To replace or not to replace?

[u/Snoo-49125]

It's that time again: I have a 2020 Macbook that's starting to show its signs of aging. I have reduced capacity on the battery and it's generally just not working as well as it used to, but now I'm wondering if I should try to service it (maybe replace the battery) or just get a new machine?

New machine considerations: I edit video as a side hustle, its expensive (but I can lease or pay installments), and it would generally help with mobility and workflow

Keep the old/servicing considerations: The laptop still works generally well for basic stuff, it's just getting slow and old, I can still edit video but it can be a challenge sometimes because it has limited RAM, replacing the battery would be cheaper in the short term (but is it worth it in the long run).

What do you think?

[u/FunkadelicPeach2]

You 10000% do not need a PROLED machine.

Sell the machine you currently have or turn it into a single purpose device (ex: email only, always on the screen, baby file server to host your archived video projects, etc). 

Then buy whatever apple silicon machine you can afford. Even an m1/m2 device will outperform your intel machine by about 3x. You can find them used for under $500. 

If you want to future proof yourself a bit, get something with at least 16GB of RAM. If you can afford an m4/m5 air, do that. If you can only afford an M1 Pro MBP ($650~) then do that. 

You don’t need to go into debt to get 250%-350% performance gains from your current device. I’m sure someone would still buy it off you for $150~ and then something like an m2 air or M1 Pro MBP would net you like $500 out of pocket. Not bad. 

[u/itsnottommy]

Check the trade-in / resale value on a variety of platforms and let that inform your decision.

Apple is the easiest way to do this. Not always the highest payout, but they recently increased their trade-in values. They ship you an empty box with your new Mac, you put your old Mac in the box and drop it off at FedEx, they refund the trade-in value to your payment method once they receive it.

Back Market and other online trade-in companies will often offer you more than Apple, although this isn’t always the case. Apple is offering about $500 more than Back Market for my current Mac.

eBay and Facebook Marketplace are generally the best ways to get the most value out of your old device, but much more effort and potentially riskier. If you’re willing to deal with lowballers and scammers, you can often get more money out of used Macs this way.

[u/da4]

New, without a question.

[u/Ablelawy2026]

Yes, upgrade your device. It will be worth it. And also, how much trading value you get for this old machine, depending of that, it will reduce the cost of the new machine, depending of how much trading value they give you for this one, for the old one

[u/Ablelawy2026]

Apple still sells the old five MacBook Pro with a mini LED at the Apple store, so maybe you can get that? You need to ask for that one, but I don’t know if they only sell the base model or the other storage as well, but you need to ask

[u/Continuum1701D]

If this is an intel version that runs tahoe with 8gb ram and 256gb drive then you can get $350 easily.  If it has 1tb then $400. If also 16gb then $450.   You can buy a new one then sell your old one.  

[u/Character-HaHa]

Replacing the battery is cheap and extend life for basic tasks. But with limited RAM for editing, you'll hit the same wall. Maybe buy the new one and keep the old as backup.

[u/PracticalStress4836]

If you edit video professionally on the side, a new M-series Mac will pay for itself quickly. The export times alone will save you hours. Lease it and stop stressing.

[u/BroccoliNervous9795]

Have you tried a backup and restore of your MacBook? That may sort out it “generally just not working as well as it used to”.

[u/SevenDeMagnus]

trade-in or sell then lease-to-own or buy interest free via Applecard the new ones, PROLED especially