When To Replace Macbook
If your MacBook is more than four years old, it is probably time for an upgrade. If your MacBook is starting to feel sluggish or is having hardware problems, it is probably time for a replacement. If it is still working well then there is no need to replace it.
Replacement of your Apple batteries depends on a little bit of which model you are using. One telltale sign it is time to swap out the battery in a MacBook is when the battery is no longer holding a charge. If the MacBooks battery is not charging anymore, or if Apple turns it off instantly when you turn the power off, then your battery is probably ready for replacement.
You should disconnect the laptop and leave it running on battery power from time to time. The last thing you want is to have to plug in your charging cable each time you boot your Apple up, because your battery is no longer holding its charge.
Meanwhile, hardware such as batteries found in MacBooks ultimately have to be replaced. If you have an older machine, you can probably improve upon these issues, or alleviate them a bit, by adding more RAM to the MacBook, swapping out an HDD for an SSD, or replacing your batteries. The older your Mac is, the less likely it is that you are going to get broken hardware replaced, making repairs expensive and a new laptop more attractive. It can be difficult to fix your Mac after 5 years, as Apple might not even have any parts available that are outdated, and sometimes, the cost simply is not worth the hassle.
We would say between five to eight years, but keep in mind you likely cannot replace every defective part on a Mac once more than five years has passed since Apple last sold it. That means the typical Mac will be around for eight years in terms of hardware. Just from operating system updates, you see a typical Mac will last eight to 11 years, depending on model. Even after your machine has passed the 8-year mark, you still get occasional bug fixes and other updates from Apple.
Based on OS support, the cutoff is eight to 10 years–after that, Apple will no longer maintain the software, and that is probably the best time to replace your Mac. The good news is Apple usually supports their computers for years, through software updates. If your computer is older than eight years, being unable to receive the latest software updates could cause potential problems.
If your machine cannot upgrade to the latest version, that is a sign you should have your machine replaced. A good indication that your computer might need replacement is that it cannot run the latest updates.
Your device is probably considered outdated, and although you will still be able to use it just the same, you will not be getting any new features, and you might experience performance issues. If your Mac is no longer capable of being updated, cannot run apps that you need to run, or is considered outdated by Apple, it is likely time to buy a new one. Once you reach a point where everything you need on the computer is still running low, you need to think about replacing your Mac. Unfortunately, at some point, fixing your Mac or MacBook is not going to be a viable option anymore, and you are going to have to find a replacement.
If you are not ready to give up on your Mac just yet, service may be an option until you decide that the time is right to get a replacement. Maybe you are ready to upgrade your MacBook, but can live with any issues it has, and you do not have to purchase one immediately. If problems with your Mac are already impacting your productivity, consider replacing it with a newer model that works far better and has no hardware damage.
If considering this route, determine if your MacBook is still covered by a warranty (one year after you purchased it) or AppleCare Protection Plan, if you purchased one, at which point you can decide whether replacing the MacBooks battery makes more sense, or replacing the MacBook altogether.
If you purchased AppleCare and Apple is still covered, you can probably get a replacement battery within the warranty. If you do need a battery replacement on your Macbook Pro down the line, you are probably going to have to go through Apples official service providers, rather than some guy on the street doing it for a lot cheaper. According to Apples own support, repairing an old battery can cost you more money than buying one to swap out your new Macbook. Apple says that at some time a battery replacement part is coming for MacBook Pros, potentially making it easy to do a replacement, though details are still scarce.
The batteries in MacBooks, be they the MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, can be replaced with new models, allowing them to last for years longer. The battery life in the MacBook Pro is going to get shorter from year to year, but it is possible that it lasts for eight hours the first year, a couple hours less than what Apple is advertising. One of the reasons that charging is a few hours shorter than what is advertised is because Apple is advertising a battery life based on a Macbook Pro likely using Safari Browser (probably without any other apps). It is common for MacBook Air users to get 12 hours from a single charge, and MacBook Pro users should be getting several hours, even when the Apple MacBook is several years old.
MacBooks might not have as long of life as Apples experts say, but Mac computers really last longer than PCs. If you are on a tight budget, replacing the batteries would allow the Mac to go significantly longer…especially if you are currently experiencing a non-developing problem model with the device. If you are a light user, and you are Mac does not experience any other major issues, then replacing the battery is an excellent option for holding up for 7-9 years. Your batteries may not hold up to the demand after 4 – 5 years, but Apple has made it hard to get batteries replaced at 3rd-party stores.
You can keep using the battery until it is time for it to be replaced, and you will not damage the computer. If you are taking good care of your battery and watching for these signs, you will be better equipped to handle replacing the battery should the need arise. If you need a MacBook battery replacement, Apple suggests that you bring or mail in your MacBook to an Apple Store or authorized service provider for maintenance or replacement of the battery. If you are approaching the 1000-cycle mark, you may consider Apples battery replacement.
If you own a Mac you are capable of upgrading to the current macOS release, then you can count on the software updates being available for three more years.
Is it worth replacing the Mac battery?
Apple produces dependable devices, but because of current battery technology, most cells only last a few years before significantly losing capacity, especially under heavy use. An outdated MacBook can be given new life by installing a new battery. 3-5 days may be needed for service. Locate a service provider that is Apple authorized. Schedule a time to visit an Apple Retail Store.
What is the average lifespan of a MacBook?
Every ten years or so, if you utilize it for email and online surfing, you must update it. Every six years or so, if you only utilize it for word processing and other simple chores, you might update. You should replace it around every two years if you utilize it for work, business, or intense applications (gaming, video editing, etc.).