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How long do MacBooks last? How long are they supported?
MacBooks are some of the most popular and best laptops on the market. There's a good reason why they're so popular, especially with the latest models launched in the last few years. But a good laptop isn't just good at launch; it's also important that it ages well and remains supported for a long time.
The good news is, Apple has an excellent track record when it comes to supporting their devices, whether it's phones, tablets, wearables, or laptops. MacBooks tend to get major updates for at least five years after launch, and security updates continue for a bit longer than that. Let's take a closer look.
Which Apple laptop is right for you?
Can my MacBook get the latest version of macOS?
Apple tends to support its devices for quite a few years once they've been launched, though it can fluctuate a bit. The latest OS version is macOS Sequoia, which was announced at WWDC 2024 and is now rolling out to supported Macs. This macOS is supported on Mac models all the way back to the 2017 iMac Pro, and for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, it supports the 2020 and 2018 models and newer, respectively. So when it comes to this specific update, we're looking at computers between four and seven years old still being supported.
That's especially impressive considering that Apple has gone through a full silicon transition, moving away from Intel processors to Apple Silicon, yet some Intel models are still supported as if nothing's changed. Apple hasn't skipped a beat, and every new big OS update that comes out supports MacBooks that are up to five years old, so you keep getting new features over time.
What about security?
Even if your MacBook is no longer eligible for major OS updates, you can technically still use it, and apps usually continue to support older versions of macOS for a while. Older versions of macOS also continue to get security updates for a while after subsequent versions are released. For example, macOS Monterey, released in 2021, received its latest security update in September 2024, almost three years after it was released. And Big Sur supported MacBook models all the way back to 2013, so if you have one of those laptops, you were technically supported for nearly ten years.
All of this is to say that if you're thinking about buying a new MacBook and you want to make sure you're not throwing away your money, you can rest easy. The laptop you buy today will be supported for a long time to come, and you'll keep getting new features for years to come. There's a good chance you'll want to upgrade to a new laptop before the model is no longer supported.
Obsolete and vintage models
One last thing to consider when talking about MacBook support is the ability to repair or replace it. Apple has an official list of vintage and obsolete products in its lineup, and those obsolete products are officially unable to be repaired, which might mean you'll need to buy a new one, or find an independent repair shop that can still service it. Apple products are considered obsolete seven years after the last date they were sold officially. After that, you can no longer send your computer to Apple for repair, and an Apple Authorized repair shop can no longer buy new parts to repair it either.
While the list of obsolete Mac products is long at this point (Apple has been around for a long time), the latest models on the list are the 2016 MacBook Pro and 2015 MacBook Air. That means some models are being supported beyond the 7-year promise, too. Either way, this is a great support period for a laptop, and truth be told, if your device is this old, you're almost certainly due for an upgrade.
When do I need to upgrade my MacBook?
Considering the long support period offered by Apple for most MacBook models, you shouldn't need to upgrade your MacBook for many years after you've bought it. A new MacBook will be supported for almost 10 years before it no longer gets software updates. And unless it breaks down, there's no reason to stop using it just because it's older.
You should only really need to upgrade your MacBook if it can no longer run the programs you need it to, or if it's broken beyond reasonable repair. If you're no longer getting current OS updates, we'd also recommend buying a new model, though you don't have to at that point.
What can I upgrade on my Mac?
Most modern MacBooks aren't upgradable in any way. That's why we usually recommend going with higher variants of MacBooks for future proofing. The M-series Macs have RAM, GPU, and CPU, all integrated into the chip, so you can't swap them with a newer component. The SSD is also soldered on the motherboard, so you can't increase the storage or replace a buggy one either.
The situation is quite different in the battery department. All MacBooks have lithium-ion batteries and come with fixed charge cycles. Apple has a dedicated page to check the maximum cycle count for your MacBook battery. Once your device reaches the cycle count limit, the battery is considered fully consumed. Following that, you may notice battery drain, sluggish performance, or other glitches on your device. You can follow the steps below to find the current battery cycle count on your device.
- Head to Launchpad and open the System Information menu.
- Select Power on the sidebar and check Cycle count under the Health information menu. You can check your MacBook's current battery health and capacity from the same menu.
Once you exceed the battery cycle count, or if you get any type of Service Recommended battery message, we recommend swapping it with another one. At this point, you could also consider upgrading to a newer MacBook model, but that will cost significantly more than breathing new life into it with a fresh battery.
Understand your MacBook lifecycle
If this article reassured you that it's a good idea to buy a MacBook, you can check out the latest models below. Whether it's the newly-redesigned MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Pro, or the extra powerful 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models that are made for creators, Apple has some fantastic options available right now, and they're all going to get support for a long time to come. These are some of the best Macs Apple has ever made, so they're very easy to recommend.
