If you own a MacBook not older than 4 years, depending on the configuration, you might still have a chance to sell it for quite a bit of cash, or get a considerable rebate towards a brand new laptop, with one caveat, which is a narrowing window of opportunity to act. Once that window closes, it will cause the value of your old MacBook to precipitate considerably.
In the next couple of months, Apple is likely to host at least one big Mac event, in which a brand new redesign of the MacBook Pro is expected, as well as an array of product refreshes, including an updated iMac Retina.
With particular reference to the upcoming MacBook Pro, it seems that Apple is willing to make an exception from its tick-tock strategy of releasing completely new redesigns of at least one of its product lines every other year. In 2015, for instance, the Apple iPad Pro and the 12 inch MacBook were released, as well as the iPad Mini 4, and two brand new iMac Retina, featuring 4K and 5K displays, respectively.
The amount of speculation about more brand new products for 2016 has been consistent, but it is not the only factor which may influence Apple into an early “tock”. Lower than expected iPhone sales are indeed part of the equation, and this could be motivation enough for Apple to release at least one new product earlier than expected.
Finally, a major incentive for Apple to release at least a new Mac, is Intel’s break from a “tick-tock” cycle of its own, which has characterized the release of past CPUs. As of the release of Skylake, that cycle is officially broken, and Intel is now into its second year of brand new releases with Kaby Lake, followed by Cannon Lake in 2017.
Based on this information, Apple could be very close to release a brand new MacBook Pro, which means that as usual, prices for current MacBooks are expected to decrease, ahead of a new product launch. This is where timing really counts: if you sell your MacBook after the price starts decreasing, the value of your MacBook will also decrease and you will get less money towards a new MacBook.
What makes your MacBook more valuable
Aside from timing, other factors that influence how much money you can get for your used MacBook include specs. If your MacBook comes with a 128GB SSD, it will be valued less than one with a 256GB or 512GB storage drive, and also less than a MacBook with a 1TB fusion drive.
The sweet spot would be have at least a 512GB SSD, for two reasons: first, SSD storage lasts longer, is more reliable and speeds up your Mac considerably, in respect to a spinning drive. Second, MacBooks are harder to upgrade (depending on your model). For instance, you can’t upgrade your storage on a 12 inch MacBook, so you have to be very careful about the type of configuration you choose from the start.
Another factor is a faster processor. Typically the faster the better. This goes hand-in-hand with memory as well. More RAM will result into a better valuation of your used MacBook, especially towards the purchase of a brand new model. 8GB of RAM is a good number to start with.
The GPU is rarely a factor, mostly because the MacBook is a laptop designed primarily for work or study, and not a device built for serious gaming. Also, external hardware is available to enhance a MacBook’s graphic capability, such as Bull Box, and Wolfe.
So, what is our old mac worth? Check out Portable One's trade in program and find out!
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