Average Apple Device Lifespan Estimated at Just Over Four Years by Analyst

[serpico007]

I have a 2011 Mac Mini still going strong with a fresh install of the latest OS. I mean the Apple Store is carrying old new Mac's currently, so... must still be fine! Upgrading to a new Mac would be great if Apple decided to bring new internals to their computers.

 

[alexhardaker]

Bought my first Mac off eBay in 2010 - 2009 MBP for £740. Handed down to family... the HDD and/or connection cable gave up and the end of last summer.

It sucks that models today wouldn’t be able to be given new life by swapping out parts, making them landfilled products after 6+ years or so.

 

[qawes]

Besides the lifespan of my 17" MBP of a little over four years, every Apple product I have purchased, ever, still does a great job at everything I throw at them, minding their age/limitations. And some times it's just a pleasure using a vintage device.

 

[Guy Clark]

Bought my first Mac off eBay in 2010 - 2009 MBP for £740. Handed down to family... the HDD and/or connection cable gave up and the end of last summer.

It sucks that models today wouldn’t be able to be given new life by swapping out parts, making them landfilled products after 6+ years or so.

To replace the HDD in a 2009/2010 MacBook Pro is a straightforward procedure
https://www.ifixit.com/Guide/MacBook+Pro+13-Inch+Unibody+Mid+2009+Hard+Drive+Replacement/1337
https://www.ifixit.com/Device/MacBook_Pro_13"_Unibody_Mid_2009

 

[itsmilo]

You are quite lucky that you never had any problem with nVidia GPU in rMacBook Pro 2012 models.

i have a mid range 13 inch. i dont think it even has it?

 

[asiga]

My everyday laptop is a late 2010 MacBook Air, running SnowLeopard (yes, I use SnowLeopard as my everyday laptop OS, and that's mainly the reason why my late 2010 MBA is not obsolete). Also, my G5 iMac from 2005 or so, never became obsolete because of Apple updates, and it still works (Apple updates from that era have nothing in common with the current updates, focusing in bloatware, forcing the user to update, and forcing hardware upgrades).

The article writer is right about the lifespan of current Apple devices, but the reason is not the build quality, nor the device in itself. The problem is the current Apple: They design software that forces the user to update even if the user doesn't want to. This is new at Apple, in the past updating was the user's choice. If you add to this that the new Apple gets a substantial amount of its income from managing and affecting the private life of the users (which current Apple users gladly applaud -most of them either teens or with a teen-like mindset), then everything ends up in the conclusion that the writer is right, although his arguments are not the reason for the 4-year lifespan, but the new Apple, and the new users.

 

[mdgm]

Still got two Mac Minis from 2009 and one from 2011. Would like to start replacing them but waiting for a suitable replacement.

My MBPs are both less than 4 years old. My only problem is that one came with 8GB RAM soldered and both have less storage capacity than I’d like. Wish 1TB was the base capacity for the 15” MBP.

My iPhone is over 2 years old and I’m hoping that it will last a while yet.

 

[manu chao]

It sucks that models today wouldn’t be able to be given new life by swapping out parts, making them landfilled products after 6+ years or so.

For the last ten years or so I maxed out the RAM on my Mac laptops on the day of purchase. And while relatively expensive, SSD upgrades have been available after a couple of years for most Apple laptops.
[doublepost=1520073965][/doublepost]

The problem is the current Apple: They design software that forces the user to update even if the user doesn't want to. This is new at Apple, in the past updating was the user's choice.

Re-writing history, are we? Updating iOS software hasn't really changed over its life-time, neither has macOS. If you are referring to iOS updates making older devices slower, I'd like to remind you of this spoof commercial of an iPhone 3G running iOS 4.

 

[usarioclave]

Main Mac: Mac Pro 5,1, Early 2009.
Main MBP: MBP Late 2011
Main iPad: iPad Pro 12"
Main iPhone: iPhone 7

Average lifespan: 5 years? That doesn't really capture it, though.

 

[Wowereit]

To be honest, I don't believe the ~4 years, all of my Apple stuff lasts (much) longer

Well, the data doesn't show if it's broken or just not used with an internet connection anymore.
I know multiple people with technically fully working iPhone 4 / 4S / 5 laying in drawers, the same goes for iPad 1 / 2 / 3 or MacBooks from 200X.

 

[meady100]

I would term this a 'desirability' lifespan. In my experience, the functional lifespan is closer to double this.

 

[qawes]

i have a mid range 13 inch. i dont think it even has it?

You don't have to worry about it, that issue affects only de 15" models with discrete GPU's.

Just be careful to properly shut it down before putting it into your backpack/bag, as many people don't, ending up damaging them (happened to acquaintance and had graphics issues ever since).
[doublepost=1520078906][/doublepost]

The problem is the current Apple: They design software that forces the user to update even if the user doesn't want to. This is new at Apple, in the past updating was the user's choice.

True. Mostly Apple's software requires the latest (or 2nd from last) OS, but 3rd party software vendors have way more tolerance regarding OS upgrades.

And now, Apple releases more and more buggy software. Hope this year's strategy will end all this.

I will always advocate the introduction of some kind of "macOS Pro" which will apply and maintain only heavy tested features and security updates, making room for the "bleeding edge" prosumers which will update to the latest Californian landmark in day one.

 

[Ffosse]

That's not really their point, I tend to agree with them, why do you need a new phone each and every year?
Sure, they can buy what they want, I don't care yet I don't see the point of buying a new one on a yearly bases.

Why not a new phone every 6 months? People have choice.
[doublepost=1520082505][/doublepost]I am liable to buy 2 new phones in a year. I've put a stop to this now, though, and will wear my X and 8 into the ground. Giving up on Android is liberating as I hardly even read the spec sheets of new android handsets.

 

[grobik]

Question: isn’t Foxconn responsible for the parts, chips excluded?

I guess if you want to skirt responsibility. But at the end of the day it's knowingly supporting a corrupt system. And I don't think that's something, as a whole, the shareholders want to support.

 

[itsmilo]

You don't have to worry about it, that issue affects only de 15" models with discrete GPU's.

Just be careful to properly shut it down before putting it into your backpack/bag, as many people don't, ending up damaging them (happened to acquaintance and had graphics issues ever since).
[doublepost=1520078906][/doublepost]

True. Mostly Apple's software requires the latest (or 2nd from last) OS, but 3rd party software vendors have way more tolerance regarding OS upgrades.

And now, Apple releases more and more buggy software. Hope this year's strategy will end all this.

I will always advocate the introduction of some kind of "macOS Pro" which will apply and maintain only heavy tested features and security updates, making room for the "bleeding edge" prosumers which will update to the latest Californian landmark in day one.

Yeah I put a soft matt on the keyboard when I carry it cuz the trackpad scratched into the display coating once before and they had to replace the display(for free)

 

[doctor-don]

Mac Pro - early 2008- upgraded to 16 GB RAM - replaced graphics card in October 2016.
Mac Mini - 2012 model - upgraded to 16 GB RAM
iPad 3rd Generation - bought in 2012, still functional although OS cannot be upgraded
iPod - photo, 4th generation, color - 2005 - still in use in my iHome clock-radio every day
iPod Nano - bought in 2011, still in use every day.
MacBook Pro - bought in 2012 - upgraded to 16 GB RAM in 2014, SSD in 2017
iPod Classic - 2 bought in 2013, 160 GB - still functioning
iPod Touch - bought in 2014- still functioning
iPad Mini 3 - bought in 2013 (gift)- still functioning

Still waiting for a NEW Mac Pro (NOT a 'new' one with 4+ year old electronics).

2004 PowerBook lasted about a year, replacement ??? (family member).
Practically all Apple products are still functioning, Horace Dediu.

 

[Macaholic868]

Bought my first Mac off eBay in 2010 - 2009 MBP for £740. Handed down to family... the HDD and/or connection cable gave up and the end of last summer.

It sucks that models today wouldn’t be able to be given new life by swapping out parts, making them landfilled products after 6+ years or so.

Agreed. That’s why I’m waiting to see these new modular Mac Pros that Apple says are coming. I refuse to buy a desktop PC that I can’t easily repair and upgrade or a laptop that is designed in such a way that makes it incredibly hard or impossible to upgrade the memory or hard drive.

 

[WhatdoIkn0w4now]

My MacBook Pro from Late 2012 still runs like on its first day.

My first gen Apple Watch on the other hand was dead on arrival (so slow, Steve Jobs would have never allowed it)

I put a 256GB SSD and 16GB RAM upgrade into my 2011 mac mini a year ago. Having it running since new I thought it was time to either update it or toss it;After the upgrade I can now run two VM's in vmware wks running on windows 10 in bootcamp, compiling code without issues, and it can also play civ 6 like a champ. It does everything I need for business needs and some light game play, I'd say I get at least another 2-2.5 years from it. Making it about 10yrs of usage for me. Oh I should mention I haven't powered it off, but for a reboots and the aforementioned upgrade, the entire time I have owned it. That's pretty good ROI for the $1,100 I paid back in 2011. By the time I'm finished with it I will have paid Apple about .30 cents a day for the use I got and only .06 cents a day to power the thing.

 

[compete12]

My 2008 Unibody MacBook that I upgraded to 4GB and 240GB SSD just got voluntarily retired. The trackpad has been going for a while, and now the speakers are pretty much blown.

It was a bittersweet moment, but I replaced it with a 2017 MBP 13 (no Touch Bar).
This thing is a total screamer, and I absolutely LOVE the new keyboard design. Trying out the keyboard at the Apple Store hunched over the table does it no justice.

The old one served me well all these years, but I'm so glad I made the leap. Fantastic machine!!!!

 

[BugeyeSTI]

Except for the battery, my black late 2007 Macbook still works perfectly. I only mess around on it every once and awhile since most browsers aren't supported anymore but, 10 years is amazing.

 

[Phonephreak]

Sure, if you don't give a **** about the environment we're currently depleting in a non-sustainable way, good for you. Unfortunately for everyone, especially for future generations, people like you are the majority.

Al I can say is wow. If I want to buy the newest phone every year I will. Who are you to preach to everyone.

 

[ahunter3]

Why are you people so proud about using the same computer for a decade? Upgrade!

It's not an either/or decision. I keep my old computers when I buy new ones. I'll readily admit I don't have a lot of practical use for the Macintosh SE and System 6, but a few weeks ago a friend of mine handed me a stack of elderly 800K floppy disks, moaning that she'd never recapture the school papers that were on them. I popped the disks into the floppy drive of the old 7100, hit those old word processing documents with MacLink Plus (which identified them as a mixture of WordPerfect 1.0 and WriteNow documents), converted them to Word .doc format, and send them back to her.

My modern box would not have been of much use. I could've hooked a USB floppy drive to it but not one that would comprehend an 800K floppy (I don't think MacOS 10.11 will even mount an 800K diskimage so it probably couldn't handle an 800K disk even if there were a physical USB drive that could read one). And MacLink Plus isn't still around in an Intel-compatible version, although I suppose I could have tossed the files into an emulated environment.

I have a nice USB slide scanner with no OS X drivers and other devices that only work with older equipment. My PowerBook G4 runs iMovie from the era when it hadn't been sripped down to uselessness, and is plugged into a Canopus video digitizer board and a VHS player — dealing with video editing is best done by handing it off to a dedicated box and not tying up the main computer anyhow.

Why would I be proud of throwing away perfectly good computers just because I've acquired a newer one?

 

[dumastudetto]

My Mac mini is five years old. I didn't plan to keep it so long but Apple have failed to release a suitable replacement.

iPad Pro or if you are still one of the few wanting a legacy computer iMac Pro.

 

[Teddd]

Asymco analyst Horace Dediu this week shared new research that focuses on determining the average lifespan of Apple devices. Dediu's research doesn't break down data on a specific product level, but instead encompasses Apple's entire stable of products in one general lifespan average. According to Dediu's proposal, if you use the number of active devices and cumulative devices sold, you can get to the average lifespan (via The Next Web).

Dediu's research on this topic was propelled forward when Apple CEO Tim Cook revealed the total number of active Apple devices -- 1.3 billion worldwide -- during the company's most recent earnings call. Now, the analyst proposed that to determine the average lifespan, you can subtract the known active devices number from cumulative devices sold to determine "cumulative retired devices."

Dediu then said that to estimate the average lifespan, you calculate the time between "cumulative devices sold" at the beginning of a product's lifespan, and the current "cumulative retired devices." He ultimately determined that the average Apple device lifespan is about 4 years and three months, when looking at the data of Apple products sold in Q2 2013 and retired in Q4 2017, a time when the 2013 devices died or otherwise stopped working and their owners sought to purchase new versions.

Dediu gave a detailed breakdown of his calculations:
He noted that cumulative devices sold for Apple includes Macs, iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, and the iPod touch, although of course the lifespan average number is just that -- an average -- and doesn't perfectly apply to each individual product. Just over four years is likely in the ballpark for how long Mac users keep around their computers, but if looked at on a product-by-product basis that statistic would likely be different for iPhone and Apple Watch owners.

For more details on the topic, check out Dediu's full post on Asymco.com.

Article Link: Average Apple Device Lifespan Estimated at Just Over Four Years by Analyst

[doublepost=1520110144][/doublepost]Late ‘08 MacBook Pro. Maxed out with 8 GB and 2 1T SSD. Still rocks. Will use as music server with Ciunas DAC when a new one tempts. So much for “Apple Tax”.

 

[Beachguy]

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.

Sorry, but no. Disparate devices with unrelated manufacturing needs, and disparate parts, cannot cimply be lumped together. I seriously doubt my Mac and my iPad share any parts at all, nor were they built on the same assembly line. Combining them makes no more sense than deciding the average life span in a forest by addig the trees, the mammals, the birds, the fish, etc. simply because they live in the same earthly space.