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More than 60 percent of Mac buyers are switching from PCs or Chromebooks.
The Mac is no more expensive than comparable PCs.
Longevity, reliability, performance, security, and privacy are all great reasons to use a Mac.
Who buys Macs? According to new data from research group CIRP, the majority of Mac buyers are switchers, coming from PCs and Chromebooks.
Those figures are interesting, but there’s another number in CIRP’s data that tells an even more important part of the story: 43% of Mac buyers are already Mac users, which means around 60 percent are coming from other platforms. So what is it that drives people to swap from PCs and cheap Chromebooks to the more expensive Mac, and once they make the switch, why do people stay?
“The allure of Macs for video production agencies boils down to several key factors. First, Macs are renowned for their robust performance and stability,” Mac user and Envy Creative creative director Mike Vannelli told Lifewire via email. “While the upfront cost of a Mac might be higher, the long-term benefits of reliability, performance, and seamless integration make them a preferred choice for video production agencies.”
Macs Are Just Better
There are several reasons to prefer the Mac over other options: They’re easier to use, they’re more private and secure, they integrate amazingly well with your other Apple devices, they’re faster and use less battery, and they just plain last longer.
Macs keep on trucking for years, although this is something that’s more likely to keep Mac users coming back rather than attracting new users.
“Despite the higher price point, the longevity and build quality of Macs can also contribute to their appeal. I purchased my first MacBook Air in 2012 and a MacBook Pro later the same year. They are both fully operational today but I recently replaced them with a 2024 M2 MacBook,” coffee roaster and Mac user Steve Spring told Lifewire via email.
Up until Apple launched the Apple Silicon Macs, I used the same iMac for more than ten years, and I have regularly passed down old Macs to friends and family members for several more years of service.
Another thing that keeps Mac users using Macs is their integration with other Apple products. Once you get into it, it seems like the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and AirPods are all part of one big computer system, rather than being separate devices.
“While no system is immune to threats, macOS is often perceived as less susceptible to viruses and malware.
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“Once you start using a Mac, it becomes more convenient to integrate other Apple products into your workflow, such as an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch. The continuity features across devices AirDrop, and Universal Clipboard, can significantly enhance productivity and are a strong incentive for users to stay within the Apple ecosystem,” says Spring.
The Apple Ecosystem
For new users, the appeal is less obvious. Apple’s computers aren’t expensive when compared to similarly-capable PCs, but Apple doesn’t make a budget Mac, which cuts out many buyers. However, something keeps them coming over from the other side.
The “halo effect” of the insanely-popular iPhone might have something to do with it. Once you own an iPhone and you realize how much you like the way Apple’s devices work, then you may be more likely to opt for a Mac.
“I love how all my Apple products work together (iPhone, watch, computer, family phones and devices, etc). The computer might cost more, but the efficiency of the machine makes my design business more profitable, so it pays for itself in a way my PC never did,” designer and Mac user Amy de Wolfe told Lifewire via email.
Then there’s security. The Mac has always had a reputation for being safer than Windows PCs, in terms of resistance to viruses and other malware.
“Macs have a reputation for being more secure out of the box compared to PCs. While no system is immune to threats, macOS is often perceived as less susceptible to viruses and malware,” says Spring.
And since the iPhone and Apple Silicon eras, things have only gotten tighter. The Mac is now just as resistant to direct tampering as an iPhone or iPad, and being able to track, and remotely disable, your Mac via the Find My service makes it a less attractive target to thieves.
But overall, Macs are just nicer. They look and feel great, they have the best trackpads on any computer, and the screens and speakers look and sound fantastic, instead of being vestigial afterthoughts. Plus, with the M-series MacBooks Air, they run silently, without fans, with almost no heat, and the batteries last all day. To be honest, it’s hard to see why anyone with a thousand dollars or more to spend on a computer would not buy a Mac.
