A MacBook Air is not a light purchase, so it is only natural to wonder, how long will this last me? On average, MacBooks should easily withstand the test of time. MacBooks should last 5-7 years with no issues, depending on usage.
My name is Ty, and I’ve worked in the tech industry for over two years and the at-home techy since middle school. I have experience with all kinds of hardware within this industry and know the ins and outs of them all.
Throughout this article, I will explain what makes a MacBook Air work and why it has a finite life span. There are a few ways to extend your MacBook Air’s life, which I will detail below.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- The lifespan of a MacBook Air is between 5 to 7 years.
- Depending on what type of user you are will help you better determine how long the device will last.
- Software and hardware future proofing will help you get the most time out of your MacBook Air.
MacBook Air Lifespan Depending on Usage
Your MacBook Air’s lifespan will vary depending on how you use it.
If you’re a heavy user who edits videos, music, streams video, or large documents for 8+ hours a day, then your MacBook Air will likely last 5-7 years.
On the other hand, your Macbook Air might last longer than seven years if you’re a light user– i.e., you browse the internet, check email, and only use it a few hours here and there.”
Extending the Life of Your MacBook Air
Besides being a light user, there are other ways to extend the life of your MacBook Air so you get the most bang for your buck.
To ensure your MacBook Air is running smoothly, check the state of your solid-state drive from time to time. To do this is simple, go to your apps, and check under “others.” There you will see something called Disk utility. Select First Aid and let it run.
First Aid will then find and repair any Disk Errors on your drive. An SSD can last between five to even ten years with proper care.
Keep your MacBook up to date. Making sure that you are running your device on the most recent operating system so that it can perform at its very best.
MacBook Air batteries are high-grade and built to last. Still, ensuring it has a decent battery level will help your overall battery health. Apple recommends keeping your battery from fully dying; make sure to keep it above at least 20%.
Each Macbook Air’s battery has a limited amount of cycle counts. The amount of cycle counts the battery has, depends on your MacBook Air model. These last about five years when treated nicely.
Don’t fret, though; a dead or dying battery is not the end for your MacBook Air. Apple provides a service where you can replace your battery, giving you more time to enjoy your laptop!
Future-Proofing on MacBook Air Purchase
What is future-proofing? Future-proofing is simply making sure your MacBook Air has the most advanced hardware on the market.
Since you can’t upgrade to a new MacBook Air after you buy it, you have to select the best version when you purchase it.
There are a few different MacBook Air options when you are checking out.
- Larger hard drives
- More Ram
- A faster CPU.
For example, if you save a lot of videos and photos, you might purchase the model with a 512GB or 1TB SSD.
If you are editing videos or researching large documents, maybe even making art, You should purchase a MacBook that comes with more RAM, the 16 or even 24 GB option.
The goal here is to purchase more than what you currently need so that in five to seven years, you still have plenty of wiggle room. Once you buy the MacBook Air, all its internals are set in stone. No upgrades and no takebacks. So choose wisely!
Vintage MacBook Airs
If all of your hardware is perfect, and you have kept them in tip-top condition, then there is only one more thing to fear as time passes.
As technology advances, some hardware gets left behind. After enough time passes, older hardware simply cannot keep up with the demands of newer macOS updates.
Apple calls outdated tech vintage. Once your device becomes an antique, Apple no longer supports it. Updates stop rolling out; applications might start running a bit slower.
This does not mean you have to upgrade right away. You may not even notice when your device becomes vintage if you are a light user.
Generally, Apple supports MacBook Airs with macOS updates for eight years.
Unless you are a heavy-use type of user, these out-of-date devices function reasonably normally, if you are a heavy user, once you notice some slowdowns and lack of updates. It is time to upgrade.
FAQs
Here are some other related questions you might want to know about.
How Does the Lifespan of a MacBook Air Compare to a Windows Laptop?
You may have heard that MacBooks last longer than Windows Laptops. This is nothing but a rumor. If you purchase a high-quality Windows laptop, you will get about the same mileage as a MacBook Air.
However, MacBook Airs tend to be more durable, which could help influence and elongate its life span past that of a Windows Laptop.
How Often Should a MacBook Air be Replaced?
This is case by case, but I recommend you replace your device after it no longer runs the way you would like it to. If performance begins to drop to a level you can no longer withstand, it is time to upgrade!
Final Thoughts
MacBook Airs have great longevity, and when used with care and caution, they can last you almost up to even a decade! Wear and tear is inevitable, but even with that, your MacBook should last you five to seven years with ease.
Make sure to future-proof when purchasing to get the most bang for your buck. You should be set with a fantastic piece of hardware for years and years to come, even after it stops being officially supported.
