Macs have a high price so it ’s intelligible that many Mac users will want to put off interchange them for as long as they can . But just how long should you expect a Mac to last ?
You may also be considering buying a secondhand Mac and inquire how old is too old ? For model , is that 2017 MacBook Pro for $ 300/£300 a good deal , or would you be better off spending a routine more on a newer model ?
One factor to consider is the age at which most Macs start to experience outlet , such as random shutdowns and degraded electric battery that no longer hold their charge . Unfortunately , at one point repair your Mac or MacBook will no longer be a viable choice and you will involve to look for a replacement .
macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates
Another issue with aging Macs is that the software you require may not escape on it . You may also discover that Apple no longer support the operating system software that runs on that Mac – which could leave you open to malware and security vulnerability .
In this article , we will turn to the above , as well as give advice about which Macs are still supported by Apple , the Macs that can still be repaired if want ( Apple occlusive offer the need parts after a number of old age ) , and the Macs that Apple considers disused and time of origin . Being Vintage means Apple may have the parts available if you wanted to sterilise the Mac , but once Obsolete Apple will not provide constituent if you need to try and specify the machine .
When do I need to replace my Mac?
There are a few indicators that your Mac has strain the end of its useful life :
Which Macs are supported by macOS updates?
Only the most recent variation of macOS gets feature updates , but Apple usually maintains the last three versions of the macOS with bug muddle and important surety updates , ensuring that the latest interlingual rendition of Safari will run , and that Apple Services , such as iCloud , are fully supported
This have in mind that Apple will presently provide support for theseversions of macOS : macOS Sequoia , macOS Sonoma(macOS 14 ) , andmacOS Ventura(macOS 13 ) . Prior to the arrival of Sequoia in September 2024 , Monterey ( macOS 12 ) was also supported , but now Monterey has hang off that list and with it Mac from before 2017 , and in some cases , 2018 .
If your Mac is running Sequoia , Sonoma , or Ventura you should be able to be surefooted that Apple will keep an eye on any security vulnerabilities and other job with these operating systems . ( Indeed , Apple issue a security update for Sonoma and Ventura on the solar day that Sequoia arrived , and has issued further since that appointment ) .
macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates
However , if your Mac is run an older translation of the operating scheme , such as macOS Big Sur , macOS Catalina or older , you will find yourself out in the cold when it comes to essential security measure update to Apple ’s software .
If the software package is too old you may also find that your other Apple products are n’t compatible with your Mac . Without the belated security update , you may no longer be able to employ Apple Pay or other means to pay up for services online , for exercise . And if you need to sync your iPad or iPhone with your Mac ( rather than using iCloud ) you will call for a recent translation of macOS . Since Catalina , synchronise is done via the Finder , rather than iTunes . If you ca n’t run Catalina you will need at least iTunes 12.8.2.3 and at least Mac OS XTC 10.11.6 ( El Capitan ) or your Mac will not recognize your iPhone or iPad .
It ’s not just a caseful of updating your Mac to the latest version of macOS though . Each time Apple updates the Mac operating system of rules more Macs fall off the lean of those supported . Read : The latest rendering of macOS your Mac can pass .
macOS Catalina is no longer supported by Apple software updates
If your Macs is n’t in the tilt of supported Macs below , it wo n’t receive important surety update :
Macs supported by macOS Sequoia
2024 ’s Sequoia support the be Macs .
Read : Which Macs will flow macOS Sequoia ?
Macs supported by macOS Sonoma
2023 ’s Sonoma supports the fall out Macs .
Read : Which Macs course Sonoma ?
Macs supported by macOS Ventura
2022 ’s macOS Ventura supports the come after mack :
Read : Can my Mac draw Ventura ?
This means that the oldest Macs supported the right way now are from 2017 , and in some cases , 2018 – and come September 2025 those Macs will no longer be supported .
Which Macs aren’t supported by macOS?
When Apple introduced Sequoia in 2023 it drop support for macOS Monterey . These Macs will not get security update following the removal of funding for Monterey :
This tot to the list of Macs that are n’t supported with security update , which includes : the 12 - column inch MacBook introduced in former 2015 , the mid-2013 MacBook Air and the early-2014 MacBook Air , late-2013 MacBook Pro and mid-2014 MacBook Pro , or the 2014 iMac .
All other Macs that pre - date those cite above are no longer supported by Apple ’s software updates .
If your Mac is a decennium older then you certainly wo n’t get protection updates for it .
Does it matter if my Mac won’t run a supported macOS?
Once you’re able to not revise your Mac to play a support version of macOS you are vulnerable to security breaches , which should plain be a concern . You may also find that you ca n’t bear out dealings on the internet if you want to pay up for things on your out - of - date Mac .
It ’s also probably that the software you need wo n’t execute on your Mac . Apple and other companies discontinue keep going older interpretation of the applications they make , so there could be issues with the versions of the software system you are running . If you are go through random shutdowns , for illustration , it could be due to problems with an app you are running – problems that will not be addressed by the developer because that version of the app is no longer suffer .
If you desire to run to the full corroborate software then you will require to update to a newer variation of macOS – and that may intend that you need to refresh your Mac . Although , there are workarounds toinstall a new version of macOS on an old Macif you need to .
Once Apple no longer supports your Macs with operating system of rules updates , it ’s probably a upright time to replace your Mac .
When do Macs become obsolete?
But it ’s not just software updates that determine the lifespan of a Mac . It ’s also a head of whether it will be possible to fix your Mac should something go wrong with the hardware . Apple has two standards that betoken hardware support is waining : Obsolete or Vintage . The first stage is time of origin : you might be favorable enough to get parts for this Mac , the 2d is disused : you are out on your own when it comes to any endeavor to mend the Mac if it go wrong .
If you look at Apple ’s list of Obsolete Macs – those being the Macs that Apple will no longer provide supererogatory parts for – you will see that the society stops providing portion for Macs that it has n’t sold for more than seven years . In fact , the fellowship may not even provide part for Macs that have n’t been sell for more than five year ( consider Vintage by the company ) .
This could think that you wo n’t be able to get a faulty Mac fix because the parts are n’t uncommitted .
Obsolete Macs
Obsolete Macs are more often than not Macs that Apple discontinue selling more than seven years ago . Once a Mac is in Apple ’s obsolete list you have little chance of getting it repaired if something does go improper . You might be able to find free portion yourself , but Apple wo n’t provide them .
You ’ll find more details about the precise models onApple ’s dedicated Thomas Nelson Page , but the lists below will give you a general thought .
Apple weigh the following Macs and onetime Obsolete , with the 2014 iMacs ( 21.5 - inch and 27 - inch ) bestow in the second half of 2024 .
Vintage Macs
Apple also has a listing of Vintage Macs . These are Macs that Apple stopped selling between five and seven year ago . ( If you live in France where a law imply you’re able to get support for spare parts for up to seven years after Apple stops selling a Mac ) .
Apple lists the following product as being vintage , with the 2017 iMacs ( 21.5- and 27 - column inch ) , 2014 Mac miniskirt , and the 2019 13 - inch and 2018 15 - inch MacBook Pro ’s added in the second half of 2024 .
found on the above , we ’d suggest that if your Mac is more than eight years old , it ’s clip to look for a new one . And , if you see a 2017 or earliest Mac on sale , it ’s not wise to grease one’s palms it . In fact you will note that there are even 2018 and 2019 Macs on the vintage listing . Read : Why you should n’t purchase a second hand Mac .
See : Best Mac 2024 : Every Apple Mac and MacBook compared
Should I fix my Mac or buy a new one?
If your Mac is in the Obsolete category above and something run improper with it then you are going to struggle to get the necessary parts if you wanted to seek to get it fixed as Apple wo n’t provide the parts .
You might be able-bodied to grease one’s palms an old Mac on eBay or similar and scrap if for the parts , but we ’d advise that it really would n’t be worth the effort .
If your Mac is in the Vintage lean then Apple might be capable to provide the want part , but there is no guarantee . If you are lucky enough to get the part an Apple Robert William Service supplier might even be able to set the Mac for you – but the price of the work is potential to be prohibitive .
You might find that the Mac was included in part of a recall due to the issue you are see , in that case , it might be worth enlist in arepair programme . However , if the sentence catamenia in which Apple was put up the repairs has passed ( which is unfortunately likely ) then you will still have to discover the money for the repair , which again might be prohibitive .
Apple repair programs
If the Mac you own , or are consider buying would be affected by any of the problems listed below that ’s another reason to forefend it .
Apple ’s current Mac repair programs include :
Service programs that have now terminate :
We have moreinformation about Apple ’s product recalls and repair political program here . Plus , visitthis pagefor more information on the above repair programme .
take for granted your fault is n’t one of those listed above , you may be look with a pricy fixture bill . We propose that if your Mac is old than five years then repairing it will not be worth it – unless of class there are important documents or photos on it that you require to call up in which case it might be worth look athow to recover these file .
Should I update my Mac or buy a new one?
This is a interchangeable question to the one above in as much as you will be weighing up whether spend money to improve your Mac might be more savvy than buying a young Mac .
There are various ways you might be able to improve your exist Mac , including add together more RAM or alter from a hard thrust to a SSD . If you may promote the constituent inside your Mac you may be able to speed it up and make it more capable of doing what you need . SeeHow to upgrade a Mac .
However , many Macs ca n’t be upgraded at all . In late years Apple has aim to soldering RAM in berth and hiding element away to make access impossible ( or at least unsufferable if you do n’t want to completely destroy your Mac seek to get to them ) . With M - series Macs memory , GPU and CPU are all integrated onto the chip , so it is impossible to upgrade them . Nor can you update the SSD as it is soldered onto the motherboard .
That say , there are ways to upgrade your Mac . Read : How to advance your Mac minifor approximation .
If you decide to buy a new Mac check out our round - ups of the good Mac deals you could get :
Can I update the RAM in my Mac?
If you have one of the following Macs you might be capable to update the RAM :
You ca n’t update the Aries the Ram in any MacBook Air models .
We explainwhich Macs have approachable RAM in this articleand also expect at how to update the RAM .
What can I update in my Mac?
It may be possible to update other constituent , including the SSD , hard drive , barrage , logical system circuit card , hard drive , but this is only potential for a few Macs and the procedure is only for the expert . If you ’d care to try read : How to upgrade a Mac .
If you are up for pull your Mac aside and seek to upgrade its components then by all means taste , but check that you back it up first and be disposed to hold defeat if it does n’t go as planned .
As for whether it is deserving upgrade your Macs RAM or any other component – assuming you could get the parts – rather than buying a new Mac ? Perhaps it will bribe you a few more twelvemonth of role . However , we ’d be prepared to suggest that if your Mac is old than seven years it really is n’t worth it ( and , you ’ll notice , the MacBooks that can have their RAM upgraded lean to be old than that ) .
How long do Macs last?
So , in answer to the question : How long do mackintosh last ? We ’d say five to eight years , but mind that you may not be able to replace any defective parts in a Mac when more than five years have passed since Apple last sold it .
Before you grease one’s palms a new Mac , read our article about thebest time to grease one’s palms a Mac or MacBook .
You may also require to learn ourBest Mac Buying Guidefor help deciding which Mac to buy . We also have a guide to theBest MacBook .
Wondering how farseeing Apple supports iPhones and iPads for ? ReadHow retentive do iPhones lastandhow long Apple supports iPads for .
