Although Apple's MacBooks last a long time, someday you will have to say goodbye to yours. We leave you 6 signs that it's time to re...
How long do Macs last?
Whether you're taking stock of your old machine or thinking about the value of a new purchase, you might wonder how long MacBooks last.
There is no exact number of years for a Mac's useful life, as it depends on a number of factors. Someone who only uses their Mac to occasionally browse the web will probably be able to use the same machine longer than someone who uses the computer all day and performs heavy tasks, such as video editing.
The more you work with your computer, the sooner a component may stop working as well.
The definitions on Apple's Vintage and Obsolete products page give an idea of the devices' longevity. Vintage products are devices that have not been sold for more than five and less than seven years. A product is considered obsolete if it was discontinued more than seven years ago.
Most of the time, Macs are eligible to get the latest version of macOS for about seven years. In general, Apple has supported each version of macOS for three years. Third-party applications may be a little more forgiving. Google Chrome, Spotify, and Dropbox require at least macOS 10.13 High Sierra (released in 2017). Firefox requires macOS 10.12 Sierra, released a year earlier in 2016.
Considering all this, let's say you bought a new Mac in 2023. It's likely to receive macOS updates until 2030. The OS released in 2030 would receive support from Apple until 2033, and most third-party tools that work on the final version of the OS would be supported until at least 2036. This means that, in general, you can expect at least 10 years of useful life from a Mac.
1. Unable to run the latest version of macOS
Every year around September or October, Apple releases a new version of macOS. Models from recent years are capable of doing so. This means that if your Mac is too old to be updated to the latest version of macOS, it is becoming obsolete. macOS Ventura (version 13) is the latest version of macOS.
If your Mac isn't on this list, it's likely entered an obsolete state. When Apple support is discontinued, your Mac will not receive security updates for the current version of macOS. This means you'll need to think about replacing your Mac soon.
2. Your Mac is constantly running out of space
As technology advances, applications and other data continue to take up more space. This results in a constant fight for free space if you have an older machine with a negligible amount of storage.
If your MacBook is 128GB or even 256GB, chances are you're constantly juggling files to get more space. This could mean freeing up space on your Mac whenever possible or possibly adding more storage to your Mac with an external drive or other methods.
You can use these workarounds to handle a small amount of space for a while. But when you've had enough of them, it's time to upgrade to a new Mac. When you do, choose a model with plenty of storage space for years to come.
3. Your laptop hardware is not good enough
Your Mac's storage disk is just one of the computer components that weakens with age. A lack of RAM prevents you from running too many apps at once, and an old CPU means tasks like 4K video editing are extremely slow or impossible. You will also notice that overall system performance suffers with older hardware.
Another internal component of MacBooks that has suffered over the years is the battery. Batteries only have a certain number of cycles before they become "worn out" and won't hold a charge for long. If the battery has been used a lot, it may only last an hour or two. It is possible to overcome this situation by always using the laptop plugged in, but this sacrifices portability, of course.
There are options for replacing a MacBook's battery, but the money you would spend on a battery replacement (or a professional hardware upgrade) is better spent investing in a new machine. You can view service prices on the Apple support page.
4. Your Mac has severe hardware damage
An obvious reason for needing to replace your MacBook is that it has suffered severe physical damage. Maybe you dropped it and damaged the internal components, or broke the screen.
In these cases, the computer becomes unusable until it is repaired or replaced. And, as mentioned previously, it doesn't make much sense to invest hundreds of euros in an old or even obsolete machine when you can purchase a new one that will last longer.
Barring a major hardware catastrophe, a long list of small problems can quickly become a big problem. An old computer is often similar to an old car. You can live with some strange problems if they don't affect your ability to use it correctly, but eventually, something will go wrong and you'll have to decide whether to repair or upgrade it.
Small problems like the charger not working unless it's in the right place, bad pixels on the screen, and stuck keys aren't necessarily signs that you need to replace your Mac. However, when your computer has so many small glitches that it is barely usable, you should cut your losses and look for a replacement machine with better performance.
5. Your laptop has frequent software problems
An outdated Mac can also manifest itself through software issues. The operating system may freeze frequently and everything becomes unresponsive. Other common issues include visual glitches and random shutdowns.
When these problems occur, you should make sure you have enough free space, as low disk space can contribute to these problems. If resetting the SMC and PRAM doesn't resolve the issue, move on to reinstalling macOS and see if the issues persist.
If so, you likely have issues with outdated hardware and should consider upgrading your Mac.
