Apple notebooks keep more of their price than Windows laptops of the same age, mainly because software support lasts longer and the used market is deeper. Chip transitions still hurt: Intel MacBooks fell hard when Apple silicon shipped, and each new M-series bump reprices the last one.
Live catalog: 651 MacBooks · offers $4–$1,005 · average $149 (displayed listings, working-condition quotes).
Typical first-year loss for a working macbook: about 35%. Year two lands near 50%; year three near 65%.
| Time owned | Value lost | On a $1,000 device | Est. on average offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | −11% | $890 | $133 |
| 6 months | −21% | $790 | $118 |
| 9 months | −29% | $710 | $106 |
| 1 year | −35% | $650 | $97 |
| 1.5 years | −43% | $570 | $85 |
| 2 years | −50% | $500 | $75 |
| 2.5 years | −58% | $420 | $63 |
| 3 years | −65% | $350 | $52 |
| 5 years | −80% | $200 | $30 |
“Est. on average offer” applies the curve to today’s average catalog offer — a sketch of age, not a quote for your serial number.
Why MacBooks lose value
- Apple supports Macs with updates for years. Buyers pay extra for a machine that will still get macOS.
- WWDC (June) and the fall hardware event are the two dates that reset trade-in matrices.
- Unified memory and storage are soldered. A low-spec MacBook cannot be upgraded later, so config at purchase is the config at sale.
What still holds a price
- Apple silicon (M1 and newer) with 16 GB+ memory.
- Unblemished aluminum, working keyboard, and Find My / iCloud turned off.
- Original 30W–140W charger matched to the model.
When to sell
List or sell 4–8 weeks before WWDC or the October event if you already plan to upgrade. After a new chip family is announced, last-gen asking prices usually gap down within days.
How this is built
Percentages are category research (resale studies + typical buyback movement), not IRS MACRS. Dollar ranges are live from our displayed MacBooks. Your instant quote still depends on exact model, storage, cosmetic grade, and defects — including account locks.
Sources
- Apple Trade In
- IRS Publication 946 (MACRS 5-year property)
- AssetPanda IT asset depreciation guide
- IRS Publication 946 — computers as 5-year property (accounting contrast, not a street bid).
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FAQ
Do MacBooks depreciate slower than Windows laptops?
Yes, in most years. A typical MacBook is closer to −35% in year one versus about −45% for a mainstream Windows notebook. The gap is support length and used-market liquidity, not magic metal.
Does iCloud lock kill the value?
Activation Lock / Find My left on makes the Mac unsellable to a legitimate buyer. Turn it off in Settings or iCloud.com before you ship. We cannot pay a locked machine as if it were wiped.
Is it better to sell now or wait for a new model?
Waiting usually costs more than it saves. New launches reset demand for last year’s hardware. If you already plan to replace the device, selling before the announcement typically beats selling after it.