About & Methodology
1. What is WhatAppletoBuy?
WhatAppletoBuy.com is an independent comparison site dedicated to Apple products. It helps consumers choose the right iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, or AirPods by comparing models side by side with a transparent quality-price score.
The site was created to solve a simple problem: Apple releases many models each year, and it can be overwhelming to figure out which one offers the best value for your specific needs and budget.
2. How the value score works
Every product receives a value score from 0 to 100 based on a weighted formula that balances key specifications against price. The goal is not to identify the "best" device overall, but the one that delivers the most value for what you pay.
iPhone score weights
- Performance (25%) — processor benchmarks, chip generation
- Price (25%) — current retail price relative to the category
- Camera (20%) — sensor quality, megapixels, features (zoom, ProRAW, etc.)
- Battery (10%) — capacity in mAh, estimated real-world hours
- Display (10%) — size, technology (OLED/LCD), refresh rate, brightness
- Storage (10%) — available storage options and base capacity
Weights are adjusted per product category (iPad, Mac, etc.) to reflect real-world usage priorities. For example, RAM weighs more heavily for Mac comparisons because it directly affects multitasking and professional workflows.
How the score changes with storage
When you select a different storage option, the price changes, which directly impacts the value score. A higher-storage model costs more, so its score may decrease even though the raw specs improve. This reflects real purchasing decisions.
3. Data sources
Product specifications and prices come from the following sources:
- Official Apple technical specifications pages
- Retailer pricing (Amazon, Apple Store, authorized resellers)
- Refurbished pricing from Back Market and Apple Certified Refurbished
Data is updated regularly. Each comparator displays a "Data updated on" notice so you can verify the freshness of the information. If you spot an error, please contact us.
4. Independence & affiliate disclosure
WhatAppletoBuy.com is fully independent. It is not owned by, affiliated with, or sponsored by Apple Inc. or any reseller. Recommendations are based solely on the scoring algorithm described above.
Some links on the site are affiliate links (primarily Amazon). This means that if you purchase a product through one of these links, the site may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Affiliate relationships never influence the comparison logic, the value score, or the ranking order.
5. Who is behind the site?
The site is built and maintained by a small independent team passionate about technology and consumer transparency. The project started from a personal frustration with the lack of clear, unbiased Apple product comparisons.
For questions, corrections, or feedback: contact@whatappletobuy.com