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Longevity of Macbook Air M1?

S

scouser75

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Oct 7, 2008
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Hey guys, in terms of software support, how many years do you guys think are left in the M1 MBA? Appreciate this is a "how long is a piece of string" kinda question!

I'm looking to buy an M1 for my kid as don't want to spend to much as chances are they won't look after it properly.

Thanks
 
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Usually, there are about 7 years of OS updates and about 2-3 years of security updates after that- from when it was made.
After 7 years, most Apple products become 'vintage' meaning they stop making parts for them. There may well be parts available somewhere for a long time and they may still work for a long time, but at about 7 years you won't be able to take them into Apple to get them repaired.
So overall, around the 7 year mark is where things change.
But note, we still have a 2016 Macbook that's used everyday and works extremely well.
 
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I would guess a minimum of three more years of updates, likely more.
Based on nothing but my opinion, macOS 27 will probably still support the M1 Air. Apple’s loose policy is supporting the current macOS and two prior versions with updates, so even if current OS support ends for it with 27, you are getting updates into 2030 at least. The M1 is a somewhat special case too, as it’s still being sold new at places like Walmart.
 
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MY
Macbook Air
2020
M1
kicks
butticks
now
since
I
have
reverted
to
the
monterey!
I recommend using version 12.7.2 (21G1974)
since the newer Monterey version are sabotaged!

enjoy the MBAm1!

oh the design is very elegant, thin and sleek!

(added Personally I will never update anything from Cupertino again!)
 
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MBAir2010 said:
MY
Macbook Air
2020
M1
kicks
butticks
now
since
I
have
reverted
to
the
monterey!
I recommend using version 12.7.2 (21G1974)
since the newer Monterey version are sabotaged!

enjoy the MBAm1!

oh the design is very elegant, thin and sleek!

(added Personally I will never update anything from Cupertino again!)
Click to expand...
You can’t revert below what it ships with.
 
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Aren't the M1 & M2 extremely similar? I remember reading that the performance increases were pretty much because of increased clock speed, not by improved in the architecture itself, and hence the M2 powered devices ran hotter and throttled faster.
 
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Given that the M1 is just like any other Apple processor made for any of their other devices, it's easy to figure a rough estimation.


The M1 is based off of the same cores as the A14. It was also last used in a device introduced in March 2022, the iPad Air, with the A14 last being used in the iPad 10 introduced in October 2022.


Apple always gives the base iPad seven full iPadOS updates, likely due to the education market it is targeted at. This is why sometimes there will be weird gaps like the A10 iPad 7 getting iPad OS 18 but the A10X iPad Pros only getting up to 17. So the A14 based iPad 10 will at least get to iPadOS 29.


iPadOS 26 supports every iPad introduced from October 2018 and later, including the March 2019 Air3 and Mini5. This is a very good sign, it means that devices like the M1 Air will likely be supported right alongside the iPad 10’s A14 until iPadOS 29.


We can assume If a chip is supported on iPadOS, macOS is supported as well.





macOS 27 is already known to be M1 and up, the first ARM only release.


Given that Apple is literally still selling the M1 MacBook Air through Wallmart, it’s a pretty good chance macOS 28 keeps support as well. And given what we already established about iPad support, macOS 29 support is very likely as well.





With this in mind, the M1 being supported until iPadOS and macOS 29 means that the MacBook Air will get eight full years of software support, with the rest of the M1 family from 2021 and 2022 getting seven and six full years respectively, plus the additional three years of security updates.


macOS 27, 28 and 29 are all very likely to have the same system requirements just like Mavericks, Yosemite and El Capitan did.








TLDR: macOS 28 is a pretty safe bet, with macOS 29 being very likely as well.
 
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HiVolt said:
Aren't the M1 & M2 extremely similar? I remember reading that the performance increases were pretty much because of increased clock speed, not by improved in the architecture itself, and hence the M2 powered devices ran hotter and throttled faster.
Click to expand...
Not exactly.
The M1 is based off of the A14’s first generation 5 nm process and Firestorm and Icestorm cores.
The M2 is based off of the A15’s second generation 5 nm process and blizzard and avalanche Cores.
But on top of that, they also did boost the clock speed yes, but it is very much a new chip.
 
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V
scouser75 said:
Hey guys, in terms of software support, how many years do you guys think are left in the M1 MBA? Appreciate this is a "how long is a piece of string" kinda question!

I'm looking to buy an M1 for my kid as don't want to spend to much as chances are they won't look after it properly.

Thanks
Click to expand...
Buy an M2 or the M4 Air at this point, the price difference is really negligible and you won’t be asking these questions for quite some time.

Personally I think the M1 will get a total of 10 years as it is still being commonly sold in Wal-mart. Others here will vigorously disagree with me, but I stand by my assertion.

$100 more gets you a 16GB/256GB M2 Air which is a better value than the M1 Air.
 
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The only right answer is MacBook Air M1 will receive at least 4 more years of software updates because Apple discontinued it last year. Apple’s policy is at least 5 years of software support since discontinuation.
 
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Lounge vibes 05 said:
TLDR: macOS 28 is a pretty safe bet, with macOS 29 being very likely as well.
Click to expand...
I hope you are right.

The 8GB of RAM is likely to be a bigger problem than the CPU. I could see the base M(x<4) getting cut entirely due lack of RAM while the pros and those M3 with 16 GB standard are still supported.

On the other hand if they keep flogging Augmented Idiocy as they have been then the M1, M2, and M3 are all likely to die together if the 40 TOPS requirement is really needed for on-device AI in a reasonable time.

The M1 is 11 TOPS, the M2 is 16 TOPS, and M3 is 18 TOPS. M4 is the big jump to 38 TOPS.

In a case of serious overkill I just upgraded my stereo cabinet mini to an M2 with 16/512 replacing the 2014 mini. Now I can at least do 4k video once I upgrade the TV. That old HP just keeps chugging along though.
 
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Mr_Brightside_@ said:
This Mac shipped to you with something newer than 12.7.2?
Click to expand...
honestly im so burnt out with 
and happy my M1 FINALLY works!

heck I left my only iPhone on a cradle all month this November and never took that out of house until today.
I would rather have a book and candle...but need tech to work!

ATTENTION ALL MAC M1 users of the solar federation
ATTENTION ALL MAC M1 users of the solar federation
ATTENTION ALL MAC M1 users of the solar federation
M1 support will end on May 15, 2026
M1 support will end on May 15, 2026
WE HVE ASSUMED CONTROL
WE HVE ASSUMED CONTROL




WE HVE ASSUMED CONTROL
 
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Siliconguy said:
The 8GB of RAM is likely to be a bigger problem
Click to expand...
Well, seeing as they were still using 8 GB of RAM until… uh… actually still with the currently still being sold brand new from Apple M3 iPad Air and both the M3 MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, I don’t think that will be a reason for no macOS support Anytime soon. I don’t think Apple would take support away from the, checks notes, M3 MacBook Air from 18 months ago until they actually started discontinuing support for any of the M3 machines, and we are still at minimum five years away from them doing that.
At worst eventually, some features might be disabled for machines with 8 GB, but that’s a very different situation than the operating system not being available for them at all.
 
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MBAir2010 said:
honestly im so burnt out with 
and happy my M1 FINALLY works!

heck I left my only iPhone on a cradle all month this November and never took that out of house until today.
I would rather have a book and candle...but need tech to work!

ATTENTION ALL MAC M1 users of the solar federation
ATTENTION ALL MAC M1 users of the solar federation
ATTENTION ALL MAC M1 users of the solar federation
M1 support will end on May 15, 2026
M1 support will end on May 15, 2026
WE HVE ASSUMED CONTROL
WE HVE ASSUMED CONTROL




WE HVE ASSUMED CONTROL
Click to expand...
try to answer the question instead of going your inane ranting
This Mac shipped to you with something newer than 12.7.2?
 
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Mr_Brightside_@ said:
try to answer the question instead of going your inane ranting
This Mac shipped to you with something newer than 12.7.2?
Click to expand...
I rely do not know anymore-
I can't find out,
sorry to be this way'
but the OS was Monterey 2022 du jour.

perhaps someone or many  support can help you
since I can't!
good luck!


next time accept one's inane ranting over  incompetence.
 
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