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# The Best Apple Setups
- URL: https://birchtree.me/blog/the-best-apple-setups/
- Published: 2020-04-25T21:35:00.000Z
- Updated: 2020-04-25T21:35:00.000Z
- Author: Matt Birchler
- Tags: Links, #Import 2023-06-01 22:41, #Import 2025-03-29 19:29

[The Best Apple Setups Challenge](https://thedent.net/the-best-apple-setups/?ref=birchtree.me)

> The premise of his challenge is simple, you have to come up with your ultimate Apple product based setups at four different price points, namely $500, $1,000, $2,500 and, finally, $5,000\. The rules, as defined by Chris are:  
> You cannot use any other items, if you have a Mac Pro lying around your home, I don’t care.  
> The prices are based off Apple’s website.

## $500 setup

- iPhone SE (128GB upgrade) - $449
- Leather phone case - $45

**$6 to spare.** If you’re going to have one Apple product in your life, I think it should be an iPhone.

## $1,000 setup

- iPhone SE - $399
- Leather phone case - $45
- iPad - $329
- Smart Cover for iPad - $49
- AirPods - $159

**$19 to spare.** This gets you into the iPad game as well with a totally capable device you can prop up for movies and typing. Oh, and AirPods, duh. $19 to spare 💪

## $2,500 setup

- iPhone 11 (128GB upgrade) - $749
- AirPods Pro - $249
- Apple Pencil - $99
- 12.9” iPad Pro (256GB upgrade) - $1,099
- Smart Keyboard Folio - $199

**$105 to spare, so maybe upgrade the storage on the iPhone or iPad if you’d like.** Swap in a 13” MacBook Pro if you’re prefer that to the iPad, but this would be my setup.

## $5,000 setup

- iPhone 11 (128GB upgrade) - $749
- AirPods Pro - $249
- Apple Pencil - $99
- 12.9” iPad Pro (256GB upgrade) - $1,099
- Smart Keyboard Folio - $199
- 16” MacBook Pro (a couple upgrades) - $2,599

**$6 to spare.** I think this gets you the widest range of great products. I considered a Mac mini instead of the MBP, but I would have needed to spend a grand on a display anyway, so just got a baller laptop, a baller iPad Pro, and a great iPhone, even if it’s not top of the line.