Macbook macOS support length?

[ls1dreams]

My work is offering me a 2021 Macbook Pro (32gb/512gb ssd) for $500 instead of returning it.

I think this is worth about $700-800 on the market right now, so I'll definitely buy it.

Question is: Would you give this to a family member to keep, or just sell it? It's still SUPER capable, but I fear that macOS will drop support for the machine soon and then will quickly lose ability to download modern apps and get security patches. I think apple typically only supports around 7 or 8 years of macOS version? (and security patches for a bit longer, but usually by then most developers only support 2-3 versions back).

Also thinking that since it's apple silicon Apple may support it a little longer.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Golden Gate supports it, and I would expect next year's macOS too, at a bare minimum. Let's assume new OS ("upgrades") support is dropped after 2027, it'll still get updates into 2030, again, at an absolute minimum.

 

[Mr_Brightside_@]

Maybe also worth noting that GG supports the oldest, original Apple Silicon Macs.

 

[benwiggy]

I think apple typically only supports around 7 or 8 years of macOS version?

There are hopes that Apple will be able to support its in-house architecture longer than with third-party hardware.

There has been a cut-off in a few AI features inOS 27 ("advanced dictation"), due to the less powerful neural processor on the M1s (and M2s), compared to newer chips. Even the A18 in the Neo trounces the earlier CPUs in this regard (though it is also cut off due to lack of RAM.)

But for general computing, the hardware is mostly the same, and it would be hard to justify ditching an M1 Max with 64Gb RAM, while keeping a base 8-core M2 with 8GB RAM. (Or M2 Max vs. M3, etc.)