What year do you think Apple will cut support for the M1 Mac Mini?

[staypuftforums]

Released in 2020. When do you think it will stop getting access to new OS versions? And when do you think all security support will be cut off?

If I purchase it this year, will I be able to get 8 years of use out of it? Is it likely going to get updates until 2030?

I don’t care about being stuck on an outdated OS version. I do care about no security updates and no alternative operating systems.

 

[MajorFubar]

Probably about seven or eight years like always (actually, go back ten years or more, and it was way less than that; go back twenty years and computers were obsolete every other year). That's why I don't blow all my dough on an overspecified machine based on what I think my needs will be in five years, because after about five years it will be out of date anyway in ways not linked to the power of its processor, capacity of its RAM or size of its SSD storage.

 

[Bodhitree]

It really depends on what future technologies the OS needs. For example when the OS started requiring Metal a lot of older Macs were left without upgrades. But you can’t really tell what is going on under the hood.

I would say with Apple Silicon you are looking good for seven or eight years. Intel macs will probably be left behind at some point.

 

[Wando64]

My 2012 mini is still supported with Catalina.
That makes it 10 years.

 

[MajorFubar]

My 2012 mini is still supported with Catalina.
That makes it 10 years.

Catalina was the last OS it can run though, launched when your Mini was 8 years old. That's what I meant by 7-8 years.

I might be surprised but I doubt if the 2014 models, which can run Monterey, will be able to run the new MacOS which Apple will announce in June.

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

It appears Apple cuts off support for machines based on some hardware features that they don't support anymore, instead of actual speed of the machine. So whenever there's a 'large' jump in features a given machine support, you can expect it to last somewhat longer support wise, than the previous generation. I'd for instance strongly assume that M1 Macs are supported much longer than the latest Intel machines.

 

[playtech1]

I think you can expect about 8 years of OS releases from when it was first released, so I think around 2028 (or perhaps a few years longer since it's still a current model in 2022).

Apple has shown itself willing to cut off products based purely on age rather than technical capability, so I think it's optimistic to assume much longer than that.

Will it still be a useful machine in 2028? The CPU is pretty quick, but I think the limitation will be RAM, particularly for machines with only 8GB.

 

[MajorFubar]

I think around 2028 (or perhaps a few years longer since it's still a current model in 2022).

It doesn't work ike that. They were still selling the 2012 non retina MBP until October 2016 but it's been obsolete as of Big Sur, so that was four years.

 

[Boyd01]

It doesn't matter when a computer was introduced, the "clock starts ticking" when it is discontinued. Since the M1 Mini is still a current model, we don't really know when support will end.

"Owners of iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, or Apple TV products may obtain service and parts from Apple service providers, including Apple Retail Stores and Independent Repair Providers, for a minimum of 5 years from when Apple last distributed the product for sale."

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.

support.apple.com

 

[EPO75]

2016

 

[padams35]

I'll predict 2026 is the last year a new OS supports the M1 Mini, or 2027 the year a new OS drops the Mini.
(Add +2 years for security update support).

The current trend is new MacOS updates for 6+ years after introduction, or 3+ years after discontinuation, whichever is longer. So far the only exception has been the Mid-2015 iMac, which was released 1st-half of 2015, discontinued in the same year, and shared an ID with an older model Apple wanted to drop.

Edit: Clarified 'supported' as 'supported by newest OS' and not 'supported by security updates.'

 

[Wando64]

I'll predict 2026 is the last year supported, or 2027 the year support is dropped.

The current trend is new MacOS updates for 6+ years after introduction, or 3+ years after discontinuation, whichever is longer. So far the only exception has been the Mid-2015 iMac, which was released 1st-half of 2015, discontinued in the same year, and shared an ID with an older model Apple wanted to drop.

New MacOS versions, not updates.
Each version is then supported for at least 3 years.