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Average Apple Device Lifespan Estimated at Just Over Four Years by Analyst
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I’m experiencing the same. My 2009 ssd iMac runs sweetly, but my brand new 1000$ iPhone X already cannot hold it’s charge for a day!!!!!! My iPad? Don’t even ask, it can hardly run Spotify, and it’s much newer than my iMac. My iPhone 6 runs like a veeery old tractor (but it was so fast and smooth when I got it!?). iOS devices must be replaced every 2. Year. I’m very frustrated by them.
Where do all of these new, but obsolete devices end up.
My PowerMac 7100 was purchased in 1996 and is still going strong at 22 years old. It was displaced as my primary machine by my "WallStreet" PowerBook G3 in 1999 which is also still running impressively well at 19 years old. When it was time to upgrade, I began buying them in pairs (so if I had to put the primary in the shop, I'd just transfer the HD to its clone machine) and both of the PowerBook 17" G4s I bought in 2006 still work and are still in active use at 12 years old. The next machines I purchased were a pair of MacBook Pro 17" i7's I acquired in 2012 and I'm typing on the primary one now, insofar as it is still my latest & greatest; it (and its twin) are a mere 6 years old.
If I had not sold my used Macintosh SE to a friend in 1997 when the Applied Engineering TransWarp '030 accelerator fried out, it would probably still be in action too; I replaced it for nostalgia reasons and the replica, a 1986-vintage computer I snagged from eBay, obligingly boots System 6.0.8 about 32 years after it was produced.
If I had not sold my used Macintosh SE to a friend in 1997 when the Applied Engineering TransWarp '030 accelerator fried out, it would probably still be in action too; I replaced it for nostalgia reasons and the replica, a 1986-vintage computer I snagged from eBay, obligingly boots System 6.0.8 about 32 years after it was produced.
I am still using my 2007 MacBook Pro 17" to this day. Maxed out the Ram a few years ago. Put in a SSD hard drive and replaced the battery twice so far but it still works fine for web browsing and other lighter tasks. Looking to upgrade in the next year or so but waiting to see what the next refresh cycle brings. I really wish they still made 17" machines. I have all of my Mac products I have bought over the years and luckily all still work. 2002 iMac 17", 2002 iPod nano, 2007 MacBook Pro 17", 2009 iPhone 3GS,2013 iPhone 5s ; all still in working condition. Hoping my luck continues with whatever I get next!
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This really doesn’t apply to macs, especially the higher-spec ones. Sure after 3-4 years they will not perform the same tasks as well as a new machine but they will be far from useless. As said before, one can just install a Linux distro or even Windows and keep on going.
That said I stay away from underpowered products like the regular MacBooks and MacBook airs. While they’re popular, they’re just so much more limited compared to MacBook pros and iMacs that. My friend’s 2015 MacBook Air couldn’t handle streaming a 1080p film over airplay which his iPad Pro 10.5 could handle with no stuttering. That’s pathetic for a product that is by no means cheap.
That said I stay away from underpowered products like the regular MacBooks and MacBook airs. While they’re popular, they’re just so much more limited compared to MacBook pros and iMacs that. My friend’s 2015 MacBook Air couldn’t handle streaming a 1080p film over airplay which his iPad Pro 10.5 could handle with no stuttering. That’s pathetic for a product that is by no means cheap.
Let me just say my Mac Pro is 2011 and still rocks and very fast after internal upgrades.
My ACDs are 12 year old and doing great.
I currently have and 6 year old iPad that works but slow. Same with old iPhones, etc. They work fine but they are slow. I use them to play music only connect to my speakers.
Apple products for the most part last quite awhile. That's why I don't bother so much paying the premium price because in the long run I'll save money.
I have had many Macs in the past and they for sure lasted longer than 4 years. I usually sell my computers before the 3 year AppleCare expires but for the ones I kept longer I have no regrets.
Sorry to say this analyst is full of BS.
My ACDs are 12 year old and doing great.
I currently have and 6 year old iPad that works but slow. Same with old iPhones, etc. They work fine but they are slow. I use them to play music only connect to my speakers.
Apple products for the most part last quite awhile. That's why I don't bother so much paying the premium price because in the long run I'll save money.
I have had many Macs in the past and they for sure lasted longer than 4 years. I usually sell my computers before the 3 year AppleCare expires but for the ones I kept longer I have no regrets.
Sorry to say this analyst is full of BS.
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This is an average of all Apple products. Theses regular iPhone upgrades will be bringing those awesome Mac years way down. Especially considering they sell more iPhones as well.
I currently have a 2011 MBP and a 2013 iMac al working great.
Likewise. I wonder if there is even any consideration to bringing back to 17" MBP? I do think there is a good market for it, but maybe not enough to make it profitable. The shop where I had mine upgraded said that they had quite a few that they still kept going, primarily by professionals who needed some portability e.g., attorneys, but who could also use them in lieu of a desktop with the bigger screen.
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No personal pride involved. It is more a testament to the quality of the product in comparison to other brands that these devices are still functioning, albeit with a few upgrades in some cases. Also, if a product is still functioning to meet one's needs, there isn't a need to upgrade...... or else we're all waiting for the next best thing
They are far from meaningless. If for example you add the assumption that Macs on average are used longer than four years, you get out of that iOS devices on average are used less than four years.
If you had a statistic that the average Americans east 1.5 kg of food every day, you wouldn't be able to say much about the nutrition they get, but you could back-calculate how much food needs to be transported. It might not be much, but it is a start.
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The funny thing here is that people say the statistic must be wrong because it doesn't chime with there (not even back-of-the-envelope) estimation, while all the numbers are public record as is the method used. Everybody can relatively easily verify that math is correct.
Mine as well, though El Capitan runs only so-so on it. Boot it to Windows or Linux, though, and it runs like new for everything I use it for. Still on the original battery, even, getting around 6 hours on Mac, 3-4 on Windows/Linux (dGPU active).
I get comments on it all the time since they 17" is a rarity at this point (especially on campus). Someone just asked me about it today, thinking it was some new high-end machine.
Dell XPS 8300 running Windows 7. It's seen better days, but still quite usable after 6 years and counting.
Samsung Galaxy s4 used for 2.5 years. I only replaced it b/c I dropped it a couple of times. After having the screen replaced a 2nd time, the digitizer/touch screen got messed up. I would've continued using this phone if it weren't for this, purchasing a new battery when the one it came with neared the end of its lifespan.
LG G4 I had for about 1.5 years. I got one major OS update (from And. 5.11 to 6.0), some security updates, and numerous updates to the default Google apps (e.g. Gmail, Chrome, Play Store) independent of the OS. Overall, it still works just fine. Taking pictures to the micro SD card caused the photos to become corrupt at one point, but that was corrected by replacing the micro SD card.
I don't see any reason it wouldn't last another few years barring having to replace the battery (still user replaceable), I drop it again(), or misc.
Now that you mentioned it, I don't think it works that way with iPhones either. Even if you stop updating it for a few years, it still works. You just wont' be able to get the latest versions and features for some apps.
I've used a Samsung Galaxy s2 for 2 years. Only stopped using it to upgrade. Wanted a newer OS, but I wanted newer hardware anyways
Samsung Galaxy s4 used for 2.5 years. I only replaced it b/c I dropped it a couple of times. After having the screen replaced a 2nd time, the digitizer/touch screen got messed up. I would've continued using this phone if it weren't for this, purchasing a new battery when the one it came with neared the end of its lifespan.
LG G4 I had for about 1.5 years. I got one major OS update (from And. 5.11 to 6.0), some security updates, and numerous updates to the default Google apps (e.g. Gmail, Chrome, Play Store) independent of the OS. Overall, it still works just fine. Taking pictures to the micro SD card caused the photos to become corrupt at one point, but that was corrected by replacing the micro SD card.
I don't see any reason it wouldn't last another few years barring having to replace the battery (still user replaceable), I drop it again
(), or misc.Now that you mentioned it, I don't think it works that way with iPhones either. Even if you stop updating it for a few years, it still works. You just wont' be able to get the latest versions and features for some apps.
Me too, though I don't think I'd want to see the price, given how expensive it is just to get a 15".
Mine as well, though El Capitan runs only so-so on it. Boot it to Windows or Linux, though, and it runs like new for everything I use it for. Still on the original battery, even, getting around 6 hours on Mac, 3-4 on Windows/Linux (dGPU active).
I get comments on it all the time since they 17" is a rarity at this point (especially on campus). Someone just asked me about it today, thinking it was some new high-end machine.
I really want them to launch a 17” again. I’d pre-pre order it.
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Dell XPS 8300 running Windows 7. It's seen better days, but still quite usable after 6 years and counting.
I've used a Samsung Galaxy s2 for 2 years. Only stopped using it to upgrade. Wanted a newer OS, but I wanted newer hardware anyways
Samsung Galaxy s4 used for 2.5 years. I only replaced it b/c I dropped it a couple of times. After having the screen replaced a 2nd time, the digitizer/touch screen got messed up. I would've continued using this phone if it weren't for this, purchasing a new battery when the one it came with neared the end of its lifespan.
LG G4 I had for about 1.5 years. I got one major OS update (from And. 5.11 to 6.0), some security updates, and numerous updates to the default Google apps (e.g. Gmail, Chrome, Play Store) independent of the OS. Overall, it still works just fine. Taking pictures to the micro SD card caused the photos to become corrupt at one point, but that was corrected by replacing the micro SD card.
I don't see any reason it wouldn't last another few years barring having to replace the battery (still user replaceable), I drop it again
Now that you mentioned it, I don't think it works that way with iPhones either. Even if you stop updating it for a few years, it still works. You just wont' be able to get the latest versions and features for some apps.
Used my iPhone 2g for 4 years. Then the 4s for 3 years (which got transferred to the missus - she used it for 2.5 years before I got her an SE). Used the 6 for 3 years. Upgraded to an 8 because I moved to Canada and got It for free with my 2 year plan. Sold my 6 for $150.
That was my thought! I still have a 2012 macbook air and love it to death. I would upgrade but the new macbook airs are neutered, and the macbooks/and macbook pros are awful. Plus I don't want to die by dongles galor!
So it's not like Apple customers aren't upgrading because they don't want to, it's Tim Cook's offering suck and his goal to maximize revenue every possible way is making people not want to upgrade (actually, I consider it downgrading).
I think Tim Cook should be downgraded to towel boy.
I think you need to factor in how the failure rate on butterfly keyboards are skewing down the average.
You are quite lucky that you never had any problem with nVidia GPU in rMacBook Pro 2012 models.
