I’m the sort of one that desires to get their arms on the most recent tech; up to now, I’ve upgraded from completely good units to have the most recent gadget even once I didn’t want it. However just lately, I haven’t felt the identical approach about my Mac, though it’s turning into a half-decade previous this 12 months.
It’s held up so properly that I’m nonetheless pleased utilizing it daily. That bought me occupied with what makes it so particular that I’m prepared to keep it up till its final breath. In actual fact, Macs have improved a lot since Apple Silicon (together with the superb MacBook Professional M4) that they’ve develop into my go-to advice for most individuals.
The M1 MacBook Air is probably the most dependable laptop computer I’ve ever used
A far cry from how Intel Macs was
I bought the bottom M1 MacBook Air with 8GB of unified reminiscence and 256GB of storage all the best way again in 2020, so it’s been nearly 5 years since I purchased it. It’s simply the perfect piece of tech I’ve ever bought. This single laptop computer bought me by highschool and faculty and not using a single hitch, and even after graduating, it nonetheless works simply in addition to day one.
I’ve used it closely just about each single day, and I can say with full confidence that I’ve by no means used one other laptop computer this strong. I’ve used it for the whole lot: making apps, modifying gentle movies, writing articles, and even slightly little bit of gaming. Its efficiency nonetheless holds up throughout all these duties; I see no purpose to improve anytime quickly.
Even the smaller points, just like the keyboard, trackpad, and audio system, are nonetheless nice. After attempting a number of Home windows laptops in 2025, I haven’t come throughout something that feels fairly pretty much as good.
Picture by Raghav Sethi
Raghav Sethi/MakeUseOf
The laptop computer has been so dependable for me that Apple might need by accident created an issue (for itself) by making a machine this good. I’m nonetheless completely glad with my present Mac, and I don’t really feel the necessity to improve. Even as we speak, you may get M1 MacBook Air for $599 at Walmart, which remains to be in some way among the finest laptop computer offers out there.
Certain, the newer MacBook Air has a quicker processor and a more recent design. However even after 5 years, it hasn’t been sufficient to persuade me to vary my Mac.
What I’m doing to increase its lifespan
Benefiting from what I’ve bought
Raghav Sethi/MakeUseOf
That mentioned, it’s clearly not sensible to maintain the identical laptop computer working for therefore lengthy with out making some tweaks or adjusting your workflow. As I discussed earlier, I solely have 8GB of unified reminiscence, which was loads just a few years in the past however has clearly began exhibiting its age. My main browser was Arc, however over time, it’s develop into virtually unusable, even after opening only a handful of tabs.
To be honest, that is extra of an Arc subject because it’s not actively developed and may benefit from higher optimization. Nonetheless, I’ve needed to swap my default browser to Safari, which performs significantly better on this machine. That solved a part of the issue.
I’ve additionally seen that utilizing Apple’s personal apps helps preserve the system working easily. For instance, I’ve changed Spotify with Apple Music and switched to Apple’s Mail app as a result of they haven’t been as a lot of a reminiscence hog in my expertise. These small adjustments assist preserve my machine extra responsive.
After all, it is a compromise; I’ve needed to shuffle round my workflow to maintain the laptop computer usable. However I’m prepared to pay that worth if it means I can follow this Mac for one more two or three years.
Jerome Thomas / MakeUseOf
Jerome Thomas / MakeUseOf
If there’s one piece of recommendation I’d give anybody shopping for a Mac as we speak, it’s to fastidiously select how a lot RAM you may needn’t simply now, however within the years forward too. Trendy Macs don’t allow you to improve the reminiscence later, which is certainly one of their unlucky design limitations. The identical goes for storage as properly.
And because the battery naturally degrades over time, I’ve been utilizing AlDente to cap the utmost cost at 80%. That approach, I nonetheless get by a whole day with out points, and I protect my battery well being for higher resale worth once I finally determine to promote it.
What would make me improve, and what I’d select
When it’s lastly time to maneuver on
Zarif Ali / MakeUseOf
The most important query is when the suitable time to improve shall be. For sure, I’ve determined that my subsequent gadget shall be a Mac once more. Coming from Home windows, it’s been a night-and-day distinction in reliability and general expertise.
Proper now, it is nonetheless shocking that the M1 is greater than sufficient for the work I do as we speak. I solely run into points sometimes, like once I preserve too many tabs and apps open. If I had gone with a 16GB mannequin as a substitute of 8GB, I believe I might have stretched it even additional and delayed the necessity to improve.
That mentioned, I do know these issues will enhance with time. Apps will develop into extra demanding, I’ll preserve working out of reminiscence extra usually, and finally, software program updates will cease altogether. When that begins taking place usually (in all probability in one other two or three years), I’ll severely begin occupied with making the swap.
This time round, I believe I’ll go together with a base MacBook Professional. I don’t actually need a considerably higher chip for my work, however the significantly better display screen, longer battery life, and further ports will certainly be price it. In response to Bloomberg, the M6 MacBook Professional collection can even reportedly transfer to an OLED show with a thinner design. That seems like the proper timeline for me to improve, whereas ensuring I get probably the most out of my present Mac earlier than making the leap.
An even bigger worth for longer use
Macs do include the next price ticket, however they’re constructed to final. With correct care, you’ll be able to anticipate a MacBook to remain in nice situation, and when it’s time to improve, it holds its resale worth surprisingly properly. For instance, my Mac, which is nearly 5 years previous, can nonetheless fetch between $350 and $450. While you think about how lengthy it lasts and the way properly it performs over time, a Mac finally ends up being the smarter funding.
