Initial price is only half the story
In 2025, the first price you see on a banner is only the starting point. MacBook Air starts around 41,000 UAH, while premium Windows ultrabooks sit in a similar ballpark: Dell XPS 13 from 45,000 UAH, Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon from 53,000 UAH, and HP EliteBook from 49,000 UAH. On the surface, these figures look close, but the real math unfolds after you purchase.
Real-world costs over three years go beyond the sticker price. Forrester’s three-year ownership analysis suggests that a MacBook can save roughly 35,000 UAH compared with a similar Windows ultrabook. It isn’t marketing hype: it’s a reflection of ongoing maintenance, support, and resale dynamics that shape total cost of ownership (TCO).
To understand the technical edge, many readers look at how Apple’s hardware and software integration translates into fewer breakages and smoother long-term use. A deeper dive into MacBook architecture reveals how the M4 family’s efficiency and the tight hardware-software pairing can impact ongoing costs, including performance longevity and energy efficiency.
Maintenance and support costs
The biggest driver of TCO hinges on ongoing maintenance. Data from large organizations shows a noticeable gap: Mac users tend to encounter fewer technical issues than Windows users. In practical terms for a business device pool, the pattern often looks like this:
- MacBook: about 2 IT support requests per year
- Windows ultrabook: roughly 5–7 requests per year
- Average cost per support ticket: 2,000–4,000 UAH
That means annual support savings of roughly 10,000–20,000 UAH per device, which compounds meaningfully over three years.
Repair costs also diverge. Replacing a MacBook keyboard at an authorized service center runs about 6,000–12,000 UAH, while premium Windows ultrabooks can demand 4,000–10,000 UAH for the same task. Part of this difference stems from the MacBook’s aluminum chassis and comparatively simpler cooling design that reduces certain failure modes, contributing to fewer repairs over time.
Lifecycle, depreciation, and resale
Device longevity matters. Typical MacBooks remain practical for 4–5 years of active use, whereas Windows ultrabooks often stay current for 3–4 years, influenced by hardware updates and OS support windows. It’s also worth noting OS support timelines: macOS updates continue for roughly 7 years after a model’s release, while Windows 10 support ends in October 2025, pushing some users toward hardware upgrades sooner than expected.
Resale markets show a clear premium for MacBook devices. A 2020 MacBook Air with M1 can still fetch around 60–65% of its original price by 2025, while a Windows ultrabook of similar vintage may drop 55–70%. If you bought a MacBook for 41,000 UAH, a three-year resale might bring in about 25,000–27,000 UAH. Dell XPS models in the same window may attract 18,000–20,000 UAH.
Windows 11 upgrade considerations
Windows users face a practical hurdle: many devices running Windows 10 will need upgrading to Windows 11 to stay supported, especially given TPM 2.0 and processor age requirements. For some laptops, that means a costly upgrade path or a bigger refresh sooner than planned. In contrast, Mac devices generally do not face compulsory OS-level upgrades that force immediate hardware replacement, helping stabilize long-term costs.
Battery life, performance, and cost to replace
Battery longevity directly affects daily value. The MacBook Air with the M4 chip delivers about 15–18 hours in realistic use, while Pro models reach 18–22 hours. New Windows ultrabooks with Intel Core Ultra often hover around 12–15 hours for light tasks. Battery health matters too: after ~2 years, Mac batteries typically retain 85–90% of original capacity; Windows batteries around 75–85%. Replacement costs differ: roughly 8,200 UAH for MacBook batteries at authorized service, vs. about 5,000–7,500 UAH for Windows laptops depending on model.
Ecosystem, software, and ongoing costs
Apple’s ecosystem comes with built-in productivity apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote) at no extra license cost, which reduces annual software spend. Windows users commonly pay for Microsoft Office (about 2,900 UAH per year for a personal subscription), or seek alternatives. Over three years, those Office licenses can add up to around 8,700 UAH in additional expenses. However, Windows offers advantages for gaming and specialized software, which can tip the balance depending on use cases. For professionals who rely on Windows-only tools, the cost gap may narrow or reverse if virtualization or alternate workflows are considered.
Bottom line: which is cheaper over three years?
When you factor in maintenance, support, lifecycle, resale value, and software costs, the MacBook often ends up cheaper for a broad slice of users over a three-year horizon. Realistic estimates place the total savings in the 33,000–37,000 UAH range versus a comparable Windows ultrabook, driven by lower ongoing maintenance, better resale value, longer usable life, and less pressure to upgrade hardware. For many professionals weighing the choice, the MacBook’s lower friction over time translates into meaningful three-year savings despite seemingly similar upfront prices.
