MAKE YOUR OLD MAC FEEL LIKE NEW

How to expand, repurpose, or sell your aging Mac

- CRAIG GRANNELL

SORRY TO BREAK it to you, but technology does not last forever. You might have spent eleventy bajillion dollars on your Apple-branded pride and joy, but what once scythed through anything you threw at it will, at some point, end up becoming the Mac equivalent of a wheezing snail.

The thing is, we're in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis. Even if your Mac is creaking, you probably don't want to splash out on shiny new kit. And even if you are willing to buy a new Mac, you'd likely want a bargain — and also to make the most of your existing gear.

That's what this feature is all about. As Apple puts Intel Macs on notice (macOS 26, aka Tahoe) is the last major update any Intel Mac will get), a whole bunch of kit is glancing at a terrifying countdown. But come September 2026, that doesn’t mean those Macs will instantly become e-waste. Far from it.

Here, we're breaking things down into three sections, providing alternative paths for older Macs. Think of it like one of those old narrative adventure books, but with 100% less likelihood of you turning the page and being eaten by a tiger.

The first part looks at sprucing up an old Mac. What software and hardware can you cunningly make use of to give the aforementioned “wheezing snail” machine rocket boosters? The next bit is all about how you can make use of an older Mac when it stops being your main computer.

The final section is all about saying goodbye — albeit not wistfully, given that it’s also about helping you make some cold, hard cash. So we'll be exploring how to set up your old Mac for sale, where best to sell it, and ways in which you might secure a bargain when sourcing your next Mac.

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