MacBooks are among the most popular and best laptops on the market. There's a good reason why they're so popular, especially with the newest models released in the last few years. But a good laptop isn't just good at startup; It is also important that it ages well and lasts for a long time.
The good news is that Apple has an excellent track record of supporting its devices, be they phones, tablets, wearables or laptops. MacBooks typically receive major updates at least five years after release, and security updates last a little longer. Let's take a closer look.
Can my MacBook get the latest version of macOS?
Source: Apple
Apple typically continues to support its devices for a few years after they are released, although there may be slight fluctuations. The latest operating system version is macOS Sequoia, announced at WWDC 2024 and now rolling out to supported Macs. This macOS is supported on Mac models up to iMac Pro 2017, and for MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, it supports 2020 and 2018 models or later. So when it comes to this particular update, we're looking at computers that are between four and seven years old and are still supported.
This is particularly impressive considering that Apple has undergone a complete silicon transition, switching from Intel processors to Apple Silicon, but some Intel models are still supported as if nothing had changed. Apple has made no compromises and every new major operating system update supports MacBooks up to five years old, so you'll continue to get new features over time.
What about security?
Even if your MacBook is no longer eligible for major OS updates, you can still technically use it, and apps typically continue to support older versions of macOS for a while. Older versions of macOS will continue to receive 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 its release. And Big Sur has been supporting MacBook models since 2013, so if you own one of these laptops, you've had tech support for almost a decade.
All of this means you can have peace of mind if you're thinking about buying a new MacBook and want to make sure you don't waste your money. The laptop you buy today will be supported for a long time, and you'll continue to get 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
When talking about MacBook support, you should also consider the possibility of repairing or replacing the device. Apple has an official list of old and obsolete products in its range and these obsolete products cannot officially be repaired, which may mean you have to buy a new one or find an independent repair shop that can still service them. Apple products are considered obsolete seven years after the last official sale date. After this, you will no longer be able to send your computer to Apple for repair, nor will an Apple-authorized repair facility be able to purchase new parts to repair it.
While the list of obsolete Mac products is currently long (Apple has been around for a long time), the newest models on the list are the 2016 MacBook Pro and 2015 MacBook Air. This means that some models are also over the 7-year period. be supported beyond promises. Either way, this is a great support period for a laptop, and to be honest, if your device is that old, it's almost certainly due for an upgrade.
When do I need to update my MacBook?
Given the long support period that Apple offers for most MacBook models, you shouldn't need to update your MacBook for many years after purchase. A new MacBook will be supported for almost 10 years before it stops receiving software updates. And as long as it doesn't break, there's no reason to stop using it just because it's older.
You should only really need to update your MacBook if it can no longer run the programs you need or if it can no longer be reasonably repaired. If you no longer receive current operating system updates, we also recommend purchasing a new model, although this is not the case have up to this point.
What can I update on my Mac?
Most modern MacBooks are not upgradable in any way. For this reason, we typically recommend using higher MacBook variants to be future-proof. The M-series Macs have RAM, GPU, and CPU all built into the chip, so you can't swap them out for a newer component. The SSD is also soldered to the motherboard, so you cannot increase storage or replace a faulty SSD.
Things look completely different in the battery sector. All MacBooks have lithium-ion batteries and have fixed charging cycles. Apple has a dedicated page where you can check your MacBook battery's maximum cycle count. As soon as your device reaches the cycle limit, the battery is considered completely used up. Afterwards, you may notice that your battery is running out, performance is slowing, or other glitches are occurring on your device. You can follow the steps below to find the current number of battery cycles on your device.
- Go to Launchpad and open that System information Menu.
- Choose Performance in the sidebar and enable the number of cycles under Health Information Menu. In the same menu, you can check your MacBook's current battery health and capacity.
Once you have exceeded the number of battery cycles or receive the “Service recommended battery” message, we recommend replacing the battery 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's lifecycle
If this article has convinced you that buying a MacBook is a good idea, you can check out the latest models below. Whether it's the redesigned MacBook Air, the 13-inch MacBook Pro, or the ultra-powerful 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models designed specifically for creatives, Apple is currently delivering some fantastic options, all of which will have support for a long time to come. These are some of the best Macs Apple has ever made, so they're highly recommended.