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I'm as annoyed at the lack of upgradeability, and as outraged over Apple's insane upgrade pricing, as anybody here, but I don't see any reason to not use my M1 generation Macs for another 2 years, possibly even more.
But how long will it receive official security updates from Apple?

My big hope is that the new Mx Macs will continue receiving updates for a long, long time. It's truly extraordinary how long iPads and iPhones receive security updates!
 
Usually 2 years after the last major OS release support. Since Tahoe still supports the M1 that means at least 3 more years. Possibly more, Tahoe still supports Intel.
But the iPad/iPhone devices continue to receive security updates long after this period. I buy Apple hardware so I can run Apple software on it.
 
I only buy mac desktops, not laptops. I do not need to take it out of the house, and i need the power. I have an iPad for portable. I only buy used on ebay. I just retired a mac pro 5,1 from 2010. Thats a 15 year old machine. Replaced it with an M1 studio that i will run until it no longer runs the software i need or dies. Only paid $900 for a $2200 machine. To avoid apple tax on storage i got 512gb internal with 4tb external. I admit its no longer possible to avoid the ram tax if you need more, but 32gb is enough for my use.
 
I only buy mac desktops, not laptops. I do not need to take it out of the house, and i need the power. I have an iPad for portable. I only buy used on ebay. I just retired a mac pro 5,1 from 2010. Thats a 15 year old machine. Replaced it with an M1 studio that i will run until it no longer runs the software i need or dies. Only paid $900 for a $2200 machine. To avoid apple tax on storage i got 512gb internal with 4tb external. I admit its no longer possible to avoid the ram tax if you need more, but 32gb is enough for my use.
How did you feel safe using a Mac Pro from 2010 that hadn't been receiving security updates for a lonnggggg time. Even Microsoft provides security updates for ancient ultraportable laptop hardware that can't hold a candle to your 2010 Mac Pro... :( :( :(
 
How many reports of compromises to 10.14.6 have you seen?
The thing is, people don't suddenly go to the news to report there 8 year old mac suddenly got a virus. Its less about getting a zero day malware and more about people people opening up an email, and infecting or passing on malware.

Its like people riding bikes without helmets - I haven't heard of any reports of someone getting a concussion because they didn't wear their bike helmet
 
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But how long will it receive official security updates from Apple?
Well, they seem to support new OSs for 3 years (i.e. the current + last two versions) but that's not helpful without knowing when they're going to drop a particular model from the next OS - which hasn't happened yet for M1 machines.

Dropping a model from the latest OS seems a bit random (there are probably good hardware-related reasons) but rarely less than about 5 years after a model was released. We won't know until next year how rapidly Apple Silicon products are going to get the chop - however, with most of the key features now provided by Apple's own system-on-a-chip there should be fewer hardware variations between models and less excuse to drop them - we'll see.

Another factor is the rule for "vintage and obsolete" products. That's mainly about hardware/parts/service but I suspect that, as long as Apple may be required to provide service for a particular model, unless it was very, very niche, they're going to need a supported OS (not necessarily the latest) for it at least until it hits "vintage". So, that's 5 years after it was last sold - i.e. 2023+5 for a M1 Mini or iMac. So they'll be supported by Tahoe through 2028 which means its feasible they could be dropped from the next OS.
 
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