You have saved up some money and are looking to cash in on a new laptop, the MacBook Air. Or you already own one of those and are enjoying the breathtaking performance it offers.
Whatever the case, chances are you are skeptical about the longevity of these sleek and efficient machines.
So how long do MacBook Airs last? After all, these laptops are not cheap by any means. Is the MacBook Air bang for the buck? Can it go the distance as expected? The question may be endless.
Grab a cup of coffee and dive in cause we have got all the answers.
Average Lifespan Of A MacBook Air
Well, there is no fast and simple answer regarding the lifespan of your MacBook Air. Apple laptops are known to have a productive lifespan of three to five years. There are lots of factors that have to be taken into considerations. Besides, the specific model you choose to buy can also affect the performance of the MacBook in the long run.
All things said, if taken care of, your MacBook Air can offer you satisfactory performance for up to 3 years. Besides that, you can squeeze out a good performance to get your job done for another 2 to 3 years. Thus you can get a total of about 5 to 6 years of service depending on the usage.
Pre Conditions To Make Macbook Airs Last Longer
Now here are some interesting facts for you. The performance of your MacBook Air depends a lot on your purchase. You have the option to purchase the base model and make some savings, or you can crank up the specs a bit.
The rule of thumb while purchasing a laptop is always to utilize the max budget you can afford. This ensures you more RAM, better Chipset, and storage. It’s these upgrades that will offer you a buttery smooth performance in the long run.
Factors Affecting The Longevity Of Macbook Air
Like said before, you can squeeze out around 5 to 7 years of performance from your MacBook Air. Buts that’s not as easy as it seems and is not the same for all users. Below are a few of the crucial factors that determine whether your MacBook will go the distance or not.
Usage Purpose
The most important factor that you have to keep in mind is the applications running on your laptop. Your MacBook Air is capable of running both CPU and GPU-intensive tasks as well as simple tasks such as browsing.
If you use the device for graphics designing, video editing, gaming, and rendering, you are likely to put more stress on the system. On the other hand, a casual user might use the laptop just to run word, PowerPoint, or excel applications and for some occasional browsing.
For the latter case, the stress put on the system is much less compared to the heavy users. Thus by restricting yourself to light applications only, you can have your MacBook Air run smoothly for over seven years. But there isn’t a lot to worry about as you still get 3 to 4 years of service by running system-intensive tasks.
Hours Used Per Day
This is similar to the type of usage your machine will be going through. A heavy user sits in front of the laptop for more than 4 hours a day. Thus the system has to deal with more work per day.
Running the CPU, GPU, and RAM to its limits every day for extended hours makes you more likely to face malfunctions within three years. Similarly, with less than a couple of hours of usage every day, you can have the internals of your MacBook in good shape for years.
Heat Management
Heat Management is another crucial factor about laptops that you might have skipped. The MacBook Air, despite being thin, has an efficient way to cool down its components and keep them in pristine condition.
But everything has its limits, and so does the cooling system. You cant do intensive work for hours and expect the device to manage heat flawlessly. Any issues regarding uncontrolled heat can massively damage the system. This sort of damages may cost you up to half the price of the laptop.
So what can you do to ensure proper heat management for the MacBook Air? A few of the effective ways include using an additional laptop cooler underneath the device. Or you can simply use a laptop holder to lift your laptop to a higher state. This ensures cooler airflow into the device and keeps it running efficiently.
Stress Put On The Battery
The battery is most probably the component that gives up first in terms of a laptop. Your MacBook Air is no exception. Though you could expect a lifespan of three to four years or more from the device, getting there will take some work.
Care has to be taken care of the battery right from day one. All batteries come with limited recharge cycles, after which they lose their functionality. Thus it’s a good practice not to let your battery drain out completely.
If you are working on your desk, it’s better to have the MacBook connected to the power source. Also, you can try to maintain a power level of 60% to 80% whenever you use the battery. Thus you can expect your battery to go the distance and offer you the much-needed juice when needed.
Care Taken During Day To Day Usage
What makes MacBooks different at first glance are the looks. Thus it’s vital to take good care of the case and external parts of the laptop to keep that shine for years. Besides, minor physical damage now and then may lead to major malfunction down the line.
One of the ways to maintain the shiny look is to use a suitable bag to keep the device inside. By doing such, you will be able to keep the case protected from accidental scratches and drops.
Taking care of your laptop also includes keeping the exterior clean and protecting it from water spills, and so on. The looks alone are a metrics to measure who much love you have put in while using the device. All this will pay up in the long run as you will have the aesthetics of MacBook Air even after years of usage. Besides, You can always knock apple service provider for any assistance. They are known for their great service.
When To Have My MacBook Air Replaced?
There is an end to everything, so there may come a time when you might have to let go of your MacBook Air too. Below are some conditions under which owing your old MacBook Air might be more of a loss than again.
Decrease In Performance
If you are not satisfied with the performance of your MacBook Air, there is no benefit in keeping it. These usually occur after 5 to 6 years of usage when the CPU and GPU can no longer operate as before.
Thus you will begin to see frequent stutters here and there, which can start getting annoying. Besides, if you are someone who uses the device as a professional tool, it’s vital to get the most performance it promises.
Under these circumstances, you may start looking for newer Macbook models with updated specs and blazing fast speed. Yes, they may cost a bit more than your current MacBook air, but the performance is worth the price at the end of the day.
Not Receiving Updates
One of the crucial reasons for you to switch to an updated model might be the OS. As you know, MacBook Air models before 2012 won’t be receiving the latest macOS such as Catalina.
A backdated OS is more prone to malware, viruses, and a laggy interface. All these will affect the overall user experience. Besides, you might also face issues while running certain applications. If you are facing any of these, it might be a good time to hit the store for a newer model.
Massive Repair Cost
This is no surprise that MacBooks repair cost is pretty high compared to traditional laptops. You may end up spending more than the actual cost of maintaining an old model for more than seven years.
One of the first issues you will face with the device might be the battery. The battery might be dead, or you may experience a decrease in battery life. Though the battery replacement alone won’t cost you a lot, you might find other issues coming out of the bush as well. This may include faulty keys or display problems that may break your bank.
Thus it’s a wise decision to get rid of an old MacBook Air model rather than spending big to keep it alive. You also need to keep in mind that no matter how much you spend, your old laptop will always lag behind the latest technology the newer ones offer.
Dull Looks
A MacBook Air is easily recognizable due to its fashionable looks. The sleek and thin exterior please everyone at first glance. Thus it will be a shame to bring out a MacBook that has lost its shine and has scratches all over.
For many, the old exterior alone is a deal-breaker. If you use the laptop for office purposes and have to place it before an audience during a presentation, looks can be vital. Thus you might fancy a new model for that new and refreshed look.
For any of the above reasons, one may decide to get a new mac. But you can always contact Apple supports in case of minor issues. But remember that Apple has a policy of not providing spare parts for obsolete Macs. Obsolete Macs are those macs which are sold more than seven years ago. Apple support has a list of obsolete apple devices on its website, which includes its earlier products from Mac mini models, Mac Pro Models, Macbook Pro Models, iMac models, etc.
FAQs
1. Should I get a new MacBook Air battery or upgrade to a new laptop?
Answer: Unless you have an old model, it’s not necessary to replace your Macbook Air only due to decreased battery performance. In case you need to buy a new one, dispose of the old battery in eco-friendly ways.
2. Do MacBook airs break easily?
Answer: Though MacBook Airs are claimed to be durable, you should use them with care.
3. Are older MacBooks still good?
Answer: Obviously, an older MacBook won’t perform as newer ones, but the performance remains praiseworthy.
4. What can I do with my old MacBook Air?
Answer: You can have your old MacBook Air laptop recycled through Apple’s recycling program.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of today’s discussion. To be honest, the question shouldn’t be about how long do MacBook Airs last but rather how you can make it last. That’s because it is up to your care and your usage pattern that will decide the longevity of these amazing machines.
All said, an average of 4 to 6 years of service is enough for most users. After all, you don’t want to be stuck with age-old specs where the technology upgrades now and then. It’s all about balancing the cost to performance ratio that will offer you the most satisfying user experience. In fact, from Apple watch to laptop, most Apple products have a good active product life. They can be integrated with each other easily. You can learn more about it by reading about Apple Ecosystem.