Apple MacBook / MacBook Pro / MacBook Air
by Apple
6 endorsements on r/BuyItForLife first recommended in Feb 2025
Apple's laptop lineup spanning MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, from Intel-era unibody models through Apple Silicon (M-series) chips.
Added Jul 5, 2026, Updated Jul 7, 2026
Why it's buy-it-for-life
Redditors report Apple laptops running well over a decade with minimal repairs — a 2008 MacBook Pro still working 17 years later, another lasting 9 years on its original battery, and M1 MacBook Air owners noting a big jump in longevity over prior machines. Some caution that repairability (especially post-2016 unibody/soldered designs) is poor compared to older models.
What redditors say
Recommended on reddit as recently as June 2025
Show 2 more mentions
- 1r/BuyItForLife comment
MacBooks, I've had 2 in the last 20 years and on my 3rd currently
- 1r/BuyItForLife comment
old macbooks, (pre 2016) have the best repairability newer ones with the M chips seem very promising but let's see..
if you're willing to spend more, I'd definitely go with a MacBook Air with an M4 chip. You can get one for around $800 now, hard to beat that.
Honestly from a longevity perspective it's a MacBook. M series is just insane.
Honestly in terms of repairability theyre awful, but I had a macbook pro for 9 years until I traded it for an air. Only replaced battery once.
Every single labtop I had before my M1 MacBook air would become almost not useable after 3 years or so.
I have my first Macbook Pro, from 2008 and WORKING without any failure. It's for 17 years.
I have my first Macbook Pro, from 2008 and WORKING without any failure. It's for 17 years. With OS El Capitan