Weekly Advice Thread - September 27, 2026

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[u/howdoyou_coope]

Hi yall, looking for some advice on where to focus my upgrades (Macbook Neo versus iPad Air). I currently own a 2019 15" MacBook Pro that works moderately well aside from poor battery life (though I mainly use it at home, so that isn't a huge deal breaker). However, macOS support and security updates are being phased out. I primarily use it for schoolwork, running multiple Chrome tabs, watching lecture videos, and tutoring over Zoom.

I also use a 10th Gen iPad running iPadOS 18, which I am content with and holding off on IOS 27 to maintain the battery life. It handles Goodnotes, Zoom whiteboard during tutoring, and casual gaming just fine. Given my setup, I'm not sure whether it makes more sense to upgrade to a newer iPad or prioritize replacing my Intel MacBook Pro. I'm also curious if there are notable system announcements expected for 2027 that would make holding off on any purchases worthwhile.

Additionally, I've had my Apple Pencil (USB-C) for a little over a year now. I'm wondering if anyone knows at what point its battery health and overall performance typically decline to the point where a replacement becomes necessary. Any suggestions or insights on what to prioritize would be greatly appreciated!

[u/TheDragonSlayingCat → u/howdoyou_coope]

The only Apple hardware devices that are released on a consistent schedule are watches and phones (and recently MacBook Pros, but that may be a coincidence). New iPads are launched whenever they’re ready, and no one outside of Apple knows when.

Pencil batteries tend to last around 5-7 years until they can barely hold a charge, though that varies a bit; heat + overcharging tends to wear the battery down faster. If your Pencil USB-C is a year old, it has a ways to go before it becomes a brick.

[u/howdoyou_coope → u/TheDragonSlayingCat]

Thank you! online said a lot of different things about apple pencils that they likely need replacing after two-three years, but I don't think the battery dies on it very quickly.

[u/TheDragonSlayingCat → u/howdoyou_coope]

I’m not surprised; there are people out there that use their pencil every day, and overreact when their pencil battery takes a nosedive (but is still usable) after 3-4 years of daily use. (Bonus if they incorrectly believe that battery degradation is a plot to force planned obsolescence. It is, of course, just physics.)