readers can enjoy an exclusive 25% discount on select Ottocast CarPlay products by using the code TC25 at checkout.

Here are three of our best reccomendations from Ottocast…

Something underappreciated about modern iPhones is just how easy eSIM technology makes moving between cell networks. The same is true for Nomad, which leverages the magic of eSIM to provide mobile data in over 170 countries and regions.

Gone are the days of paying outrageous roaming fees or tracking down SIM cards for local data when traveling internationally. Also gone? Physical SIM card trays in new iPhones. That’s where Nomad comes in with its easy-to-use app, and 9to5Mac readers can save 10% with promo code 9TO5XNOMAD.

Some of us are old enough to remember the days when malware was strictly a Windows problem. Macs were more secure by design, but another key factor was that there weren’t enough of them in use to make Mac malware a sensible use of time for attackers.

With Macs now very much a mainstream choice for consumers and businesses alike, they’ve also become a far more attractive target for cybercriminals – and Mac malware is a real and growing problem …

If your car has factory-installed CarPlay or Android, then the wireless vehicle entertainment experts at Ottocast want to turbocharge your in-car entertainment.

For a limited time, 9to5Mac readers can take advantage of an exclusive 30% discount on some of Ottocast’s best CarPlay products by using code “TM30” at checkout.

Keeping your personal information under wraps online doesn’t have to be a chore – think of it as a personal mission to outsmart the internet’s nosy parkers. With some savvy moves in addition to Apple’s privacy protections, you can take charge of your digital footprint.

Receiving endless robocalls and spam calls disrupts your day and violates your privacy. Incogni, a dedicated personal data removal service, ends the invasive hassle.

A few weeks ago, we went in-depth on the powerful Copilot budgeting app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac. I’ve been using the Copilot budgeting app to manage my entire financial system for several years, and thought it would be useful to dive deeper into how and why I use it.

Plus, 9to5Mac readers can use code 9TO5MAC and unlock an extended two-month free trial.

Introducing Setapp gift cards – the perfect way to gift the groundbreaking app subscription service brought to you by MacPaw. Setapp empowers Mac users with top-notch tools, allowing you to unleash your Mac’s full potential. Head below for a closer look.

The world of portable batteries and power stations is expansive. We have tiny power banks that can be put on your keychain, and then we have huge and robust battery banks that can power appliances and run an entire motor home. But the name of the game has always been efficiency and density. Companies ask themselves, “How can we make form factors smaller while increasing their capacity?” Yolaness has done it with their new 1536Wh portable power station.

With more than 12 billion hacked accounts identified to date, cybersecurity tools have never been more important. Hackers who gain access to your accounts can create anything from a minor nuisance to a major disaster, in the case of critical accounts like your Apple ID or financial services.

Cloud storage company pCloud offers a set of three security tools to help protect your personal data against hackers, and all of them are completely free to use:

• Personal data breach checker
• Password strength checker
• Secure password generator