Did you know that your Mac is officially considered ‘vintage’ by Apple if it’s five years old? Don’t be offended – it’s not a derogatory term they casually chuck around the office at Apple Park. It’s an official marker to categorise how they wind down hardware, software and security availability for older machines.
That brings us to the remaining Macs that are still ticking away on Intel. Anecdotally, we’ve been hearing from some of our Intel-based Mac customers that the latest macOS Tahoe update has been testing the speed of these ‘vintage’ devices. So when exactly should you hang the boots up on your Mac machine? Let’s investigate…
Is the latest operating system too demanding for Intel?
Apple’s transition from Intel to Silicon (M1) in 2020 marked a new era for Macs, and its evolution since then has been rapid and relentless. We’re already on M5, Apple Intelligence is here, and Apple continues to set new bars in personal and professional computing with unprecedented speed. So it makes sense for Apple to develop operating systems that can handle the heat! However, it also raises the question: where does that leave Intel devices that aren’t old enough to miss out on the automatic OS update, but not new enough to make use of the power it offers?
We’ve heard from a handful of our Intel-using customers that, since the macOS Tahoe update, their devices have begun to underperform. Now, two things are worth mentioning here. Firstly, the last ever Intel-based Macs were released in August 2020. Secondly, for machines that are used in businesses on a daily basis, we tend to advise our customers that they’re looking at a 4-5 year lifecycle.
Whether the macOS Tahoe update is the reason for the downturn in performance or they’re simply just Macs of a certain age, it might be time to consider an upgrade before your device transitions from ‘vintage’ to outright ‘obsolete’.
When does a Mac become ‘obsolete’?
Apple officially makes a Mac machine obsolete when it stops distributing it for sale more than seven years ago. Once a product is classified as obsolete, Apple discontinues all hardware service, and service providers cannot order parts for it.
The process for a Mac becoming obsolete follows these general stages:
- Current (0-5 years after last sale): The product is fully supported with hardware service and parts available from Apple and Apple Authorised Service Providers
- Vintage (5-7 years after last sale): The product is still eligible for service and parts, but availability may be limited
- Obsolete (More than 7 years after last sale): Hardware support is discontinued entirely, with the potential exception of an extended battery-only repair period for Mac laptops up to 10 years in some cases, subject to parts availability
Why is it unsafe to keep using an ‘obsolete’ Mac?
Macs typically receive major macOS updates for about 5-7 years from release, followed by an additional 2-3 years of security updates for the older operating systems. After this period, the machine no longer receives any official software or security patches, which can make it more vulnerable to security threats and incompatible with newer applications.
Therefore, continuing to use an unsupported obsolete Mac might not only be bad for business performance, but could in fact place you in breach of GDPR and/or other related compliance standards.
When should you hang up the boots on your Mac?
It can be difficult to know when to retire your Mac to a comfy chair by the fire, reminiscing about the good old days. If you’re someone who likes to squeeze the lemon until it’s dry, then you might only look to upgrade when performance dips. Remember, though – just because your Mac still works, it doesn’t mean it’s still secure and supported.
For those who want a 4-5 year lifecycle and to keep their Macs at the end of the lease period – with upgrade options after 24 months – our Flex leasing solution is perfect. Alternatively, if you’re a limited company that likes to swap out your Macs more frequently in line with the latest cutting-edge technology, we can offer Flexscription – with extensive, fully transparent and costed end-of-lease options.
Keep your cash where it belongs with Lease Loop
Having a solid suite of Macs in your business can directly improve performance, employer brand, retention and more. So, if you want to give your team the Mac technology they need to thrive, we can help – all the while empowering you to keep the cash where it belongs in your business. Don’t hesitate to get in touch to explore your options.