I'm trying to get a straight answer on how much longer I can use my devices before they become obsolete. I bought a MacBook Air new around 2020 and it's still working fine, but I also have a cracked iPhone 13 mini. I'm planning to return it since I realized it had a knock-off back housing. That leaves me with just the screen and logic board, and I'm considering buying a new mini.
Additionally, I have an iPhone 7 that I'm currently using as a backup while I figure out what to do with the parts from the 13 mini. I'm looking for the most effective solution, especially since I'm on a tight budget. I want to make sure I can still get some use out of my devices without waking up one day and finding that nothing works, which would only create more hassle for me.
3 Answers
Is your 2020 MacBook Air Intel or M1? It makes a big difference in terms of future updates and longevity!
It really depends on what you’re running. My Macs seem to last forever as I still use a 2013 MacBook Air and a couple of iMacs from 2015 and 2017 without any major issues. However, keep in mind that while hardware might last, you may not get security updates forever. If your 2020 MacBook Air is Intel, you'll hit a wall with updates soon enough. Just be prepared for potential app support issues as newer updates roll out.
My 2014 MacBook is still going strong, though I switched it to run Xubuntu, which helped a lot. I also have a 2012 iPad Mini that still works fine but hasn't been updated in years since I mostly use it for a couple of specific apps. Honestly, as long as your devices still run what you need them to, you might be fine for a while. Just consider the software support too as that could be an issue down the line if apps stop working on older systems.
I’m considering selling my 13 mini's logic board and screen, and just waiting until Apple releases another small phone. I’ve seen unlocked 13 minis going for about $200 on Walmart and Amazon, but I'm not sure if it'll be worth it. The 13 mini is super easy to open for repairs, but getting a genuine Apple housing is tricky and expensive.
That’s exactly my worry. I invested around $100 in parts to fix my 13 mini, but the housing I got was a knock-off, which broke. They're offering to refund everything, but now I'm left with just the board, screen, and some parts. Should I just buy a new unlocked device or try to salvage what I have?