Is the 2023 MacBook Pro worth the upgrade - even after 10 years?

Renowned for style and durability, Macbooks can last 10 years or more. So is it worth upgrading to the latest model? We tested new and old, with surprising results.

Spot the difference: M3 MacBook Pro (left) and a 2009 MacBook Pro.

The dopamine rush of that ‘new phone feeling’ is well known – but less so for laptops, and that’s OK according to Apple.

The $US3.01 trillion tech titan doesn’t expect people to rush out and upgrade their MacBook when it announces a new release every year or so.

When it unveiled its latest MacBook Pro line-up in late October, Apple compared its new M3 chip not with its immediate predecessor, the M2, but with its three-year-old M1 chip, revealing the sweet spot in its upgrade cycle.

But it’s not unusual for people to hold onto their MacBooks for much longer. Apple has made further comparisons with the older Intel processors, which it phased out in favour of Apple Silicon when it launched the M1 range.

A reader contacted me to say that they even held onto their MacBook for 10 years before they decided to upgrade, praising the computer for its durability and design.

So after using the new model with an M3 chip for the past six weeks, I dragged out a 2009 MacBook Pro to find out if you could still use a computer that’s more than 10 years old, and if - as bizarre as it may sound - it was worth the upgrade.

The design of the new MacBook Pro with M3 chip pay homage to the MacBook Pro line-up of the late 2000s.

Design

The first thing that struck me was how similar the computers looked – a square aluminium body with soft curves at the corners. The older MacBook was more than 400 grams heavier and bigger overall, despite having a 13.3 inch screen versus the newer computer’s 14 inches. This is because Apple has dispensed with chunky bezels and also the built-in CD/DVD drive.

But the design of the computers was nearly identical – except for the iconic backlit Apple logo on the lid, which was dumped in 2015 to make the computers more streamlined.

The older MacBook still powered up (a Toshiba laptop I had of similar vintage wouldn’t even turn on).

The trademark start-up bell chime was quieter than the new model. The M3 Mac has a high-fidelity six speaker sound system, comprising two pairs of dual force-cancelling woofers and two tweeters, delivering a robust audio experience. The older computer’s speakers were buried behind the only vent along the screen hinge, making it sound muffled, tinny and good quality headphones essential.

It took more than a minute for the older MacBook to boot up. The new one was ready to go in less than 10 seconds.

Useability

A software upgrade alert flashed across the screen on the older computer. But it could only install MacOS X El Capitan, which was launched in 2015 and OS Sierra succeeded in 2016. Supported apps were limited.

But the web-based software I use works. It ran smoothly until I opened a few other applications, then things slowed down, with the 4GB of memory struggling to keep up.

My iTunes library, Photo and Messages apps continued to sync. But the older computer struggled to do anything more advanced.

I couldn’t download Adobe Lightroom from the App Store (I need OS 12 or later). I couldn’t even download Microsoft Word.

But I could still download Google Chrome via Safari and access the suite of Google apps, such as Docs and Sheets, to perform word processing and spreadsheet work. I had the same functionality as a Chromebook, plus a DVD drive to watch old movies on.

The M3 MacBook Pro (left) borrows design touches from the 2009 MacBook Pro (right), which can still perform basic functions.

Battery life

After about 15 minutes of work on the older Mac, battery life dipped to 76 per cent. The indicator said I have about 2 hours and 5 minutes of use. Not bad after 14 years.

The newer MacBook remained fully charged after the same amount of work. It has up to 22 hours of Apple TV app movie playback and up to 15 hours of wireless web browsing. When I bought the older MacBook, the advertised battery life was seven hours, and indeed I could use it unplugged on several two-hour round trips to and from the office back then before it needed charging.

Screen

The older Mac has a LED-backlit glossy display with 1280 by 800. It’s not bad. But is no comparison to the M3 MacBook, with has a liquid retina XDR display with 3024 by 1964 native resolution. This makes the screen more immersive. A nice touch on the newer MacBook, is a screen saver that flies over a rolling landscape, gently coming to rest when you unlock it.

Built in camera

This is where the older MacBook really shows its age. I used it for a few work video calls and the 0.3MP resolution made me appear muddy and it could not handle any backlight.

The M3 MacBook has a 1030p HD camera and an “advanced signal processor with computational video”. This made me appear crisp, and even when seated in front of a window with full sun, my face remained clear and not in silhouette. The older computer can do the job but it didn’t look professional.

Price

In June 2009, the recommended retail price of the 13-inch MacBook Pro, with 2.3 GHz processor was $2399. It came with 4GB of memory, expandable to 8GB and 250GB hard drive.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro with M3 chip starts at $2699, with 8GB of unified memory (for $600 extra you can go up to 24GB) and 512GB of solid-state drive storage. Overall, it’s a 12.5 per cent price difference between the older and newer computer, despite getting considerably more tech, including Touch ID to unlock the computer,

Bottom line

The fact that the older computer still works and is capable of being reviewed against a 2023 model is testament to Apple’s design and quality.

But if you are still using a 2009 MacBook, it’s time for an upgrade. Not only has your computer lasted almost five times longer than the typical Apple upgrade cycle, it has cost you about $171 a year. That’s good mileage.

Ultimately, it comes down to what you want from a laptop. If you’re happy with the basic functions the older MacBook still provides, that’s fine.

You can save yourself buying a Chromebook, which will struggle to still be operating in 14 years.