How long will the MacBook Air M1 be supported for

[Z3man]

MacBooks are roughly supported for about seven years, five years of full software updates then two years of security updates.

The Air M1 was on sale for four years, so does that mean that those people who purchased towards the end of the fourth year only get three years support. That being one year of full software updates and two years of security updates.

Seems a bit wrong if that is correct.

I know these dates could differ slightly, but you will understand what I am getting at.

 

[padams35]

Your numbers are short a year because you are missing the year of minor features point release updates; 8 years typical: 5 years of major updates, 1 year of feature point releases, 2 years of security updates only).


Notable examples of Macs that sold for 4+ years:

Best support: Mid-2012 Macbook Pro, last sold October 2016, last feature update September 2020 (10.15.7), last security update July 2022: 5 years 9 months of support from discontinue.

Worst Support: 2017 21.5" iMac, last sold October 2021, last feature update July 2023 (Ventura 13.5), last security update estimated July 2025: 3 year, 9 months of predicted support from discontinue.

Longest production run [6+ years!]: 2013 Mac Pro (October 2013 - December 2019), last feature update July 2022 (Monterey 12.5), last security update July 2024, 4 years 7 months of support from discontinue.

 

[Honza1]

These questions can be easily answered by Google AI... Question: "How long are Macbook Pros supported" gives you :
Apple considers products obsolete when they stop selling them for more than seven years. Some MacBooks and desktop Macs are no longer eligible for security updates or upgrades to newer macOS versions.
Which matches when I recall I saw somewhere.
Now, that has historically been the case, no one knows for any specific model. Note, that this "when they stop selling them" - not "when they were new". Some Apple devices sell (as new) for long time.
Now, Mx devices may be supported longer than Intel devices as the support will not require generating different code architecture.

 

[Z3man]

Your numbers are short a year because you are missing the year of minor features point release updates; 8 years typical: 5 years of major updates, 1 year of feature point releases, 2 years of security updates only).


Notable examples of Macs that sold for 4+ years:

Best support: Mid-2012 Macbook Pro, last sold October 2016, last feature update September 2020 (10.15.7), last security update July 2022: 5 years 9 months of support from discontinue.

Worst Support: 2017 21.5" iMac, last sold October 2021, last feature update July 2023 (Ventura 13.5), last security update estimated July 2025: 3 year, 9 months of predicted support from discontinue.

Longest production run [6+ years!]: 2013 Mac Pro (October 2013 - December 2019), last feature update July 2022 (Monterey 12.5), last security update July 2024, 4 years 7 months of support from discontinue.

Thanks for the info that is really helpful.

So it is quite possible that if i purchased one late 2024 it will only get 4 more years of updates, 1 year major updates, 1 year feature point releases and 2 years of security updates only. If i had purchased one i would be very disappointed, i think Apple will probably support them longer especially with them having M series chips in. But who knows.

The reason i am asking is because i am thinking of buying one second hand.

If they are only going to get one more year of major updates, i think i will be better off saving a bit more and getting an M2.

 

[Z3man]

These questions can be easily answered by Google AI... Question: "How long are Macbook Pros supported" gives you :
Apple considers products obsolete when they stop selling them for more than seven years. Some MacBooks and desktop Macs are no longer eligible for security updates or upgrades to newer macOS versions.
Which matches when I recall I saw somewhere.
Now, that has historically been the case, no one knows for any specific model. Note, that this "when they stop selling them" - not "when they were new". Some Apple devices sell (as new) for long time.
Now, Mx devices may be supported longer than Intel devices as the support will not require generating different code architecture.

Typical AI doesn't answer the question properly.

 

[1BadManVan]

I imagine they will still get a few more years of updates considering how long they were still sold new from Apple.

 

[MBAir2010]

what a dead horse topic, my MacBook Air 2010 still works today as I can perform any task as my MBA2020.
this 7 year itch is a ridiculous yard stick some fool concocted in our brains as this philosophy is not strong as that eventually harms the planet and our wallets.

anyways
WHO has a MacBook Air M1 and running Sequoia 2.26.2025?
does everything work better or at all such as screen display brightness, text edit and the unfixable bugs the  is ignoring today.

excuse and sorry for being stern and curt,
but we need to get a grip of reality with computers and longevity here.

 

[joeblow7777]

what a dead horse topic, my MacBook Air 2010 still works today as I can perform any task as my MBA2020.
this 7 year itch is a ridiculous yard stick some fool concocted in our brains as this philosophy is not strong as that eventually harms the planet and our wallets.

anyways
WHO has a MacBook Air M1 and running Sequoia 2.26.2025?
does everything work better or at all such as screen display brightness, text edit and the unfixable bugs the  is ignoring today.

excuse and sorry for being stern and curt,
but we need to get a grip of reality with computers and longevity here.

I just want to post in agreement with this. I work with people who are using Macbooks from circa 2015, and when you get right down to it, their computers are doing the same work that my 2024 M3 Macbook Air is doing. I'm not judging anyone because I get the same "itch" to upgrade devices every few years when I know I don't actually need to, but I recognize it for what it is. Functionally, most of our phones, laptops, tablets, etc. could meet our needs for a decade, but we're conditioned to think we need the highest refresh rate displays, or the smallest bezels, or the latest A.I. gimmick.

 

[Howard2k]

I just want to post in agreement with this. I work with people who are using Macbooks from circa 2015, and when you get right down to it, their computers are going the same work that my 2024 M3 Macbook Air is doing. I'm not judging anyone because I get the same "itch" to upgrade devices every few years when I know I don't actually need to, but I recognize it for what it is. Functionally, most of our phones, laptops, tablets, etc. could meet our needs for a decade, but we're conditioned to think we need the highest refresh rate displays, or the smallest bezels, or the latest A.I. gimmick.

But you are running third party patches in order to maintain a newer OS in order to maintain security updates right?
So it's possible, but the average person is not going to do that.

 

[Howard2k]

WHO has a MacBook Air M1 and running Sequoia 2.26.2025?
does everything work better or at all such as screen display brightness, text edit and the unfixable bugs the  is ignoring today.

I do, works superbly. I'm not aware of any brightness, text edit, or unfixable bugs that Apple is ignoring but if you let me know I can check them.


I'll likely get an M4 Air, but only because I have money from work that I spend or lose. If the Ultra 3 was out I'd get that instead, but instead I'll put it towards and M4 Air.

 

[MBAir2010]

I do, works superbly. I'm not aware of any brightness, text edit, or unfixable bugs that Apple is ignoring but if you let me know I can check them.

Thank you, I will upgrade to sequoia since Monterey has flaws.

 

[Howard2k]

Thank you, I will upgrade to sequoia since Monterey has flaws.View attachment 2486304

Good luck! I always keep a Time Machine backup quarantined for a little while just in case, but I've found Sequoia to be great.

 

[gpat]

I'd not worry too much because Apple still has a significant base of Intel to support, they can't kill those machines just yet, and if they don't pull the plug on Intel, they can't discontinue M1 either.
Until 2030, I'd say that M1 users can sleep easy.

 

[JPack]

Software support is always based on launch date, not end of sale date. This has been documented multiple times.

Yes, it sucks for people who buy tail end of the product. But that’s how Apple operates.

M1 will get 1-2 more years of major macOS updates.

 

[MBAir2010]

Software support is always based on launch date, not end of sale date. This has been documented multiple times.

Yes, it sucks for people who buy tail end of the product. But that’s how Apple operates.

M1 will get 1-2 more years of major macOS updates.

I think  will support our m1s for more years longer than that since the concept is theirs not Intel

 

[JPack]

I think  will support our m1s for more years longer than that since the concept is theirs not Intel

What concept?

iPadOS 18 is available for iPad 10.2-inch with A10, but not iPad Pro 10.5-inch with A10X. The iPad Pro even has more RAM. The iPad Pro 10.5 was unlucky enough to be launched earlier.

It's proven that Apple supports major OS updates based on launch date. Specs or end of sales date have nothing to do with major OS updates.

 

[MBAir2010]

What concept?

the chip is !

 

[ignatius345]

Great deep dive on a similar subject over at Ars Technica. The article below is looking specifically at Intel Macs, but there's still some good historical data on 20 years of Macs.

How long will the last Intel Macs be supported? macOS Sonoma gives us some hints

Nearly 20 years of data show how Intel Macs are faring as Apple switches chips.

arstechnica.com

 

[MacBH928]

what a dead horse topic, my MacBook Air 2010 still works today as I can perform any task as my MBA2020.
this 7 year itch is a ridiculous yard stick some fool concocted in our brains as this philosophy is not strong as that eventually harms the planet and our wallets.

anyways
WHO has a MacBook Air M1 and running Sequoia 2.26.2025?
does everything work better or at all such as screen display brightness, text edit and the unfixable bugs the  is ignoring today.

excuse and sorry for being stern and curt,
but we need to get a grip of reality with computers and longevity here.

security updates man, security updates...

you do not want to go online and get hacked.

 

[MBAir2010]

security updates man, security updates...

you do not want to go online and get hacked.

Seems to me that is another a scare tactic to keep society in a cage,
I still use a MacBook Air 2010 with Snow leopard and even purchased several MacBook items on that last October
and nothing happened.
if a company like chewy had my credit card info stored, what good is my security if they they get hacked?

 

[gpat]

Seems to me that is another a scare tactic to keep society in a cage,
I still use a MacBook Air 2010 with Snow leopard and even purchased several MacBook items on that last October
and nothing happened.
if a company like chewy had my credit card info stored, what good is my security if they they get hacked?

They're much less likely to be hacked because, you know, they have the duty to not use unpatched software.

 

[MBAir2010]

They're much less likely to be hacked because, you know, they have the duty to not use unpatched software.

even if they gat hacked, my bank would stop any over or suspicious charge.

seems to me that surfing the web is like road cycling were the cyclist dictate their strength and safety.
conventional wisdom would claim I need a carbon fiber bike, LIGHTS, helmet a beeping vehicle alert Garmin computer ($500) just to ride 50 KMs under 2 hours safely as if I don't, I'm not smart and taking risks......

 

[AppleFeller]

Considering the M1 Air continues to be sold new I really do think even conservatively maybe dropped support in 2027.

 

[throAU]

Now, Mx devices may be supported longer than Intel devices as the support will not require generating different code architecture.

Also because Apple designed the chips.

Apple can’t support something designed by another vendor who has dropped support and intel has their own cycle for dropping support for their processors etc.

Ditto for Motorola previously.

There’s nothing to stop Apple supporting m1 as long as THEY see fit now.

 

[raythompsontn]

you do not want to go online and get hacked.

Most of the hacks that are arriving today require a very specific set of circumstances. Some that can only be reproduced in a laboratory environment in a proof of concept. Others require physical access to the machine. Some of the vulnerabilities are introduced in new versions of the OS and don't affect older versions.

Stay away from nefarious sites, read emails as text, don't click on links in email or Facebook, VPN on public networks, etc. General common sense operation of the machine and a person should be quite safe online without the latest and greatest OS.