Why are used Macs holding their prices so well?

[CubeHacker]

I got into using Apple computers back in the PowerPC days around 2002. Back then, I couldn't really afford a new one for myself, so I resorted to buying older used Macs - my first of which was a used iMac g3 that I picked up for $250 during that same time. Later, I picked up a G4 cube in 2005 for $200, and an iMac G4 for $250 in 2007. These were all reasonable prices considering that by the time I purchased them used, they were all about 4-5 years old. My last acquisition was a 2009 Mac Pro for $200 in 2017.

I still love to collect old Macs, but the used market just continues to sit at unusually high prices. I would have hoped that the Mac Pro 2013, now 7 years old, would also be under the $500 range by now considering its relatively old tech, but they continue to sit around $1500! Old MacBooks from 2014, same thing. Retina iMacs, expensive. Even Mac mini's are commanding high prices! Does anyone know the reason for this? Are people just not upgrading anymore?

 

[Lucas284]

Because they last very well. If the owner takes care of it of course.

 

[Juicy Box]

Later, I picked up a G4 cube in 2005 for $200, and an iMac G4 for $250 in 2007.

I think when Apple launched the Mac Mini in early 2005, this caused the used market prices to drop, as it was a really cheap way to get a new Mac.

Back then, I couldn't really afford a new one for myself, so I resorted to buying older used Macs - my first of which was a used iMac g3 that I picked up for $250 during that same time.

I think that Mac have always held their value pretty well, although there are some differences between now and then you are not considering.

I think the difference in processing power from one year to the next has slowed a lot, especially in the past 10 Years when compared to 20 years ago with the PowerPC and early Intel Macs.

The jump from the iMac G3 and iMac G4 was pretty big, and probably even bigger when going to the iMac G5.

I especially remember this in the early 2000's, as I had the original iMac G3 and a last generation of the G3 iBooks, but was unable to play World of Warcraft when it launched due not meeting the minimum requirements. I loved the Warcraft games, and wanted to try the WoW demo which IIRC, was on the WCIII Frozen Throne CD, but couldn't.

I ended up getting a few years later, I got an iMac G4, which I could play WoW.

I remember how much faster the G4 was than my iBook which was only a few years older.

Flash forward to now, I am still using a Late 2012 i7 iMac as my main Mac and a Late 2011 17" i7 MBP almost daily. I figured I would have upgraded by now, but they are both still really fast, especially the iMac.

Just for a quick comparison, using the Geekbench scores of my 2012 iMac compare to a brand new 2019 iMac, it is only about 30% higher.

I think people are just holding onto their devices longer being that there is less reasons for them to upgrade, which in turn means less used Mac for the resale market, so the prices are holding pretty well now.

 

[millerj123]

Yeah, I'm responding to this on an early 2011 13" MacBook Pro. I maxed the RAM, but haven't added an SSD yet, and it still does everything I want. I'd like to get into some of the faster IO interfaces, but don't have a strong need for it yet.

 

[TimothyL]

As someone said, it’s because they last a long time and are built well. I still buy and sell the 2009 13 a lot and are still useable

 

[calliex]

Yeah, I'm responding to this on an early 2011 13" MacBook Pro. I maxed the RAM, but haven't added an SSD yet, and it still does everything I want. I'd like to get into some of the faster IO interfaces, but don't have a strong need for it yet.

I agree with you. I am still running 2012 mMBP 15 in. Could use a new a battery but other than that does what I need it to do. I have had Macs since 1986 and have never bought Apple Care. Never had any of them repaired. Usually gave them to friend.

 

[Populus]

Yeah, I'm responding to this on an early 2011 13" MacBook Pro. I maxed the RAM, but haven't added an SSD yet, and it still does everything I want. I'd like to get into some of the faster IO interfaces, but don't have a strong need for it yet.

Woah, I’m impressed. I used my 2010 13” MBP for many years, but past year I decided to replace it with a Mac mini and an iPad Pro. It was a great decision to be honest, but that MacBook Pro gave me great moments.

I decided to retire my 2010 13” MBP because, even tho it had an SSD and 8GB of RAM, it started to be slow and the screen... uhg, those low res screens in 2020 are pretty dated. Also I got stuck in High Sierra (I know, I know, dosdude made a patch to install Catalina).

Now, I have it here on the table, but it’s been months since last time I opened it, so now I’m considering selling it, or using it as a SeedBox for torrents and stuff. But I’m not in any tracker and I suspect it would get pretty hot while seeding several files... That’s another reason I retired it, heat and fan noise (the Core2Duo had to do extra work). What would you do? Also, I have many memories with that machine... but I guess now is the time to sell it, before the WiFi or other components start failing...

 

[Juicy Box]

Also I got stuck in High Sierra (I know, I know, dosdude made a patch to install Catalina).

High Sierra is really stable and really smooth on my Late 2011 17" MBP. I'd take the stability of High Sierra over the compatibility with Catalina any day.

Actually, I am doing that on my Late 2012 iMac, which is fully supported with Catalina, but I am sticking with what works well (High Sierra).

 

[millerj123]

I agree with you. I am still running 2012 mMBP 15 in. Could use a new a battery but other than that does what I need it to do. I have had Macs since 1986 and have never bought Apple Care. Never had any of them repaired. Usually gave them to friend.

I've replaced my battery twice, the last one just a couple of months ago. The replacements are a bit of a crap-shoot, but I've had pretty good luck.
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Woah, I’m impressed. I used my 2010 13” MBP for many years, but past year I decided to replace it with a Mac mini and an iPad Pro. It was a great decision to be honest, but that MacBook Pro gave me great moments.

I decided to retire my 2010 13” MBP because, even tho it had an SSD and 8GB of RAM, it started to be slow and the screen... uhg, those low res screens in 2020 are pretty dated. Also I got stuck in High Sierra (I know, I know, dosdude made a patch to install Catalina).

Now, I have it here on the table, but it’s been months since last time I opened it, so now I’m considering selling it, or using it as a SeedBox for torrents and stuff. But I’m not in any tracker and I suspect it would get pretty hot while seeding several files... That’s another reason I retired it, heat and fan noise (the Core2Duo had to do extra work). What would you do? Also, I have many memories with that machine... but I guess now is the time to sell it, before the WiFi or other components start failing...

My wife is also using a 2010 13". I maxed her RAM to 8 gigs, but the Core2duo is definitely showing it's age, and having more problems than my i5 with 16 gigs.

 

[MisterAndrew]

The 2009 Mac Pro was on Apple's Vintage/Obsolete list in 2017 so that's probably why it was so cheap. It didn't officially support the latest OS. The 2013 Mac Pro is a special case. Apple sold that Mac brand new until about 6 months ago. In fact, you can still find one brand new if you look around (e.g. Micro Center.) The 2019 Mac Pro is very expensive and so there's a gap between that and the Mac mini on the low end. The 2013 Mac Pro still occupies that space until Apple comes out with something to replace it in the $2-4k price range. Also, the demand outstrips the supply. For example, server companies like MacStadium have bought up thousands of Mac Pros and Mac mins. They will probably continue to hold their value at the current level for the next couple years.