Every Apple Product, Ranked by "Will You Still Love It in 3 Years": The Longevity Report

The question nobody answers in the Apple Store

Every Apple purchase you ever make comes with the same unspoken question: is this still going to feel good to own three years from now?

It's a better question than "is this worth the money today." Because day-one, basically every Apple product feels great. It's new, it's clean, it's fast. The question that actually matters is whether the magic wears off in year one, year two, or year five. Some Apple products age like fine wine. Others age like milk in a warm car.

This post is an honest ranking of the entire current Apple lineup by projected 3-year longevity. We're not talking about when a device stops getting software updates (that's useful but incomplete). We're talking about whether it will still feel good to use and whether you'll still enjoy owning it three years from now.

The criteria we're judging on:

1. Software support timeline: will Apple still be pushing meaningful updates?
2. Battery degradation curve: how much will the battery hurt by year 3?
3. Performance longevity: will it still feel fast enough?
4. Design aging: will it look dated or still look premium?
5. Resale value: can you recoup reasonable money if you upgrade?

Each product gets a score from 1–10 on projected 3-year love. Let's rank them.

S Tier: Still loved at year 3 (scores 9–10)

MacBook Air M4: 10/10

Why it ages beautifully: Apple Silicon MacBooks have set a new standard for how long a laptop can stay relevant. The base MacBook Air M4 will feel fast for at least 5–6 years, the design has been stable since 2022 and still looks contemporary, and the battery is protected by aggressive charge management. Software support will likely extend to 2032 or later.

The M4 MacBook Air is probably the longest-lasting premium laptop you can buy right now, full stop. It's the device most likely to still make you smile 3 years from now.

Year 3 verdict: Still feels like a new laptop. You're not upgrading.

iPad Air M3: 9/10

Why it ages well: Similar Apple Silicon longevity story. The M3 chip has years of headroom for the kind of workflows people actually use iPads for (note-taking, reading, light creative work, media consumption). The design language has been stable since 2020. Battery holds up well under typical iPad usage patterns.

The one thing that holds it back from a 10: software updates for the iPad have been slightly less generous than for Macs historically, and Apple sometimes strips features from older iPads without much announcement, even when the device still runs the current OS.

Year 3 verdict: Still feels great. You might want a new Magic Keyboard by then, but the iPad itself is fine.

Apple Watch Ultra 2: 9/10

Why it ages well: The Ultra line is built to last. Titanium case doesn't scuff the way aluminum Apple Watches do. Battery life is already so good that even with 20% degradation at year 3, it still outperforms a new Apple Watch Series 10.

The health sensors, GPS, and connectivity features are all mature, and watchOS updates tend to support flagship watches for 5+ years.

Year 3 verdict: Still tracking, still looking great, still charging every 2–3 days.

A Tier: Still excellent at year 3 (scores 7–8)

iPhone 17 Pro / Pro Max: 8/10

Why it ages well: A-series chips have been carrying iPhone longevity for years. An iPhone 17 Pro will still run the latest iOS smoothly in 2029. The frame is more durable than the aluminum sides on base iPhones. Apple Intelligence features will continue to evolve on this chip for years.

What drags it down slightly: iPhone batteries take a hit. At year 3, you're usually looking at ~85–88% battery health, which means noticeably less "full day" than day one. Most people end up replacing the battery around year 3 ($99 service) or upgrading.

Year 3 verdict: Still looks great, still fast. You'll probably want a battery replacement around this time.

MacBook Pro M4: 8/10

Why it ages well: Same Apple Silicon story as the Air, but with active cooling the Pro handles heavier workloads longer. For a creative professional or developer, this is still the most future-proof MacBook you can buy. Display quality doesn't degrade over time.

What drags it down: The Pro ages slightly less well than the Air because creative professionals push their laptops harder. By year 3, the fans may be louder, the battery may be more degraded (from more intensive use), and the pain of outgrowing it arrives a year earlier than the Air.

Year 3 verdict: Still a great machine. You might be eyeing the next generation but not because of anything actually wrong with this one.

AirPods Pro 2: 7/10

Why it ages well: The sound quality stays excellent for years. Noise cancellation technology doesn't degrade. The form factor is comfortable and proven.

What drags it down: The batteries inside AirPods Pro degrade faster than on bigger devices. At year 2.5–3, battery life drops noticeably, sometimes from 6 hours of listening to 4 hours. Apple doesn't offer battery replacement service on AirPods Pro at a reasonable price (it's roughly the same as buying new).

This is the item on the list where the 3-year horizon does catch up with you. Most AirPods Pro owners upgrade around year 3 not because the sound is worse but because the battery is dying.

Year 3 verdict: Sound still great. Battery hurts. You'll probably replace them.

B Tier: Good at year 3 but showing wear (scores 5–6)

iPhone 17 (base): 6/10

Why it ages okay: The base iPhone 17 gets many of the Pro's benefits: the current A-series chip, ProMotion display (new on the base 17), improved battery. It will still run the latest iOS for years.

What drags it down: The aluminum frame scuffs and dings over time, and the glass on non-Pro iPhones is less scratch-resistant than the Pro's. Base iPhones also historically get software feature gating earlier. Apple holds back certain features for Pro models in later iOS versions.

Year 3 verdict: Works great. Shows wear. You can see the scuffs on the edges if you look closely.

iPad (11th gen, base): 6/10

Why it ages okay: The base iPad has held up remarkably well as a device for years, and the current generation will continue that trend. For basic use (reading, notes, video, light productivity) this iPad will still work fine in 2029.

What drags it down: Like the base iPhone, base iPads get feature gating over time. Stage Manager doesn't work on them. Later iPadOS features may require newer chips. The chassis and design are less premium than iPad Pro/Air, and small cosmetic damage becomes noticeable faster.

Year 3 verdict: Still useful. Feels dated compared to newer iPads in the store. Kids love it.

Apple Watch Series 10: 6/10

Why it ages okay: watchOS updates will support it for years. The screen and sensors are solid.

What drags it down: Aluminum Apple Watches scuff and chip at the corners, especially on the buttons. The battery degrades to the point that you're charging every single night by year 3 (where the Ultra still gets multiple days).

Year 3 verdict: Works. Looks a little rough. You'll want to upgrade the band (if not the whole watch) to freshen it up.

C Tier: Functional at year 3 but frustrating (scores 3–4)

iPad Pro M4 (13"): 4/10

This is a controversial placement. Hear us out.

Why it's only C tier: The iPad Pro is a great device on day one, but its "is this worth it" math shifts harder over three years than almost any other Apple product. At day one, you're paying a premium for the OLED display, the M4 chip, and the Pro branding. At year 3:

• Apple will have released iPad Pro M5 (and maybe M6), making your device feel more dated faster.
• The value proposition gets worse as cheaper iPad Airs continue to close the gap.
• The investment you made in Magic Keyboard ($349) and Apple Pencil Pro ($129) adds to the sunk cost of the platform, making upgrades more painful.
• The device was priced as aspirational, and aspirational products age worse than practical ones.

The iPad Pro works great in year 3. You just feel the premium you paid more acutely every month. For a closer look at how the iPad Pro earns (and doesn't earn) its price in real daily use, see our iPad Pro 30-day experiment.

Year 3 verdict: Functional. Regrets surfacing. You wonder if you should have bought an iPad Air for half the price.

AirPods 4 (base): 4/10

Why they're low tier: Similar battery degradation problem as AirPods Pro, but without the Pro's superior initial experience to soften the blow. By year 3, AirPods 4 have worse battery life than they did on day 1, and the value proposition versus newer AirPods or third-party alternatives erodes every year.

Year 3 verdict: Still work. You're eyeing newer models more and more.

D Tier: Will probably frustrate you at year 3 (scores 1–2)

Apple Vision Pro: 2/10

Why it ages poorly: Spatial computing is a rapidly evolving category. The first-generation Vision Pro will feel distinctly first-generation within 18 months, and genuinely obsolete within 3 years. Meta, Samsung, and Apple itself will all ship meaningfully better headsets in 2026–2027.

The $3,500 price tag on a device that will feel old in 2 years is the worst longevity math in Apple's current lineup.

Year 3 verdict: Sitting in a drawer. You show it to guests occasionally.

HomePod (full size): 2/10

Why it ages poorly: HomePods are software-dependent devices in a market (smart speakers) where software moves quickly. Apple has been inconsistent about updating Siri capabilities, Home app integration, and multi-room features. HomePods from 2018 are functional but feel dated today, and current HomePods will likely follow the same curve.

Year 3 verdict: Plays music. Siri still can't answer basic questions. You're annoyed.

The pattern (spend your money accordingly)

Look at the top of this list. Notice which products earned S and A tier:

• MacBook Air M4
• iPad Air M3
• Apple Watch Ultra 2
• iPhone 17 Pro
• MacBook Pro M4
• AirPods Pro 2 (barely)

And which fell to C and D:

• iPad Pro M4
• AirPods 4
• Apple Vision Pro
• HomePod

The pattern: the Apple products that age best are the practical, mainstream ones. The MacBook Air is the longest-lasting laptop Apple sells. The iPad Air is the longest-lasting tablet. The Apple Watch Ultra is the longest-lasting watch. The iPhone Pro is the longest-lasting phone.

Apple's most over-priced and over-hyped products age worst. The iPad Pro is a great device that you'll regret buying. The Vision Pro is a science experiment. The HomePod is a software product in speaker clothing. Paying the aspirational premium on any of these is a losing bet if you care about long-term satisfaction.

The practical recommendations

If you're shopping Apple and want to maximize the chance you'll still love it in 3 years:

1. Buy MacBook Air over MacBook Pro unless you have a specific pro need. (Our MacBook Air vs. Pro M4 breakdown covers exactly when the Pro is worth it.)
2. Buy iPad Air over iPad Pro for most users.
3. Buy Apple Watch Ultra if you can afford it, especially because its longevity is much better than the regular Series line and the price gap evens out over 3 years.
4. Buy iPhone Pro over base iPhone if you care about aging well. The tougher frame and better display age noticeably better.
5. Buy AirPods Pro 2 if you want headphones that last at least 3 years.
6. Skip Vision Pro for a full generation (or two).
7. Delay HomePod until Apple commits to the platform more seriously.

The financing angle

Longevity matters more when you finance something. A payment plan on an iPad Air M3 that still feels great in 2028 is money well spent. The same plan on a Vision Pro that feels obsolete in 2027 is a much worse trade.

When you're deciding whether to finance an Apple product, ask: "Will this product still be worth using when I make the last payment?" If the answer is "yes, easily," finance it. If the answer is "probably not," reconsider whether to buy it at all, and definitely reconsider the payment term.

At Tech Buddy the two payment paths are deliberately simple, and the longevity test applies differently to each. Afterpay pay-in-4 splits a purchase into four equal, interest-free payments over six weeks (the first is charged at checkout, and eligibility runs on a soft check that doesn't affect your credit score), so the device barely has time to age before you've finished paying. Lease-to-own through Acima or Progressive Leasing runs monthly instead: it's a rental-purchase agreement rather than a loan, the full terms are stated in the agreement before you commit, and early payoff reduces the total cost. That second path is exactly where this ranking earns its keep, because the S-tier and A-tier products are the ones still worth owning at the final payment. For the MacBook version of that logic, see our $0-down MacBook playbook.

Ready to shop

Browse our MacBook collection for live pricing on the longest-lasting devices Apple makes (the iPhone and iPad collections are one click away from there). If you want help picking the one that fits your goals, send us a message through the site and a real person will answer.