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Question to more senior Mac users: how do you usually decide when to upgrade? I bought my first Macbook pro about a year and a half ago and it's still working

Question to more senior Mac users: how do you usually decide when to upgrade? I bought my first Macbook pro about a year and a half ago and it's still working great.

y7 2y ago
When it stops working great. My 2014 Macbook is about due for an upgrade, mostly due to the GPU struggling with a 4K screen.
sequoia 2y ago
The 2014 model I bought in early 2015 still works, though the battery is dodgy. I did get the motherboard replaced in 2020 which was pricey, but much cheaper than a new machine. Is there some reason your current computer isn't working for you? If not, why upgrade? Use it as long as you can do so practically & easily. On the other extreme, I knew someone who bought a new MBP with maximum RAM specs each year. She'd sell the old one for a few hundred less than she paid, then she always had new hardware with applecare. It was basically like leasing a machine for $400/yr.
aequitas 2y ago
My previous Macbook was a Pro model from 2015, I waited 6 years to finally upgrade to an M1 Air because of the awful touchbar models they had in between (though I'm still using the 2015 Pro for personal stuff, in fact right now. It's upgraded to the latest macOS using OpenCore and it still runs great). But I would say upgrade every 3-5 years depending on heavy a professional user you are.
- AdamJacobMuller 2y ago
  The touchbar was useful in one important way. Because it made the esc key useless for touch typists and because, as a vi user, I hit esc approximately a bazillion times per day I mapped caps lock to esc. Now my fingers don't travel as far to hit esc. I still use that mapping even on my regular keyboards and my current non-touch-bar macs. Thanks touchbar macs, rest in peace.
  - prewett 2y ago
    Ctrl-[ also works for ESC on VI. I really like the touchbar Macs because changing the volume to exactly what I want is really easy. All the others have increments that are too large, so I have to try to remember if Shift + Opt + Volume Up/Down is what I want, or some other combination.
thenaturalist 2y ago
Ask 3 people, get 5 answers. Got the money, are in the consumerism camp: Switch to latest model every year because the camera island changed 5mm. Got the professional need in games or video and your work isn't covering your device: Switch to new model every couple of generations. Be me: I want to extend the lifecycle of things I use. Learn how to repair what you own (it's never been as easy), be aware of how you can work in today's world (who needs laptop RAM if I can spin up containers in the cloud) - I expect to not upgrade until a similarly stellar step up in the category of Intel to Apple Silicone comes along. All past Mx versions being mostly compared to Intel baselines: Boring. M4 1.8 times faster than M1 Pro: Nice, but no QoL change. For the few times I might need it, I can spin up a container in the cloud. My display is excellent. 14 inch is the perfect screen size. Battery life is perfect.
- joshdavham 2y ago
  Great answer, thank you!
__d 2y ago
Pick a daily cost you’re comfortable with. If you’re contracting at say $500/day, how much are you willing to spend on having a responsive machine? $10? $20? Multiply it out: 220 work days a year * $10/day is $2200 a year towards your laptop. Upgrade accordingly.
htk 2y ago
People have different passions, I like computers. If I feel a new Mac is going to be fun for whatever reason, I consider upgrading it. Performance wise they last a long time, so I could keep them way longer than I do, but I enjoy newer and more capable models. You can always find someone to buy the older model. Macs have a great second hand market.
dgellow 2y ago
Depends if it is a personal machine or paid by your company. 5+ years is what I generally expect from an apple laptop (been using them since around 2007-2009) if I own. For an M1-3 that could be a bit longer. If it is paid by your company, then whenever you have the budget :)
- joshdavham 2y ago
  > 5+ years is what I generally expect Sounds like a good rule of thumb. Can I also ask what kind of work you do on it? I suspect that some work probably wears out computers faster than other sorts of work.
satvikpendem 2y ago
On major remodels or with compelling features. I had an i9 MacBook Pro and then upgraded to anM1 MacBook Pro because it was a major leap forward. However, I will wait until the MacBook Pro is redesigned yet again (maybe thinner and lighter as I travel a lot and carry-on weight is limited), apparently in 2026 or so with OLED and other features, rumors say.
_19qg 2y ago
I'm using them for several years - I still have a Mac mini (from 2012) and an iMac Pro (from 2017) running. I also get a company Macbook which I can upgrade every three years. But there is also another strategy: get a new Mac when they come out and sell it before/after the next model appears. There is a large market for used Macs. A friend of mine has been doing this for quite some time.
densh 2y ago
I update largely based on non performance criteria: - new display tech - better wireless connectivity - updated protocols on ports (e.g., support for higher res displays and newer displayport/hdmi versions) - better keyboard - battery life Once a few of those changes accumulate over 4+ generations of improvements that’s usually the time for me to upgrade. My laptops so far: first 2008 plastic macbook, 2012 macbook pro, 2015 macbook pro, and M1 pro 16 currently. I skipped 2016-2020 generation which was a massive step backwards on my upgrade criteria, and updated to 2015 model in 2016 once I realized apple has lost their marbles and has no near plans on making a usable laptop at the time. Also getting a maxed out configuration really helps the longevity.
squishy47 2y ago
I just pre-ordered the m4 pro. upgrading from a late 2013 mbp with a battery that would probably void my home insurance if they found out. can't justify the constant upgrade when it doesn't make me money (work provide one). very excited about the new one though

Question to more senior Mac users: how do you usually decide when to upgrade? I bought my first Macbook pro about a year and a half ago and it's still working great.

y7 2y ago

When it stops working great. My 2014 Macbook is about due for an upgrade, mostly due to the GPU struggling with a 4K screen.

sequoia 2y ago

The 2014 model I bought in early 2015 still works, though the battery is dodgy. I did get the motherboard replaced in 2020 which was pricey, but much cheaper than a new machine. Is there some reason your current computer isn't working for you? If not, why upgrade? Use it as long as you can do so practically & easily. On the other extreme, I knew someone who bought a new MBP with maximum RAM specs each year. She'd sell the old one for a few hundred less than she paid, then she always had new hardware with applecare. It was basically like leasing a machine for $400/yr.

aequitas 2y ago

My previous Macbook was a Pro model from 2015, I waited 6 years to finally upgrade to an M1 Air because of the awful touchbar models they had in between (though I'm still using the 2015 Pro for personal stuff, in fact right now. It's upgraded to the latest macOS using OpenCore and it still runs great). But I would say upgrade every 3-5 years depending on heavy a professional user you are.

AdamJacobMuller 2y ago
The touchbar was useful in one important way. Because it made the esc key useless for touch typists and because, as a vi user, I hit esc approximately a bazillion times per day I mapped caps lock to esc. Now my fingers don't travel as far to hit esc. I still use that mapping even on my regular keyboards and my current non-touch-bar macs. Thanks touchbar macs, rest in peace.
- prewett 2y ago
  Ctrl-[ also works for ESC on VI. I really like the touchbar Macs because changing the volume to exactly what I want is really easy. All the others have increments that are too large, so I have to try to remember if Shift + Opt + Volume Up/Down is what I want, or some other combination.

thenaturalist 2y ago

Ask 3 people, get 5 answers. Got the money, are in the consumerism camp: Switch to latest model every year because the camera island changed 5mm. Got the professional need in games or video and your work isn't covering your device: Switch to new model every couple of generations. Be me: I want to extend the lifecycle of things I use. Learn how to repair what you own (it's never been as easy), be aware of how you can work in today's world (who needs laptop RAM if I can spin up containers in the cloud) - I expect to not upgrade until a similarly stellar step up in the category of Intel to Apple Silicone comes along. All past Mx versions being mostly compared to Intel baselines: Boring. M4 1.8 times faster than M1 Pro: Nice, but no QoL change. For the few times I might need it, I can spin up a container in the cloud. My display is excellent. 14 inch is the perfect screen size. Battery life is perfect.

joshdavham 2y ago
Great answer, thank you!

__d 2y ago

Pick a daily cost you’re comfortable with. If you’re contracting at say $500/day, how much are you willing to spend on having a responsive machine? $10? $20? Multiply it out: 220 work days a year * $10/day is $2200 a year towards your laptop. Upgrade accordingly.

htk 2y ago

People have different passions, I like computers. If I feel a new Mac is going to be fun for whatever reason, I consider upgrading it. Performance wise they last a long time, so I could keep them way longer than I do, but I enjoy newer and more capable models. You can always find someone to buy the older model. Macs have a great second hand market.

dgellow 2y ago

Depends if it is a personal machine or paid by your company. 5+ years is what I generally expect from an apple laptop (been using them since around 2007-2009) if I own. For an M1-3 that could be a bit longer. If it is paid by your company, then whenever you have the budget :)

joshdavham 2y ago
> 5+ years is what I generally expect Sounds like a good rule of thumb. Can I also ask what kind of work you do on it? I suspect that some work probably wears out computers faster than other sorts of work.

satvikpendem 2y ago

On major remodels or with compelling features. I had an i9 MacBook Pro and then upgraded to anM1 MacBook Pro because it was a major leap forward. However, I will wait until the MacBook Pro is redesigned yet again (maybe thinner and lighter as I travel a lot and carry-on weight is limited), apparently in 2026 or so with OLED and other features, rumors say.

_19qg 2y ago

I'm using them for several years - I still have a Mac mini (from 2012) and an iMac Pro (from 2017) running. I also get a company Macbook which I can upgrade every three years. But there is also another strategy: get a new Mac when they come out and sell it before/after the next model appears. There is a large market for used Macs. A friend of mine has been doing this for quite some time.

densh 2y ago

I update largely based on non performance criteria: - new display tech - better wireless connectivity - updated protocols on ports (e.g., support for higher res displays and newer displayport/hdmi versions) - better keyboard - battery life Once a few of those changes accumulate over 4+ generations of improvements that’s usually the time for me to upgrade. My laptops so far: first 2008 plastic macbook, 2012 macbook pro, 2015 macbook pro, and M1 pro 16 currently. I skipped 2016-2020 generation which was a massive step backwards on my upgrade criteria, and updated to 2015 model in 2016 once I realized apple has lost their marbles and has no near plans on making a usable laptop at the time. Also getting a maxed out configuration really helps the longevity.

squishy47 2y ago

I just pre-ordered the m4 pro. upgrading from a late 2013 mbp with a battery that would probably void my home insurance if they found out. can't justify the constant upgrade when it doesn't make me money (work provide one). very excited about the new one though