MacBook Pro or MacBook Air: Which Apple Laptop Lasts Longer?

Apple MacBooks are made to last. That’s something any customer who spends money on the company’s computers can say. I bought my first MacBook Pro in 2010 and it was my daily driver until 2017 until Apple released the second generation MacBook Pro with Touch Bar. With the general lifespan of a MacBook Pro being around seven to ten years, depending on how you take care of it, you’d be surprised to learn that even the MacBook Air isn’t far behind.

The main difference is that Apple generally stops supporting software updates on the MacBook Air before the MacBook Pro. Officially, Apple doesn’t specify how long a Mac can last. Especially now that it’s been using its own silicon for six years and all Apple Silicon Macs are still supported by the company. On top of that, macOS 27 now only supports Intel Macs, meaning M1 Macs have at least until September 2027 with software updates available.

It’s also unclear how Apple will phase out its own chips, as it offers regular, Pro, Max, and Ultra variants. In the case of its Intel Macs, macOS Tahoe still supports most Macs released in 2019 and early 2020. Still, once the company releases macOS 27, that doesn’t mean older Macs will stop working, and Apple could still offer two years of important security fixes.

At first, you might think that the MacBook Pro lasts longer than the MacBook Air because it is more powerful. While in theory Apple could give it an extra year or two of software updates (at least in the Intel era), that doesn’t mean much. For example, if you own a MacBook Pro, you’re probably editing photos and videos, coding, and taking advantage of several multitasking features. If you own a MacBook Air, you probably do lighter work on your computer, like writing, scrolling social media, making easy edits, and more.

Since these computers serve different purposes, it makes sense to say that both last about the same amount of time, because it depends on what you do with them. Financially, the MacBook Air is a safer choice for students and those who regularly work in the office. The MacBook Pro, on the other hand, is focused more on Pro users.

However, as powerful as the MacBook may seem today, it will continue to degrade over the years as other software becomes more demanding and technology evolves. I’m still carrying the MacBook Pro M1 Pro since early 2022. Four years later, I have no reason to upgrade this computer. Even though I might get the MacBook Pro OLED, which might come out later in 2026 or early 2027, the M1 Pro version is still like new. I can still open multiple apps and the battery is surprisingly good.

Since Apple doesn’t specify how long a Mac will last, it’s hard to say what the general lifespan of new Macs is. What can be said, however, is that older devices like the M1 MacBook are still solid options in 2026. Even though a few M1 users have upgraded to an M4 or M5, several others have also upgraded to the M1 and still think these computers are great.

On top of that, with Apple launching the MacBook Neo, which uses an iPhone chip, it shows that the company might be able to extend the life of its own silicon a little further. After all, the A18 Pro is a mix between what an M1 and M3 MacBook can do, meaning users can relax for a few more years. Additionally, Apple typically continues to release security patches even a few years after it stops supporting certain Macs.

So even though the latest Intel Macs will stop at macOS Tahoe, the company will continue to offer some updates for this software over the next few years, ensuring that the devices can run as smoothly as possible, and without critical bugs and flaws affecting them. That said, buying a Mac is more about choosing what fits your budget rather than necessarily focusing on what will last longer. These machines perform basic tasks perfectly; the difference is how quickly and how many extra benefits you want to get while getting the job done.