Every Mac loses value the day it leaves the box — but not at the same speed. Some models shed half their price in two years while others are still selling for most of what they cost new, five years later. Whether you are deciding which Mac to buy (so it holds value), or timing when to sell the one you own, the depreciation curve is the whole game. Here are the real numbers from the 2026 refurbished market.
The short answer
- Apple Silicon Macs hold value dramatically better than Intel Macs. Intel models fell off a cliff when support wound down.
- MacBook Airs keep the highest percentage of their price. High demand, low launch price, tiny supply of cheap alternatives.
- MacBook Pros lose the most dollars — which makes them the best deals to buy used.
- Desktops sit in the middle. An M1 iMac still keeps well over half its launch price after five years.
- Condition beats specs. A healthy battery and clean screen matter more to resale price than an extra storage tier.
Value retention by model (2026 refurbished market)
These figures compare each Mac’s U.S. launch price against what the same configuration sells for refurbished today:
| Mac | Launched at | Refurbished today | Value kept |
|---|---|---|---|
| MacBook Air 13″ M3 (2024) | $1,099 | $849 | ~77% |
| MacBook Air 15″ M3 (2024) | $1,299 | $1,280 | ~73% |
| MacBook Pro 14″ M2 Pro (2023) | $1,999 | $1,099 | ~55% |
| MacBook Air 13″ M2 (2022) | $1,199 | $974.99 | ~46% |
| MacBook Air 13″ M1 (2020) | $999 | $569.99 | ~45% |
| MacBook Pro 14″ M1 Pro (2021) | $1,999 | $879 | ~44% |
| iMac 24″ M1 (2021) | $1,299 | $749 | ~58% |
Two patterns jump out. First, age is the biggest factor: the two-year-old M3 Airs have kept roughly three quarters of their price, while the 2020–2022 machines have settled in the 44–46% band. Second, the Pro models drop more in absolute dollars — the 14″ M1 Pro has shed over $1,100 from its launch price, more than an entire M2 Air costs today.
Why Apple Silicon changed the depreciation curve
Before 2020, a five-year-old MacBook was slow, hot, and often near the end of its macOS support runway — so prices collapsed accordingly. Apple Silicon broke that pattern. An M1 Air from 2020 still handles everyday work smoothly, still gets macOS updates, and still delivers all-day battery life. Because the machines stay genuinely useful for longer, the used market keeps paying real money for them. Intel Macs got the opposite treatment: once Apple stopped shipping new features to them, demand evaporated. If you are weighing a cheap Intel machine, read our honest take on Intel MacBooks in 2026 first — the sticker price is low for a reason.
Airs hold the highest percentage
The MacBook Air is the best-selling laptop Apple makes, and demand for used ones never lets up — students, parents, and small businesses all want the same machine. That demand floor props up prices: the M1 Air launched at $999 nearly six years ago and still sells for $569.99. If keeping resale value is a priority for your next purchase, an Air is the safest bet — and buying it refurbished instead of new means you skip the steepest part of the depreciation curve entirely, because the first owner already paid it.
Pros lose the most dollars — and that is your opening
Professional machines launch at premium prices that the used market will not sustain. The 14″ MacBook Pro with M1 Pro is the clearest example: a $1,999 laptop with a Liquid Retina XDR display, 16GB of memory, and fans that let it run heavy exports all day — now $879 refurbished. If you are buying rather than selling, the depreciation that hurts first owners is exactly what makes used Pros the strongest value on the market.
What actually hurts a Mac’s resale value
- Battery health. The first thing every used buyer checks. Below roughly 80% capacity, offers drop fast.
- Screen damage. Cracks and pressure marks are the single biggest price killer — though a broken MacBook still has real trade-in value.
- Dents and bent corners. Cosmetic damage signals a drop, and buyers price in the worst case.
- Locked accounts. A Mac still tied to someone’s Apple ID is nearly unsellable — always sign out and wipe before selling.
Storage and color matter far less than people expect. A clean, healthy base model routinely outsells a rough high-spec one.
When to sell or trade in
The depreciation curve is steepest right after Apple releases a successor, then flattens. The worst move is holding a Mac until macOS support ends — that is when values drop hardest and never recover. If your machine is more than four or five years old and you are already thinking about upgrading, sooner beats later. We buy Macs in any condition — see what your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro is worth, working or not.
Frequently asked questions
Do MacBooks hold value better than Windows laptops?
Substantially. Most Windows laptops lose the majority of their value within two to three years because there are hundreds of interchangeable models. Macs have a liquid, brand-loyal used market that keeps prices firm for years longer.
Which MacBook holds its value best in 2026?
By percentage, the MacBook Air line — the M3 Airs have kept roughly three quarters of their launch price after two years. By usefulness-per-dollar-lost, the M1 Air is remarkable: nearly six years old and still worth about 45% of what it cost new.
Does more storage improve resale value?
A little, but never as much as the upgrade cost. Condition — battery, screen, chassis — moves resale price far more than a storage tier does.
Is it smarter to sell a Mac or trade it in?
Private sale can bring a little more cash, but takes weeks of listings, lowball offers, and no-shows. A trade-in is done in minutes and works even for damaged machines that are hard to sell privately.
Ready to buy the Mac that already took its depreciation hit? Browse our refurbished lineup — every machine ships free, is covered by our warranty, and comes from LuxuriousComputers in Marion, Ohio.