4 telltale signs I know it’s time to upgrade my MacBook

Windows laptops can potentially last a long time if you choose the right brand and model, but often, the people who hold onto computers the longest are MacBook owners. True, that’s partly because Mac gaming isn’t much of a thing — but it’s also because Apple tends to build its computers tough, and deliver more than enough power for browsing, media, and productivity apps. My wife’s Intel MacBook is holding in there, and there may be no reason at all to upgrade if you own a model with an M-series processor. Editing 4K video on an M1 Max MacBook is a breeze — it’s just even faster on an M4 chip.

That hints at one reason to upgrade a MacBook, but there are other reasons it may be time to make the leap. Keep an eye out for these issues, remembering that, ultimately, it’s your choice — you shouldn’t feel pressured into spending cash if you need to make every last dollar count. Some Mac fans revel in their ability to keep machines going long past their expiry date.

1

Your hardware is officially vintage or obsolete

Not an immediate disaster, but still risky

Apple is relatively generous about hardware support, but it still maintains a few cutoff points, presumably to save money on parts and support teams. Five years after new sales end, a Mac becomes “vintage,” meaning it’s less likely you’ll find parts or repair services. Beyond the seven-year mark, a Mac becomes “obsolete” — at best you’ll be able to pay for a battery swap, and only as long as a compatible battery is sitting on a shelf somewhere. That last courtesy comes to a halt after a decade.

The gist is that once the vintage threshold is crossed, you may not be able to get your Mac fixed quickly enough if you need a rapid turnaround for work or school. With an obsolete device, a breakdown will probably leave it dead in the water, unless you’re lucky enough to track down the parts and tools to fix it yourself. That could become a crisis if your Mac has mission-critical apps and files that aren’t available elsewhere. For safety’s sake, it’s best to migrate to a new MacBook while your old one is still supported on some level.

2

You can’t install the latest macOS release

You shall not pass

Apple also maintains cutoff points for software, though these aren’t set in stone — it’s as much a matter of feature compatibility as it is a willingness to hire support staff. The older a Mac is, the more likely it is to have problems handling newer technology. Some features can be disabled on older systems, but eventually, backwards compatibility becomes a liability in advancing the platform. It’s why Apple is winding down compatibility with Intel processors.

A Mac unable to run the latest version of macOS isn’t automatically in trouble, mind. If the apps you need continue to function, you may be golden. But you could begin to miss out on bug fixes, and eventually, app developers will start requiring newer versions of macOS as a baseline. You should definitely be looking at an upgrade if Apple halts security patches, which are delivered separately from general OS updates.

3

Your Mac doesn’t meet an app’s minimum requirements

Shoot for recommended specs

CD Projekt RED

Every app has a minimum set of hardware and software specifications it’s designed for, including RAM, storage, your OS version, and above all, CPU and GPU (graphics) performance. A Mac that falls below minimum specs is going to run an app extremely poorly, assuming it launches in the first place. If there’s a particular game or productivity tool you want access to, check its requirements on the Mac App Store or a developer’s website.

Speaking of which, some developers maintain additional “recommended” specs. These ensure the smoothest possible experience, rather than one that’s barely functional. When upgrading a MacBook, it’s best to match or exceed the recommended specs for any apps you expect to use, since performance that’s acceptable today may be inadequate for future releases, especially games with photo-realistic graphics. We’re already at a stage where games like Cyberpunk 2077 are more detailed than early Pixar movies.

4

You’re running into costly or frustrating hardware issues

Butterfly keyboards be gone

Some damage is so catastrophic that, unless it’s covered by AppleCare, the cost of repairs can put you most of the way towards a replacement, or at least exceed your Mac’s resale value. I’m mostly thinking of displays and logic boards — out of warranty, a smashed MacBook screen will cost you several hundred dollars to replace, possibly in excess of $900. As for logic boards, I don’t even want to think about what Apple would charge to swap out the board on a Max-level MacBook Pro. Always ask for a quote before agreeing to get your computer fixed.

Other issues may not be catastrophic, but still too costly to justify repairs. My wife’s MacBook, for instance, has a faulty keyboard. Long-form typing is an irritating experience, since keys often fail to register properly. She could pay to get the keyboard fixed — but her machine is at least “vintage,” so the cost of repairs would probably be better spent on a new or refurbished laptop. There’s no sense replacing the engine in a Dodge Neon when even a used Honda Civic would be a major leap forward.