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How often do you upgrade your MacBook Pro?
- Thread starter CoffeeMacBook
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It really depends...
My personal laptop purchases (doesn't include various Mac laptops work bought me over the years). I know I had a 520c and a 5300c in there.
9” Powerbook 100 1991/92
11.3” Powerbook 1400c 1996
10.4” PowerBook 2400c 1998
12” iBook G4 2003
13” Macbook 2006
13” MBP 2010
13” MBP 2012
13” MBP 2015 (Originally bought 15" but found it to big and returned/exchanged).
13” MBP Intel 2020
13” MBA M1 2020
I would have jumped on the 14" MBP a year ago, but my needs have changed and no longer need that power/memory etc. (I used to virtualize various windows and linux distros) and want a lighter package. That is actually why I jumped on the M1 MBA which absolutely blew away my 2020 13" Intel MBP for everything non RAM intensive anyway.
My personal laptop purchases (doesn't include various Mac laptops work bought me over the years). I know I had a 520c and a 5300c in there.
9” Powerbook 100 1991/92
11.3” Powerbook 1400c 1996
10.4” PowerBook 2400c 1998
12” iBook G4 2003
13” Macbook 2006
13” MBP 2010
13” MBP 2012
13” MBP 2015 (Originally bought 15" but found it to big and returned/exchanged).
13” MBP Intel 2020
13” MBA M1 2020
I would have jumped on the 14" MBP a year ago, but my needs have changed and no longer need that power/memory etc. (I used to virtualize various windows and linux distros) and want a lighter package. That is actually why I jumped on the M1 MBA which absolutely blew away my 2020 13" Intel MBP for everything non RAM intensive anyway.
Just curious about the first option, since several new models within a year are very rare.
Every 5 years or so. Now still going strong on a 15,4" MBP late 2016. Now looking to buy the new 16" MBP. Can't wait!
2001 – 13'' White iBook G3... – 6 years
2007 – 13'' Unibody Core2D.. – 6 years
2013 – 15'' MBP i7 ...............– 8 years
2021 – 16'' M1 Max 64GB hoping again for 8 years
2007 – 13'' Unibody Core2D.. – 6 years
2013 – 15'' MBP i7 ...............– 8 years
2021 – 16'' M1 Max 64GB hoping again for 8 years
Haven't bought a new MBP since my mid 2012, and just upgraded to a M1 Max...would have happened sooner if not for the "free" (ie 200 dollar battery upgrade) 2017 MBP I received. I was one of the lucky ones that got a whole new laptop due to the top case being backordered.
I upgrade because of must have features.
At the moment everything I have works so upgrading to a mini-led iMac or laptop just doesn't excite me enough to warrant switching.
OLED showing up will cause me to upgrade my gear in a heartbeat.
I'm just hoping that the rumors of OLED arriving in 2022 pan out.
At the moment everything I have works so upgrading to a mini-led iMac or laptop just doesn't excite me enough to warrant switching.
OLED showing up will cause me to upgrade my gear in a heartbeat.
I'm just hoping that the rumors of OLED arriving in 2022 pan out.
My last one was a 2011. I bought a few MacBook Airs in the interim waiting for MagSafe to return and the touch bar to disappear. I’m very happy with the 14 inch MBP and M1 chip, so I’m happy I waited.
Past few years I've gone from 15" to a 11" MacBook to a 16" MBP then to last years (superb) 13" M1 Pro and now have the 13" MBP. Would love to say I'm keeping this for the next 4 years but alas, I am weak and it'll be surprising to me if I don't upgrade again in a couple of years....
MacBook 13" (Late 2009)
MacBook Pro 13" (Early 2015)
MacBook M1 Pro 16" (2021)
So 5-6 years, but I ALMOST bought last year's MacBook Air, glad I waited for the M1 Pros.
MacBook Pro 13" (Early 2015)
MacBook M1 Pro 16" (2021)
So 5-6 years, but I ALMOST bought last year's MacBook Air, glad I waited for the M1 Pros.
iPhone every year
AppleWatch every three years
MBP every five years (except this year...I did buy the 2019 MBP...but had to trade it in on the M1 Max...damn you Apple!)
AppleWatch every three years
MBP every five years (except this year...I did buy the 2019 MBP...but had to trade it in on the M1 Max...damn you Apple!)
I'm sure everyone's situation is different. In our household, the wife and I get new iPhones and pass our latest gen models down to our college age kids. We take their phones to use as trade-ins on the new ones. Trade-in value stays high using this technique and we all have similar tech to enjoy amongst our immediate family.
So much of our lives are on phones these days (banking, GPS, communication, etc.) that we justify a requirement to have the newest iPhones, as well as being covered under AppleCare for everyone. All in, I'm out about $1,500 per year to maintain a 4 iPhone family! That works out to be about $375 per person/per phone/per year. A worthy outlay of dollars in my opinion.
So much of our lives are on phones these days (banking, GPS, communication, etc.) that we justify a requirement to have the newest iPhones, as well as being covered under AppleCare for everyone. All in, I'm out about $1,500 per year to maintain a 4 iPhone family! That works out to be about $375 per person/per phone/per year. A worthy outlay of dollars in my opinion.
I got a MacBook because of long they last. I started with a used MacBook and now have a 2017 I bought new….will upgrade when it dies.
You basically rent them now unless you plan on keeping longer than 2 years when your payment plan ends. Yeah I could buy in full up front but the payment plans are $0 interest so why do that? Also guaranteed to get half the value of your phone after 1 year of payments so why not? Also battery life on a 2 year old phone not as good, let alone a 3 year old phone.
I used to be on that mindset -- 3GS, 4, 4S, 5, 5S, 6, 6S. But then I held off and went to the X and now 12 Pro Max.
I can't see anything in the near future that would get me to upgrade to a new iPhone. Same with the iPad. I only have the 2020 11" iPad Pro because my 2018 model fell out of my bag and even with the Apple Keyboard folio (original keyboard cover), the screen shattered. It was either $500 for a screen replacement (and wait 2 weeks to get it fixed) or $900 for a new iPad. I chose the new model due to urgency of needing the replacement.
Usually every 4 years with the exception of this year. I had a 2019 16in Pro and purchased a 2021 16in Pro out of curiosity more than necessity.
I want to upgrade every 4 years, but because I am always on MacRumors I tend to hold off for another year or two because of the goodness that is promised "Next Year". But this time it is right on the 4 year cycle because these new MBPs really seem great and I want to ditch my wind tunnel Core i9.
2005 iBook G4- school provided so not really mine but still used
2008 MacBook unibody 2ghz c2d- new design
2011 MacBook Pro 13" 2.7 i7- added Core processors to 13" and Thunderbolt
2016 MacBook Pro 13" 3.3 i7- new design, bought refurbished from Apple (highly recommend)
Soon 2021 14" MacBook Pro M1 Max- new design and fed up with 2016 battery issues
So for me I would say every 4ish years or when there has been a major change or feature added. When I get a new machine I also will usually max out the CPU/GPU/RAM just for future proofing and increased resell value.
2008 MacBook unibody 2ghz c2d- new design
2011 MacBook Pro 13" 2.7 i7- added Core processors to 13" and Thunderbolt
2016 MacBook Pro 13" 3.3 i7- new design, bought refurbished from Apple (highly recommend)
Soon 2021 14" MacBook Pro M1 Max- new design and fed up with 2016 battery issues
So for me I would say every 4ish years or when there has been a major change or feature added. When I get a new machine I also will usually max out the CPU/GPU/RAM just for future proofing and increased resell value.