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Mac M1 still worth buying?
- Thread starter scaramoosh
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The M1 is going to be viable for several more years. I have an M1 MacBook Pro. I have the means to buy a new one, but I see no reason to. And I don’t just search the web; I edit massive photographs and 4K video.
The only limit in that laptop is the 8 GB of RAM (memory). To work with that, you need to learn how to use Alt-Tab to display all of the applications you’re running, and quit the applications you aren’t using. Then there will be plenty of memory for whatever you’re doing.
Macs are very durable and it’s a great computing platform. They aren’t good for gaming, however. If you’re buying a computer for playing video games, buy something else.
this could explain something, but my key point is that M1 chip is 5 years old. and try to buy latest M4 chip if budge is enough.
if you only shop M1 chip for email and browsering, that has no problem. even intel mac has no problem.
what Metal 4 for? mainly for AI and Graphic, is it correct? does 5 years old chip could do AI same as latest chip?
if M1 chip as good as M4 chip, then Apple do nothing within 5 years.
Intel Mac also support Tahoe, can Intel Mac do same as M Chip Mac using Tahoe OS?
Look at M chip memory bandwidth 200 to 800GB/s. bandwidth is targetting to Nvidia Graphic Card.
PC's bandwidth ddr5 is around 51.2 GB/s which is much slower.
M chip is for advantage task. my key point is that M1 chip is 5 years old. and try to buy latest M4 chip if budge is enough. from history data, Apple supports mac devices for 7 years. M1 chip device only could valid for a few years in future. and M chip don't have opencore patcher.
if you only shop M1 chip for email and browsing, that has no problem. even 10 years old intel mac has no problem.
also look at this news
Apple M1 Pro, once a flagship, now a $12 hair clip — discarded Apple silicon upcycled into geek-chic hair clip jewelry
We can't complain about the lackluster clips used for this $12.50 fashion accessory.
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also look at this news
Apple M1 Pro, once a flagship, now a $12 hair clip — discarded Apple silicon upcycled into geek-chic hair clip jewelry
We can't complain about the lackluster clips used for this $12.50 fashion accessory.www.tomshardware.com
What about it? Those are "discarded chips, flawed during fabrication or from Macs that have been scrapped. As the article says "we note that CPU jewelry has its roots dating back to 1994". I used my iMac 21.5" 2011 for 11 years until 2022 so M1 should last at least as long.
Except the M1 MBAs are still sold as new through Walmart, so any timeframe for reclassification to vintage would be pushed back.
Typically the clock starts when Apple removes the product from the current line up and stops selling it. Third party sellers don’t factor in.
That would apply if Apple had also stopped manufacturing M1 Airs, which is seemingly not the case given that it's been 17 months since Walmart started selling them and you can still order them online or pick one up in stores.
Not surprised by that, people used to say on this forum that people couldn’t even give away 2019 Mac Pro for free (actual reality different).
Your best bet is if you have all the original boxes and the machine is in great condition perhaps you can reset it and sell online yourself.
For the OP, I wouldn’t go M1, it is too old. I have an M2 Air 15” and that’s limiting because it only supports 1 external screen (I normally use 2x 27” 5K), other than that it has been good for general use.
I would imagine Walmart has inventory and is simply attempting to sell through it. I find it improbable Apple would still be manufacturing M1 MBA 8GB 256GB after discontinuing the model.
Do you have proof Apple is still making the M1 MBAs? I don't see why they would keep manufacturing the M1 just for one reseller.
The more reasonable explanation is that walmart is just eliminating inventory.
I think it’ll be really interesting to see how long the M1’s are supported, because performance wise my M1 iMac has hardly degraded. It’s still plenty fast enough for all my day-to-day tasks, which admittedly don’t extend beyond doing my taxes, a little light browsing and streaming some tv.
But buying an M1 now is a dicey proposition. Of course everything has a price, and most things have a use. I think 200-300 USD would be fair, second hand and without a warranty but in good condition and without obvious flaws. Considering that you might only get 3-4 years of use out of it before support ends.
But buying an M1 now is a dicey proposition. Of course everything has a price, and most things have a use. I think 200-300 USD would be fair, second hand and without a warranty but in good condition and without obvious flaws. Considering that you might only get 3-4 years of use out of it before support ends.
There is no point in buying a Mac Mini M1.
And the MacBook has a great screen and battery life.
If you need a laptop for the Internet and light applications, and also to carry it with you, then the economical M1 8/256 will be quite enough.
And if you do more heavy work, then do not consider options with 8 GB of RAM. And the M2 is about twice as fast, and games on it do not lag.
And the MacBook has a great screen and battery life.
If you need a laptop for the Internet and light applications, and also to carry it with you, then the economical M1 8/256 will be quite enough.
And if you do more heavy work, then do not consider options with 8 GB of RAM. And the M2 is about twice as fast, and games on it do not lag.
With the volume that Walmart does, they would have blown out inventory by now (almost 18 months since they started selling them) if that was the case. It also occupies a niche in terms of both price and design that no other MacBook does due to its price and being the only Air to still use the wedge design.
You're making assumptions, especially when all signs point that apple stopped producing the M1 MBA.
BestBuy is selling M2 MBAs, does that mean Apple is making the M2 for Bestbuy?
Walmart is also selling XPS laptops even then Dell stopped that product line at the end of 2024. So is Dell making the XPS line for walmart as well?
Attachments
In terms of stock, the Walmart M1 MBAs are most likely new stock. Apple often continues manufacturing very popular devices even if they are old.
For example, iPhone 7 and iPhone XR are missing from Apple's vintage list. However, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone XS are listed. Why? Because Apple continued to assemble and sell 7 and XR in developing markets like India, Indonesia, and Brazil.
support.apple.com
However, this doesn't mean software support for the product gets extended. The prices continue to drop and reflects the age of the device and fewer years of software support.
For example, iPhone 7 and iPhone XR are missing from Apple's vintage list. However, iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone XS are listed. Why? Because Apple continued to assemble and sell 7 and XR in developing markets like India, Indonesia, and Brazil.
Obtaining service for your Apple product after an expired warranty - Apple Support
Learn about your options for getting service and parts for Apple devices that are past their warranty period.
However, this doesn't mean software support for the product gets extended. The prices continue to drop and reflects the age of the device and fewer years of software support.
But and its a big but, apple is not selling the M1 in any other markets, where as your example of the IP7 and XR were.
yes, there's been cases where apple will still sell a product in one market and not another, but in this case apple stopped manufacturing completely and I've yet to see any evidence to suggest otherwise. If you or another member can provide proof that the M1 MBAs are still rolling off the assembly lines - I'll gladly admit I was wrong. Otherwise, the most plausible explanation is that walmart is liquidating their inventory.
Apple Discontinues MacBook Air With M1 Chip
Apple officially discontinues the M1 MacBook Air and retires an iconic design
Is there nobody on this forum with access to a recently purchased M1 MacBook Air who can check the manufacturing date?
Apple is continuing to assemble and sell brand new M1 MBAs in other markets.
Below is a complete unboxing of MBA M1 in Vietnam from April 2025. The unit is Vietnam localized because the initial startup language option is Vietnamese (2:20).
At 3:07, Apple Intelligence is offered, which means at least macOS 15.1 (October 2024) is preinstalled. Apple "discontinued" M1 MBA from Apple Stores in March 2024.
I've presented evidence above. But even assuming no evidence, let's ask some basic, logical questions.
Walmart has been selling M1 MBA for nearly 18 months. What are the chances Walmart can maintain stock of all three colors and then have so much stock to then rollback prices from $699 to $599?
Apple, one of the best, if not the company with the best logistics in the world, has so much excess stock? And all that excess stock is for one language keyboard (U.S. English)? Not Chinese Pinyin, British English, or any other language?
The probability of that is nearly zero.
Those claiming Walmart is just selling through old stock completely misunderstand how both Apple's logistical and manufacturing processes operate as well as how Walmart's procurement processes operate. If anything, the latest price drop from Walmart might indicate a possible end of M1 Air production, or it could just be a back to school sale on their part.
Another way to look at it is through the lens of the press release. There's no indication it's a time limited offering. It also wouldn't make sense to send a press release to clear old stock.
Walmart Brings the Popular MacBook Air With the M1 Chip to Its Shelves
BENTONVILLE, Ark., March 15, 2024 — Walmart will begin selling MacBook Air with the M1 chip – continuing to deliver premium quality and unmatched affordability for customers. MacBook Air features amazing performance and a long battery life in its thin and light design.
corporate.walmart.com
The problem with buying M1 now is that even though they're still making them, it's likely M1 Macs will no longer be supported by new versions of macOS for that much longer after macOS 26.
Remember that macOS support and hardware support (supported vs. vintage vs. obsolete) are not equivalent to each other.
Remember that macOS support and hardware support (supported vs. vintage vs. obsolete) are not equivalent to each other.
I think it's all a matter of price and priority. Some people (me included) continue to use their Macs well past software support. Some stay years without updating their updatable Mac (I only updated yesterday my M1 from Monterey to Sequoia and I am not planning to update to Tahoe, I will see what come next). Yes, I don't care about security patches, I have never had issues and I am totally ok with taking what I consider a moderate risk (my main machine is a Windows 11 computer however). Same with iPads and my Samsung phone.