How Long Should a MacBook Last on Average?

Buying a MacBook is a significant investment for many people. Making the decision to drop more than $1,000 on a piece of technology can be a little scary, and you want to make sure that you’re making the right decision. 

The two questions you might ask are “will this work for what I need it to,” and “how long will this thing last?”

You want your computer to stick around for a few years or more, especially when it’s something you’re putting a lot of money into. How long should a MacBook last, though?

We’re going to answer that question in this article, giving you some insight into what you can expect from your new laptop.

How Long Should a MacBook Last If I Buy a New One?

As with anything, there are going to be a lot of factors that go into the longevity of your MacBook. The way that you use the machine, what it’s used for, and how you treat it will all come into play. 

If you’re running extremely powerful programs on your computer day and night or you use it to mine bitcoin for two years straight, it might die a little sooner than it would otherwise. 

That said, the type of MacBook that you purchase and how you maintain it will also be important factors in its lifespan. You can visit https://setapp.com/how-to/what-mac-do-i-have to identify the kind of Macbook that you own. 

Different generations are prone to unique pros and cons. Let’s take a look at how specific MacBooks tend to do as they get older. 

Different MacBooks and Lifespans

The traditional MacBook was discontinued after 2019. There are still a lot of new or lightly used MacBooks on the market, though. Those devices tended to last around 6 years if they were properly maintained. 

In a lot of cases, especially if they were stationary or lightly used, standard MacBooks would last even longer than 6 years. The MacBook Pro tends to have around the same lifespan as the Macbook. 

MacBook Airs are known to last anywhere from 3 to 5 years and can reach out even longer if they’re well-cared for. The general age ranges listed above are what you can expect if you put your computer through regular use and don’t push it too hard or baby it more than normal. 

So, you can reasonably expect any Mac laptop you buy to last for 3 years at the very least, but probably a lot longer than that. It’s also important to take a look at some of the reasons that these devices break down in the long run and how those issues can be avoided. 

What Goes Wrong?

The first issues that you experience with an aging MacBook are going to deal with the hardware. Hardware and software are easy to mix up sometimes, so remember that “hardware” on your computer consists of physical pieces like screens, keyboards, and even physical storage components. 

In many cases, the base functions of the computer won’t start to slow down until long after things like, say, your screen start to dwindle. In this sense, you can stretch the life of your MacBook out a great deal if you simply have these components restored. 

How Do Macbooks Compare to PCs?

Looking at the lifespan of a MacBook in comparison to that of a PC might be helpful in your decision-making process. 

PCs are considerably more varied in computer models, which makes it a little more difficult to narrow down their general lifespan. There may be a PC or two that will last longer than a MacBook of any kind, but it might not have the other requirements that you need. 

Additionally, it’s probably going to cost you a lot of money. 

Standard PCs differ from Macs in that they’re composed of numerous parts from different companies. They function well, but the inconsistency in manufacturing can cause those parts to stop working together so well after a while. 

Various pieces of equipment put together into one machine are prone to cause complications. As a result, most PCs last anywhere from 2 to 4 years when they’re treated well, depending on the model that you get. 

Other Factors That Extend MacBook Lifespan

The fact that all of the components for MacBooks are produced to work specifically within Macs makes the machine a little more sturdy in the long run. 

It’s also important to note that Mac’s operating system is extremely intuitive and always being updated. Those updates improve security, streamline functions, manage energy usage, and more. 

All of those factors consistently make the Macbook run even more efficiently and live a little bit longer. Antivirus protection, for example, can actually extend the life of your computer. 

Malware and other difficulties can put excess strain on your computer without you even knowing. When one area of your hard drive is suffering other areas will have to compensate and degrade as well. 

It’s like when you break your ankle and have to lean on the opposite leg more for support. It’ll do for a while, but your back will start to hurt eventually, then your neck and the rest of the body will follow. 

So, keeping updated and in the Apple loop will help extend your lifespan as well. 

Have Your Device Checked Up On

We don’t often think of our computers as needing regular checkups as cars do. That said, a used car might only be a couple of thousand dollars more than your laptop. 

If you get the device checked on by professionals on a regular basis, you’ll be far more likely to catch issues and optimize your computer’s performance for many years to come. Professional checkups are arguably the best way to get your MacBook’s lifespan to stretch out for more than 5 or 6 years. 

Need More Tech Insight?

So, how long should a MacBook last? It might be 3 years if you’re rough with it but could stretch out beyond 6 years if you take care of everything properly. There’s a lot to learn when it comes to maintaining your devices and we’re here to help. 

Explore our site for more ideas and insight into technology, maintenance, and more.