Your MacBook is getting older and now something is broken: the battery is worn, the screen is cracked, the keyboard acts up or it no longer turns on. Does it still make sense to repair an old MacBook, or are you better off buying another? There is no standard answer, but a few questions get you there. This article explains what to look at, which repairs are often worth it on older models, and what to do if you part with it.
Blue Apple also repairs older MacBooks in Amsterdam. We say honestly when a repair is no longer worth it.
Question 1: how old is it and does it still get updates?
Check About This Mac for the model and macOS. If your Mac still gets security updates, it can safely carry on. If not, it is still fine for simple work, but less so for banking and e-mail. See updating an old Mac and how long a MacBook lasts.
Question 2: what is broken?
- Battery: almost always worth it on older MacBooks. A new battery often makes the Mac faster too, because a worn battery throttles the processor.
- Charger or cable: quick and simple to solve. Watch the right wattage and plug. See which charger fits my MacBook.
- Keyboard: often repairable, though it depends on the model.
- Screen: a bigger part. On very old models a screen replacement is often no longer sensible.
- Logic board: sometimes a component repair is possible, which costs much less than a new logic board. See component repair explained.
Question 3: what do you want to do with it?
If you use the MacBook for writing, mail and video, an old Mac with a new battery and SSD is often more than enough. If you want to run heavy programs or the newest macOS, a newer Mac is wiser. See which MacBook suits me.
Question 4: how do the costs compare?
Compare the repair price with what a similar refurbished MacBook costs. If the repair is a large share of that and the Mac is old, replacing is often more logical. If it is a small share, a repair gets you a working Mac again for little money. See buying a refurbished MacBook.
Often worth it on an old MacBook
- A new battery.
- Cleaning the cooling and new thermal paste: less heat and noise.
- On models up to about 2015: a faster SSD or more memory.
- A new charger or cable.
Resetting an old MacBook to factory settings
If you part with the Mac, reset it to factory settings. On older Intel Macs you first sign out of your Apple Account, erase the drive in Recovery mode and reinstall macOS. See resetting your MacBook to factory settings and erasing your MacBook before selling.
Broken and not worth repairing?
Even a broken MacBook still has value, for example for parts. See selling or handing in a broken MacBook.
What we do at Blue Apple in Amsterdam
We find out what is wrong, give a price and say honestly whether it is worth it for your model. More on our page about MacBook repair in Amsterdam.
Frequently asked questions
From what age is a MacBook too old to repair?
It depends on the fault. A battery is often worth it even on an old Mac; a logic board or screen less so.
Are parts for old MacBooks still available?
For many models yes, but for very old models the choice gets smaller.
Does an old MacBook get faster after a repair?
A new battery, clean cooling or an SSD often makes a noticeable difference in everyday use.
