Apple Silicon Macs are more popular than Intel Macs, according to research.

Apple Silicon Macs are used longer than ever before
Apple’s hardware landscape was reshaped by the transition to Apple Silicon. It also influenced user behaviour, extending Macs’ lifespans and changing upgrade cycles. Apple’s Mac computers relied heavily on Intel chips before 2020. The partnership began in 2006. It brought Apple significant performance improvements, and helped it gain a stronger foothold on the personal computing market. As technology advanced, it became clear that relying on third parties for critical components was not a viable option. Intel’s slower pace – and broken promises – in advancing chip technology lagged Apple’s vision of its products. Apple customers buying a new Mac must have purchased a Mac within the last 12 months (March each year). The introduction of the M1 processor in 2020 set Apple’s computing into a new era. The transition to Apple Silicon had a significant impact on user behavior. According to the Consumer Intelligence Research Partners’ (CIRP) latest report, the percentage of Mac users who kept their previous device longer than two years has increased from 59% to 68% by 2023. This trend is consistent with a larger pattern seen across Apple’s product ranges, including iPhones, iPads, and Macs, where users hold onto their devices longer. In the last 12 months, the percentages of iPhone and Mac users whose previous devices were older than two years grew to 71% and 68% respectively. In 2020, 63% iPhone users and 59% Mac computer owners will report owning their previous devices for at least two years. This shift is due to a number of factors. Apple Silicon Macs are more powerful, so users upgrade less frequently. The COVID-19 pandemic was also a factor in that time period. As people began to adapt to remote work and online learning, the demand for reliable technology increased, which led many to invest in brand new devices. Despite the initial difficulties, the economic uncertainty and the need for cost effective solutions have encouraged users to keep their devices longer. Apple Silicon Macs, with their enhanced efficiency and power over Intel Macs, have been able to handle demanding task for several years. As the market for desktop software continues its decline in favor of cloud applications, the need to upgrade hardware frequently also contributes towards a decrease in upgrades. Apple Silicon may now focus on battery life, as it has satisfied the needs of different types of customers. “In fact, the improvement in battery life may be most important for most laptop users, and may have reached a satisfactory level,” CIRP states.