How many years do you use your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV or Mac before shutting it down for the last time and sending it to the big Apple Store in the sky?
While Apple products are typically far more solid and long-lasting than those made by rivals, the company offers a clue in a newly released document concerning Apple and its commitment to the environment.
In answer to the question, “How does Apple conduct its Product Greenhouse Gas Life Cycle Assessment?,” Apple notes that after years of study it assumes the lifespan of a OS X or tvOS device (i.e. an iMac, MacBook or Apple TV) is roughly four years, while an iOS or watchOS device (an iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch) is three years.
Of course, as anyone who still has a working Apple II or Newton MessagePad will know, Apple devices aren’t synonymous with built-in obsolescence. There’s no reason to believe people are replacing their Macs or iPhones every three or four years because they break.
It’s still an interesting stat, though.
It may not be all that promising for people who spent $17,000 on a top-end Apple Watch Edition, expecting it to be an heirloom passed down from generation to generation, but it comes closest we’re likely to get to a definitive answer to the question, “How long do Apple products last?”
How often do you upgrade your devices? Are you currently reading this on a first-gen iMac from 1998? Leave your comments below.
Via: The Register
Luke Dormehl is a U.K.-based journalist and author, with a background working in documentary film for Channel 4 and the BBC. He is the author of The Apple Revolution and The Formula: How Algorithms Solve All Our Problems … and Create More, both published by Penguin/Random House. His tech writing has also appeared in Wired, Fast Company, Techmeme and other publications.
84 responses to “Apple reveals how long its devices typically last”
in october 2015 I bought refurbished Late 2013 iMac and I hope its life span will be total 5-7 years so I hope to buy new one in 2018 – 2020. I had my last Windows PC from 2008 – 2015 with minor upgrades (SSD and new gfx).
Still using my 2012 15 inch Retina MacBook Pro, will be four years old in June. The longest I’ve ever kept a Mac, but it still runs like new with no signs of slowing down or any other problems. Tempted to upgrade this year if Apple releases something new and interesting but if not I’ll plod on for another year with my current machine.
Have the same machine, although I had quite some problems since day one and got two display and one motherboard replacement. Still fighting with occasional freezes and distorted graphics after sleep though. Other than that, I’m fine with it and plan on keeping it for a few more years.
Bought a late 2012 21.5″ iMac in early 2013 for my business. It’s used at least 15 hours a day and it’s still going as fast as it was when I bought it. No issues. No signs of slowing down. Love it.
I bought a Macbook Air in 2010..still running fine..though it lags a little, which i suspect is due to me upgrading my OS or storage issues..
We’re currently running 2 mid-2009 MacBook Pros, with only SSD and RAM upgrades. I’m not running any processor intensive software, but they both work just fine for email, web, etc.
I am posting this on a mid-2010 iMac that is working perfectly. The fact that it contains an internal Superdrive keeps me from updating to a more current machine. I don’t use disks that much but it is nice to have that capability built-in. Another capability I require is separate audio inputs and outputs, something else that is not available on current iMacs. The input I use for my XM-PCR and the output goes to my Logitec speaker system. Otherwise, this thing is working just as well as when I bought it.
My server at home, serving iTunes around the house and running flex server for a raspberry pi is a Mac Pro 1.1, 2006, doesn’t miss a beat, my current laptop is an early 2013 rMacBook Pro, no need to change that either, before then it was a first gen Core Duo MacBook Pro which I used for 7 years. Macs do tend to keep running for ages. It’s only when they can’t run the latest software that you NEED that an upgrade is necessary.
Using the 2009 Macbook Pro without a problem. Still running on original hardware and get a solid 5 hours battery backup. It is slower compared to my 2015 Macbook Pro but still works like a charm. Thinking of getting an SSD upgrade which would definitely enhance its life :)
Get one fast.My late 2008 Unibody MacBook flies after the SSD upgrade.OCZ Agility 3
Yes, definitely get an SSD. It will also help save battery life, since SSD don’t have a power-hungry disk inside of them. Upgrade the RAM too, while you’re at it.
I’ve got a 2007 (1st gen) Intel Mac Pro that I still use and dont expect to have to replace anytime soon. I’ve had this for 3 years and was gifted from a former colleague in post production so was used heavily prior to that.
New Drives etc when I rebuilt have been working well, SSD OS drive will be next to keep it running.
Have had to fudge slightly to get newer OS’ on though.
I’m typing this on my late-2010 MacBook Air. I can’t think of any compelling reason to retire it. I carried an iPhone 5S through a couple of cycles, and I’m still happy with my iPad Air. At a certain point the improvements are so slight there isn’t much reason to upgrade.
What’s your battery cycle counts on older models folks? Mine, early 2011, Macbook Pro: 951 cycles.
Mine: 13 inch retina macbook pro late 2013: 708 cycles
I am still using my MacBook Pro Late 2008 as my main computer and I’ve upgraded both SSD and RAM. It has started to freeze while connected to my 27″ Cinema Display while online but never when shooting tethered so there seems to be an issue. I’ve reinstalled the OS but the issue continues. Perhaps it’s time to replace.
most of my imacs/macbooks have lasted 4-5 years, hopefully now that I switched to SSDs it will last a little longer. phones, i trade in every year.
My MacBook Air is a 2011 model and is still great! Hope to upgrade this year but only for storage increase (retina will be a bonus).
My 2012 Mac Mini is still going strong and I hope I don’t need to replace it for another few years at least. It will continue to be a great server for a long time yet I’m sure.
I’m replacing original SuperDrive on my 2006 Mac Pro 1.1. I’ve replaced the original video card. I’ve cycled through at least 8 hard drives before switching to SSD (solid state disk
Well… My daily workhorse is still a Mac mini from Early 2009, with just memory and a SSD upgrade. For the matter of question, my first apple notebook, an iBook Clamshell from early 2001 still works the same way when it was daily used. Just the battery is dead.
I’m still using my late 2008 MBP, it has 8gb RAM and a 512gb SSD. If the batteries could last longer, that would be great.
Wife still using my old 2008 iMac maxed at 4gb, starting to get a bit slow. I have a 2013 iMac w/8gb, working just fine.
Sitting next to my 2006 Mac Book Pro is my 1981 Apple II Plus with 64k, Nec green phosphors monitor with dual 5 1/4″ floppy drives. It still works just like it did in 1981.
I still keep my Mac SE30 for nostalgic reasons. I developed my first C++ Mac application on that. It is still working, but without even an ethernet port it is a rather isolated piece of hardware! My second oldest Mac is a Mac Pro, one of the first with an Intel processor. I use that Mac almost everyday, mostly for music production, and it still works flawlessly! Plenty of memory and four internal harddrives makes it fast enough for advanced multitrack work. It can’t be upgraded to the latest OS, but runs the newest music software without any problems. A truely great computer which I hope will be working for many more years, especially given the price of the current generation of Mac Pro.
In my experience the lifespan is 3/4 years for an iPhone, 7/8 years for a MacBook Pro, 5/6 years for an iPad and 12 years for an iPod :)
Apple DID NOT say how long product lasts, just how long first owners keep them. Reports on line either distort this truth on purpose or through neglect.
Just bought a second hand 2011 macbook air 11 inch laptop and works pretty good. Doing my job in Xcode and battery is still holding nice (better than expected for that time). It’s way better than my 2012 Asus N55S laptop that doesn’t hold any juice in the battery for a year now, and keyboard doesn’t work for that time as well.
2010 iMac ( fall )….still going strong. A bit slowed down but i think I probably need to change the hard disk and remove the dust inside and it will go for another 3 years. (hopefully)
Join the SSD masterrace you won’t be disappointed.
My oldest iMac still in use is 10 years old. I’ve got an MB and an MBP from ’06 that still work aok and are easily serviceable with the right tools, they’re both maxed out with RAM and hold SATA SSDs. The only reason I just got a loaded MBA is that a 15-inch MBP is a lot to lug around. Other than that, the MBP works quickly. Under El Capitan even.
Still using my 2009 MBP that I upgraded to 8GB of RAM. It’s slow at times but still does everything I want including Adobe Creative Suite. Would like to add an SSD to get a little more life out of it. Also still making due with my iPad3. It’s getting slower and slower with every new iOS update
I’m in a similar situation, except that I’m still on IOS 7.5 on iPad 3 and 10.9.5 Mavericks (on a 2011 MBA w/ 4GB). I’m really happy I didn’t fall for the updates, they’re running pretty well. I only hate the shitty keyboard on IOS 7.5, but I know it’s going to be unbearably slow as soon as I upgrade it.
Still have everything from MacSE, Mac Pro G5, Mac Mini 2006, iTouch g3’s, MacPro 2012. I do get annoyed when the more expensive items are only given a short life span when they are still usable, while I understand there occasionally needs to be a line in sand drawn for support ability complexity reasons (PowerPC to Intel) on the most part it’s just to make money and your already paying a premium for the hardware.
Our son still uses my old 20″ iMac (late 2007) daily, for Minecraft, web & video consumption. Our daughter uses my original unibody 13″ Macbook (late 2008), as well. The only upgrades I have made through the years, is increasing RAM capacity, and changing to SSDs. The NEW iMac in our home, is the 27″ one that will be 5 YEARS OLD, next month. I’ve upgraded the RAM, but that is all. I’m going to celebrate its life, by upgrading it to SSD. Heck, my 1985 Mac was used for basic word processing, at my mother’s house, until 10-12 years ago. I LOVE the lifespan of the Macs!
Now, for the iOS devices… No comment…
I’m using a late 2012 model iMac which was new around August 2013 and it still runs like a new one. My last computer was a Windows PC which I ran for 8 years and I was constantly fixing it and trying to keep it running well. My iMac works perfectly with just normal housekeeping. I will not be going back to Windows in a hurry!
I’ve been using 2007 macbook. It’s ok but terribly slow and makes me shut down almost once a day. Of course, I want new but buying a new computer every 8 years is not easy for middle-class Nepali citizen who does not have a chance to be indulged in corruption/ politics. I’m happy and satisfied with what I earn and enjoy my life. This is what I have learned from Buddhism. :)
I still have a 2004 PB g4 12’ running, internet is becoming a problem but besides that it is still working
install tenfourfox.
I have a mid-2011 iMac that’s still going strong.
Apple LC -1990-2002 (gave it away), iMAC- 2001-2006 (Still works in displayed in my office) Powermac G5- 2006- 2010 (still works,in office display ) Macbook 2007-2012 (still works / Battery died) Mac mini 2011- ? (use as media device-tv) Ipad 2 2011- ? (still working use it for travel /internett/music /movies/ telephone) …….. Macbook pro 2012-on it now So i would say 7 years then Apple “distortion zone” and have to have another !! :-)
I still use my 2006 Macbook black everyday as media center, some browsing, and sometimes a little photoshopping I only had to replace the battery, and the screen (because i crashed it) but stills works as the first day. even for some photoshop.
I also have a 2012 macbook Pro with upgraded SSD and 16gb of RAM that i´m not planning on update any soon.
and for old iOS devices. i have an iphone 4S that is still usable (besides some lag), my mother still use her Original ipad (a bit laggy but good for her) , and my girlfriend has their iPad 2 with iOS 9 with no problem everyday.
i´m both apple and windows user, and i think that apple devices as the longer lifespan of the two worlds.
We’re running a 2006 Mac Pro and a 2003 iMac downstairs, a 2010 Mac Pro up here, my dad has an iBook I believe from 2004, my grandma has a 2001 iMac, my older sister has a 2008 MacBook Pro, and I’m writing this on a 2009 MacBook Pro. (We have so many because we run a computer business.) And me and my younger sister both have an iPhone 4. So the official obsolescence time might be 3-4 years, but they will last much longer if you take good care of them.
I’m still using my 27-inch mid-2010 iMac… I’ve upgraded the memory over the years, but other than that it’s still going strong! It’s definitely my go-to workhorse at home. Almost 6 years on now…
My 1st macbook bought in 2006 and I had it until 2012 – it still worked just didn’t have much memory and was slow loading the busy web pages. My 2nd macbook bought in 2012 and my son is now using it and it is going strong and My 3rd macbook bought in 2015 and is working very well – these are hardy machines and they last forever.
My first iMac was brought in 2007 my kids use it today its still going strong. I brought a mac book pro in 2009 for use on presentations i still use that today ind its doing fine . in 2012 i invested in a mac pro £5k because you just don’t have to replace apple stuff this computer will see me though 10 years thats value compared to other cheaper units. in that time I’ve also been though two iPhones and 3 apple TVs 2 iPads and yes i have a watch they all work still but you replace these things because of speck not because they break :)
Still running a mid-2010 MacBook Pro, maxed RAM and threw an SSD in which extended its useful life considerably, but the c2d is now showing its age. I’m expecting to replace it this year, but 6 years of solid service makes me happy
My iMac 21.5 Late 2009 still working with SSD upgrade.
Commenting from my 2008 24″ iMac. It’s going as strong as I need, 4gb.
I use a 2008 Mac Pro. Yes 2008. Upgraded the graphics card and it is still a gaming machine on bootcamp. BF4 on ultra.
I am still using a 2007 Mac Pro, running Lion. Works pretty well, however I am missing a lot of cool features and tight integration with iCloud, my iOS and TVOS devices
In Norway a product like a computer should last at least 5 years. This is by law. So apple has a little issue here if they really claim their products last roughly 4 years.
– Written on an early 2008 MacBook Pro 17″
Well..
I use my iPhone 3G as back up device..
It’s 7 years old now.. :)
iMac 27″ Mid 2011 (bought June 2011)
MacBook Pro 15″ Late 2013 (bought January 2014)
Without any problems. No signs of slowing down. That’s why I love these products.
Still using an early 2011 MBP. After maxing out the RAM and switching to a SSD a couple of years ago, this thing is still lightning fast. But as long as the next gen MBP has Skylake, I’ll finally be taking the big upgrade dive.
Getting a higher end MBP with discreet graphics and maxed ram definitely helps future proof it. My buddy with a base model 13″ MBP from only 2015 was just complaining yesterday about it not being able to run Diablo III, when my 5yr old beast can handle it as full res.
Macs are not only computer, it is timemachine and good design objects.
I STILL have a functional A1211 MacBook Pro 2.33 Core 2 Duo from 2005 that I is functional at home (that had RAM and hard drive upgrades over the years, my girlfriend’s kids mostly use it)! It’s not my primary computer though – that’s a 2014 Retina MacBook Pro Core i7 Quad core with 16 gigs of RAM and a 512GB SSD – that thing SCREAMS!!
Put an SSD in that Macbook Pro, it will be a lot faster.
Interesting you say that…I was going to try just that and see if I can gain a few more years of life out of it!
I am reading this on a 2008 Mac Pro dual quad core 2,8 processor machine, which is on 24/7 and is running 10.11.5 beta. When poops out I will replace with a 2009 model Mac Pro.
Even though my private Mac is a rMBP from 2014, at work I am still using my mid-2009 Mbp and it is still working fine, I did however have the battery replaced last year, but other than that it works fine.
I’ve had 4 macs since about 1993. This was an LC475 and then I switched over to an iMac (which lasted about 9 years). Strongly, when I brought home the iMac, I changed over all of my information to the new computer, then the LC475 completely crashed the next day. I never got it to work again.
The only reason I switched out of that one (green iMac) was because there was no more support. The machine still work well (however, it did show its age). I one calculated that the average lifespan of my computers was around 7 years.
My two macs are a late 2008 macbook pro and a 2009 mac pro. Both works perfectly well, upgraded to max and the mac pro has a fast and modern graphics card so it drives my two 1440p monitors without a sweat despite the cpu getting long in the tooth. No need to upgrade.
My powerbook 180c that I bought around1993 still boots up. I can run AppleWorks 5 and Microsoft Word 6.1a on it! That was my main computer until 1999. My next computer was an iMac DV special edition that I bought around 1999. That ran for 10 years solid, 3-4 years with me and 6 more years after I sold it to my cousin. My titanium powerbook G4, bought around 2002, was my main computer for 7 years, and was still working in 2009 when I upgraded to the first unibody Macbook (late 2008). I sold that MacBook to my brother in 2014 and he is still using it. I have a retina iMac 27 inch now, since late 2014. I’m hoping for 6-7 years out of it. Great durability, every Mac I have had. Oh, and I also have a Cube G4 from 2001 that I resurrected from an IT trash bin. That runs great also.
We have a 2009 iMac and it’s as good as ever, even though it’s chronically full. However, I’m reading this on my new iPad Mini 4 128 GB, and I intend for it to be the last device I ever buy. I may buy accessories, but never a new device, no matter how fast it is.
My iMac is 8 years and 2 months old and it’s still working well with the latest OS 10.11.4.
My iPad 2 will be 5 years old in June, but it’s become slow as frozen pee.
Must replace the iPad soon; might try a Samsung with Android.
Using a MacBook Pro 15″ Retina late 2013, still using my iPhone 4s which i bought in Dec 2011 and still using my iPad 2 which i bought in July 2011. So yes apple products are (very) reliable. Only the front facing cam on the iPhone is dead but I’m not taking selfies or do video calls so no prob for me. Will use those gadgets until they let me down…
Running a mid 2012 MacBook Air it’s 2016 and it’s still kicking ass
My 2007 iMac is still going strong. No need to replace at all yet.
My iMac (my first) is a late 2009, 27″, i7. The upgrades have been to memory – up to 12 gig. It works quite well be seems to be getting slow. Contemplating the addition of an SSD but not sure it would be cost effective.
I’m still using my Mid 2010. With few changes. New Batterai, Upgraded RAM and Additional SSD. Still running smooth and strong.
I am still rocking an April of 2011 CTO iMac and it still works as well as it did the first day i took it out of the box…….
Mid-2009 MacBook Pro and Mid-2011 iMac. Both run great.
There really isn’t an expiration date for any electronic device as long as it is cared for. I used an Apple //c from launch day almost 32 years ago until 2000 and I’ve got 2 original Macintosh systems from early 1984 and an “rare” Woz edition Apple IIgs still in use. Go figure, there have been more technological advances made for the IIgs than for the Macs.
Fast, shiny new gear is fun, the transfer process is not. Migration Assistant stinks, I do much transfering manually. I believe my current desktop machine, a 2012 iMac, is good for another 2 years; my previous G5 iMac had nothing wrong with it aside from a mild case of slowness & software incompatibility. Before that, I pushed a Cube to the max – 9 years! But my 2010 MBP is acting up and may be due soon.
Updates to the os should never hurt the device. That’s my beef with Apple, they update their computers and phones and basically kill it. They should allow older devices to only update to what is stable for that older hardware, except for security updates. Anything else is unethical imo.
I bought a late 2011 mbp in feb 2012.
on feb 2016 i replaced it with a new gen mbp although i keep the old one for storage and downloads.
it still would work for me if my job required lighter programs
I am still using daily—for 8 hours a day—my iMac 24″ Late 2006. Go figure.
Still using my iPad 2 from 2011. Still going strong, except for some games.
Was using my 2010 MacBook Air with a good 90% of the battery life and no issue except it got hot running video up until a few months ago, when it was stolen. Insurance paid for my 2015 MacBook Air so I’m not complaining. I’m sure someone’s using my old Air as we speak (couldn’t get it back, as insurance had paid out…)
Still using my Late 2010 24 inch iMac.
upgraded to a mid-2011 i5 iMac (from a 2006 white C2D iMac) a few months ago for $400 delivered, including all original accessories (wireless keyboard/mouse).
so for 1/3 the price of a new model I’ve got an iMac which will last me another 5 years.
if the hard drive starts dying I’ll just drop a SSD into a spare Firewire 800 external case.
I used my original 128k Mac for ten years, from 1984 to 1994. (I upgraded it to Fat Mac and then Mac Plus during that time.) I loved that machine too much to throw it away or recycle it; it’s still in my spare room, sitting on a shelf and (I hope) enjoying its retirement. After that first Mac, I had a 7100 for seven years, followed by a Digital Audio G4 for about as long. I’ve since had a succession of three iMacs — the Early 2008 24″, the Late 2009 27″ (my wife’s using that one now) and the one I use now, a Late 2013 27″. I’m also still using my Late 2008 13″ Black MacBook. Apple had me at “Hello.”
The only way i can get a new apple product like a iphone /ipad is to take a expensive deal at a phone company or power company my macmini 2009 is stil working the DVD broke to expensive to fix so i use cheap exernal my macbookpro 2009 is stil working but bought it sec hand in the future that is the only way i could ever affort a newer mac even refurbishd ones a way to expensive for me as a tech enthousiast i wil have to watch every site or sales for a wierd miracle to ever get my hand on stuff like that. macs are really nice but way to expensive to buy new
Still happily…well tbh not that happy as it showing its age…anyway I’m using a 2009 13″ MBP as the main home computer. I would like to upgrade as its painstakingly slow, just can’t be arsed to sell it right now as I know It’ll be worth peanuts now.
msn here in australia titled it “apple admits how long its devices are supposed to last”.