Macbook Air M3 best specs for long lasting use

Macbooks
1

Hello I am a medical student currently using a 2015 Intel MBP with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage
My computer has been reliable so far except for the battery which I haven’t replaced and after 9 years of daily use now it usually lasts about 2 hours

I think its time for an upgrade and I am considering buying an M3 MBA I use it for regular tasks sometimes having 15 or more chrome tabs open along with a few spreadsheets on excel some pdfs playing music on Spotify and so on If possible I would like to use sidecar with my iPad but I can’t because I’m still on Catalina Nothing too extreme

I want my new MBA to last at least 9 years Is 16GB of RAM enough or should I consider going for 24GB of RAM? When I bought my MBP 9 years ago 8GB was clearly sufficient for my needs and now my MBP tends to freeze or crash if I’m not careful with what I have open

Also what color should I choose Do you think the new midnight anodized finish is nice

Thanks

2

Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

3

Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

Exactly Macs usually do not get software updates for 10 years Buying one with that expectation is pointless

4

Right I just mentioned this to someone else and forgot to add it Can’t believe I missed it Thanks

5

The M1 MacBook Air was released in 2020 and will likely be considered vintage and stop receiving the latest OS in 2030

6

You can compare this to all the 2017 models that will not receive security updates after this fall

7

Mai said:

Kel said:
Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

It’s based on how they handle support It’s not from the release but rather the last sale date The mid-2012 MacBook Pro went obsolete only recently because they continued to sell until around 2016

8

Kel said:

Mai said:
Kel said:
Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

You seem to mix up having the latest OS with still receiving minimal security updates

Also your mid-2012 stopped receiving OS upgrades in 2019 seven years after its introduction It stopped getting security updates three years ago

9

Mai said:

Kel said:
Mai said:
Kel said:
Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

The 2017 MacBook Pro is now vintage but can still run Ventura nearly seven years after it came out It will stop receiving updates next year after eight years of use So, it wouldn’t be odd to expect the same or more from Macs with Apple Silicon in the future

Any Mac with an M chip in it could be expected to work well for 8-10 years

10

Kel said:

Mai said:
Kel said:
Mai said:
Kel said:
Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

I quoted you saying the latest OS

Also, the 2017 model got 5 years of the latest OS and 7 years total of support So, it’s easy to do the math

11

Kel said:

Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

Exactly Macs usually do not get software updates for 10 years Buying one with that expectation is pointless

The M1 MacBook Air was released in 2020 and will likely be considered vintage and stop receiving the latest OS in 2030

Based on past patterns I would expect support through 2026 or 2027 Why do you think it will get 10 years? Security updates will continue after that but expect no major OS updates

12

Merlin said:

Kel said:
Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

Exactly Macs usually do not get software updates for 10 years Buying one with that expectation is pointless

The M1 MacBook Air was released in 2020 and will likely be considered vintage and stop receiving the latest OS in 2030

Based on past patterns I would expect support through 2026 or 2027 Why do you think it will get 10 years? Security updates will continue after that but expect no major OS updates

Looking at past patterns, devices usually become vintage about 6 or 7 years after they move off the sales list and then typically go obsolete a year later The M1 Air just got discontinued so vintage status in 2030 makes sense

13

Kel said:

Merlin said:
Kel said:
Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

Exactly Macs usually do not get software updates for 10 years Buying one with that expectation is pointless

The M1 MacBook Air was released in 2020 and will likely be considered vintage and stop receiving the latest OS in 2030

Based on past patterns I would expect support through 2026 or 2027 Why do you think it will get 10 years? Security updates will continue after that but expect no major OS updates

Looking at past patterns, devices usually become vintage about 6 or 7 years after they move off the sales list and then typically go obsolete a year later The M1 Air just got discontinued so vintage status in 2030 makes sense

That’s just incorrect For example, the 2017 non-retina iMac was discontinued in 2021 and lost OS updates just one year later

14

Mai said:

Kel said:
Merlin said:
Kel said:
Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

Exactly Macs usually do not get software updates for 10 years Buying one with that expectation is pointless

The M1 MacBook Air was released in 2020 and will likely be considered vintage and stop receiving the latest OS in 2030

Based on past patterns I would expect support through 2026 or 2027 Why do you think it will get 10 years? Security updates will continue after that but expect no major OS updates

Looking at past patterns, devices usually become vintage about 6 or 7 years after they move off the sales list and then typically go obsolete a year later The M1 Air just got discontinued so vintage status in 2030 makes sense

That’s just incorrect For example, the 2017 non-retina iMac was discontinued in 2021 and lost OS updates just one year later

True but that product has a rare case with how long it was available however it’s still counted as supported until it becomes vintage in 2027 regardless of the OS version it can run

15

Kel said:

Mai said:
Kel said:
Merlin said:
Kel said:
Mai said:
Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

Exactly Macs usually do not get software updates for 10 years Buying one with that expectation is pointless

The M1 MacBook Air was released in 2020 and will likely be considered vintage and stop receiving the latest OS in 2030

Based on past patterns I would expect support through 2026 or 2027 Why do you think it will get 10 years? Security updates will continue after that but expect no major OS updates

Looking at past patterns, devices usually become vintage about 6 or 7 years after they move off the sales list and then typically go obsolete a year later The M1 Air just got discontinued so vintage status in 2030 makes sense

That’s just incorrect For example, the 2017 non-retina iMac was discontinued in 2021 and lost OS updates just one year later

True but that product has a rare case with how long it was available however it’s still counted as supported until it becomes vintage in 2027 regardless of the OS version it can run

Supported just means Apple can fix the hardware which doesn’t really matter if security updates aren’t provided

Also the 2017 iMac could be similar to the M1 We don’t know how long support will last for the M1 but the M1 Air was positioned similarly in the product range A budget product primarily sold to education and budget-focused customers

16

Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

This is actually a new perspective for me and it makes sense I wonder if the same idea applies to iPhones or other products

17

Farrell said:

Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

This is actually a new perspective for me and it makes sense I wonder if the same idea applies to iPhones or other products

Mostly yes I normally buy a secondhand phone that is one generation old for about half the price I can upgrade and pass down the phone every couple of years Also I seem to be the only one in my family that doesn’t break their phone

18

Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

Exactly this is spot on

19

Dane said:
Here’s something to think about

Many people want a Mac that can last 10 years and will sometimes use that as an excuse to buy a high-end machine Not saying that’s your intention but I want to suggest another option that might make sense for some

Instead of spending around $3000 on an overpowered Mac that lasts 10 years you could spend $1500 on a Mac and then five years later get another $1500 Mac This way you have two mid-range computers instead of just one high-end one Here’s why this could be a good idea

Let’s pretend it is 2020 for easier numbers

1 Whatever computer you buy today will seem outdated in 10 years A 5 year old machine might still be relevant You can fill it with extra RAM and storage but the processor can still slow down over time Note, I’m not suggesting it becomes unusable but it may struggle with certain tasks depending on how you use it
2 If you buy a $1500 2020 Mac and replace it with another $1500 Mac in 2025 (ignoring inflation) your total spending would be the same But in 2030 you’d have a 2025 Mac instead of a 2020 Mac and I believe your 5 year old mid-range 2025 would outperform your 2020 high-end one in 2030
3 Financially you might actually save money a) the $1500 you save now could earn interest b) your 5 year old 2020 Mac could be sold for a few hundred in 2025 which helps with your 2025 Mac purchase Macs retain decent resale value up to a point In 2030 not many buyers are looking for a 10 year old laptop In terms of worth a 2020 Mac doesn’t have much value in resale or trade-in
4 Battery life is also a factor Would you prefer a 10 year old battery or a 5 year old battery?
5 This doesn’t even include potential technology advancements in five years that you might want in a 2025 machine Better screens new ports and all that What if someone bought a high end Mac before Apple introduced retina displays or an Intel Mac shortly before Apple Silicon came out A 2015 Intel Mac expected to last 10 years could have been replaced with a basic 2020 M1 Mac with much better performance
6 (Thanks for pointing this out) Macs usually support updates for around 7 years or less Apple might put out security updates for longer if they feel like it What this means is that if your Mac is 8 or 9 years old it’ll still work but you won’t have access to the latest OS This is typically not a problem unless you need a specific software that requires a new OS version You might just miss out on new software capabilities that come with latest OS updates

Disclaimer: The numbers mentioned are just a guideline The idea is to get two mid-range computers instead of one high-end device

I’m not saying you need to upgrade every year but sometimes trying to make a device last too long might not save you money and could hurt your productivity

This may not apply to everyone but I often see people wanting to maximize their Mac’s lifespan which is a great idea in theory but I wanted to offer this alternative perspective

Totally agree with this

20

M3 with 16GB RAM and 512GB storage will last into the 2030s easily If you want your laptop to look nice years later only silver is worth considering as it is more durable and shows fewer noticeable fingerprints or scratches compared to other colors