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2013 Retina MacBook Pro stolen... What year to replace with?

D

Dragomer

macrumors member
Original poster
Aug 6, 2009
31
1
Hello!

As mentioned in the title, my beloved maxed out 2013 15 inch rMBP was stolen over the summer. Despite locking it, and all sort of security precautions I have never found it.

I have survived on my iPad Pro for basic computing tasks, but I feel as though I need an actual computer as true multitasking, while better with iOS11, is not up to standard for what I’m having to do. Editing and writing a 35 page paper on the iPad Pro was not a pleasant experience especially with a lack of reference software. While the 2017 keyboard is a little better, I can’t stand the 2016 model keyboard and lack of usb 3. My brother has a new 13 inch with the touch bar and is not a fan. While it is anecdotal, he has had to have the display replaced twice, and the logic board replaced in less than a year. The amount of dongles he has to carry around for basic functionality is laughable. Not to mention I don’t have $3k just lying around that I want to spend.

Anyways...

My budget is around $1k up to $1.5k if the value is there. I’m honestly just looking for longevity and durability. I know the discrete graphics cards in these are sub par at best, but it would be fun to be able to casually play some steam games from time to time, nothing major. I am out of the loop with regards to how good the newer Iris graphics are, so please feel free to let me know if I can get by without a discrete card. I am just leaning that way because that is what I had before, and throughouly enjoyed it. 512gb ssd is a minimum for me unless I end up with a desktop.

Currently here is what I see for sale on the used market:

2013 15 inch rMBP 2.3 ghz, 16gb, 1tb ssd, 650m = $1079
2014 15 inch rMBP 2.5 ghz, 16gb, 512 ssd, 750m= $1099
2015 15 inch rMBP 2.5 ghz 16gb, 512 ssd, r9 m370 = $1499
2014 15 inch rMBP 2.2 ghz, 16gb, 1tb ssd, 750m = $1550

My thoughts are leaning towards the 512gb 2014 right because of price. Let me know what you all think, and feel free to provide with any alternatives.

Thanks!
 
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I've just paid $1,400 for a used 2015 15-inch mBP 2.5/16/512/R9 with almost a full year of warranty left (Late October 2018). The 2015's GPU is somewhat faster than the 2014's plus they are equipped with the new force-touch trackpad. Otherwise they should be identical. I would suggest a 2015 if you can get your hands on one.

Interesting side note: a brand-new 2016 model can be had for less than a brand-new 2015 model at this point. Says a lot about its reliability, popularity, and acceptance.
 
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mj_ said:
I've just paid $1,400 for a used 2015 15-inch mBP 2.5/16/512/R9 with almost a full year of warranty left (Late October 2018). The 2015's GPU is somewhat faster than the 2014's plus they are equipped with the new force-touch trackpad. Otherwise they should be identical. I would suggest a 2015 if you can get your hands on one.

Interesting side note: a brand-new 2016 model can be had for less than a brand-new 2015 model at this point. Says a lot about its reliability, popularity, and acceptance.
Click to expand...

It sure does!

How do you like the force trackpad? I was worried about durability issues with it. Where did you happen to score that from if you don’t mind me asking? That would certainly be ideal to get it with another year of apple care left on it! Congrats on the pickup!
 
I love the force trackpad. Not because of its force click features (or force touch, or 3D click, or 3D touch, or whatever this brainfart is called these days), those are completely and utterly useless. Infact, they are just as useless as they are on the iPhones - complete waste of space and technology. However, I do love the fact that clicking feels identical wherever your finger is. It doesn't matter whether your initiating a click in the top left or bottom right corner: it always feels the same.

I got mine off eBay from a used Macs dealer in Utah. Just make sure they accept returns and have a proper and accurate description. I wouldn't buy one with a one-liner description or one without exact specifications. The more the better.
 
mj_ said:
I love the force trackpad. Not because of its force click features (or force touch, or 3D click, or 3D touch, or whatever this brainfart is called these days), those are completely and utterly useless. Infact, they are just as useless as they are on the iPhones - complete waste of space and technology. However, I do love the fact that clicking feels identical wherever your finger is. It doesn't matter whether your initiating a click in the top left or bottom right corner: it always feels the same.

I got mine off eBay from a used Macs dealer in Utah. Just make sure they accept returns and have a proper and accurate description. I wouldn't buy one with a one-liner description or one without exact specifications. The more the better.
Click to expand...

Good to know! I have had issues with the mechanical ones from time to time on previous MacBooks, so I might be open for a change. Seemed like the ends of the trackpad always wore out and you had to press very hard to get a response. Well I will definitely keep a lookout for that. I hadn’t even thought of 2015’s still having apple care. A quick eBay search comes up with some for 1700$, but its with the 1TB ssd and apple care until next year. Thanks for the recommendation!
 
Dragomer said:
How do you like the force trackpad? I was worried about durability issues with it. Where did you happen to score that from if you don’t mind me asking?
Click to expand...

The force trackpad is great. You can set if up the way you like in Preferences. The force trackpad was one of the best things I got when I upgraded from a 2011 MBP to a 2015 rMBP.
 
I’m guessing you need to be mobile hence the needs for a MBP. However if you can get along with your iPad whilst on the move (and you’ve had a lot of practice) have you considered a brand new iMac as an alternative? Fits your budget.
 
Marc_S said:
I’m guessing you need to be mobile hence the needs for a MBP. However if you can get along with your iPad whilst on the move (and you’ve had a lot of practice) have you considered a brand new iMac as an alternative? Fits your budget.
Click to expand...

I have considered it, what do you think performance-wise, the comparable iMac would be? I can get around mobile with the iPad if I need to. However, I just didn’t see the value in the iMacs the same way I did in the rMBP but I could be totally wrong. Can you get a reasonably speced iMAC with a 512gb SSD for $1500 or under? I’m not opposed to it!
 
Dragomer said:
I have considered it, what do you think performance-wise, the comparable iMac would be? I can get around mobile with the iPad if I need to. However, I just didn’t see the value in the iMacs the same way I did in the rMBP but I could be totally wrong. Can you get a reasonably speced iMAC with a 512gb SSD for $1500 or under? I’m not opposed to it!
Click to expand...

Absolutely yes you can. In fact you can get one with a 1Tb SSD for your budget. You mention gaming and the new spec fits. Also gves you additional gaming hardware upgrade options like additional RAM and GPU which you don’t necessarily need to purchase immediately. Take a look at the online Apple store. Cheers!
 
Marc_S said:
Absolutely yes you can. In fact you can get one with a 1Tb SSD for your budget. You mention gaming and the new spec fits. Also gves you additional gaming hardware upgrade options like additional RAM and GPU which you don’t necessarily need to purchase immediately. Take a look at the online Apple store. Cheers!
Click to expand...

Hmm....I do not see anything with a 1tb SSD for under 1500, unless you are referring to a fusion drive.
 
I just got the new MacBook Pro with touch bar. I didn't like the keyboard at first but now that I'm used to it, it's actually not that bad. I'm actually enjoying the new MacBook compared to the 15inch 2015 model.
 
Dragomer said:
2015 15 inch rMBP 2.5 ghz 16gb, 512 SSD, r9 m370 = $1499
Click to expand...
This is the exact spec I have, i love this computer and I was going to trade it in for a 2017 but decided not too, because, in my opinion, this machine is superior. In performance, battery, mag safe, legacy ports. This will last you a long time, never had any parts replaced (except the display when I dropped it). I would say go with that mac with a heartbeat and that price is a bargain (other users on another thread found maxed 2016 for less than a max 2015). That price is honestly amazing and so is the mac. Also, the trackpad is amazing, not overly huge like the 2016 and has force touch (and silent mode).

For gaming, even though the specs are good, its also about optimization. I can play CSGO and some other games in good settings but gmod is horrible. I recommend applying to be a part of the beta of NVIDIA GeForce now (it runs games on their server, you just need decent/good internet). There is now a waitlist, so apply now, it is free at the moment because of the beta and can play all my favorite games.
 
Dragomer said:
My budget is around $1k up to $1.5k if the value is there. I’m honestly just looking for longevity and durability.
Click to expand...

I am afraid that your goals conflict with your budget. You'll have to buy a used, few years old model. That directly contradicts the longevity requirement. Not to mention that by 2020, the USB-A ports on older machines will most likely be all but obsolete.

Dragomer said:
2013 15 inch rMBP 2.3 ghz, 16gb, 1tb ssd, 650m = $1079
2014 15 inch rMBP 2.5 ghz, 16gb, 512 ssd, 750m= $1099
2015 15 inch rMBP 2.5 ghz 16gb, 512 ssd, r9 m370 = $1499
2014 15 inch rMBP 2.2 ghz, 16gb, 1tb ssd, 750m = $1550
Click to expand...

From this list, I'd take the 2015 model, simply because its the newest machine. The GPU is also a very decent boost over the 750m.
 
leman said:
Not to mention that by 2020, the USB-A ports on older machines will most likely be all but obsolete.
Click to expand...
Personally, I don't think that's true. The computer industry has always been very slow in adapting to new technologies. Manufacturers will always focus on maximum compatibility, which is why almost all new peripherals are still USB-A out of the box (think external hard drives, printers, etc.) save for the occasional Apple-centric manufacturer that is offering some USB-C peripherals. Even Apple is still selling brand-new iPhones and iPads (mind you: models introduced in 2017, not legacy iPhones/iPads introduced many years ago) with USB-A cables in the box. And guess what kind of cable is included with Apple's own Magic Mouse 2? 99% of all computers sold have a wide variety of ports. Some will include a USB-C port but let's face it: most probably won't. We live in a tech-centric bubble here and almost nobody outside of our bubble is even aware of USB-C.

Do I think USB-C is the future? Yes, certainly so.
Do I think it will completely replace USB-A in the next 10 years, rendering the latter obsolete? No, most likely not.

USB-C will become an option but it is not going to replace USB-A entirely. The USB-C revolution Apple has so famously and desperately been trying to jump-start since introducing the 12" MacBook in early 2015 is not happening. It's been more than two years now and literally nothing has happened or changed. Nada. Zero.
 
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Samuelsan2001 said:
That graphics card was announced April 2013 it’s 5 years old architecture wise.
Click to expand...

Not to mention it wasn't exactly setting any speed demon records in 2013...the entry level non-touchbar's iGPU should outperform it in many scenarios. If my work was graphics-intensive, I'd be up poo's creek with no paddle :eek:
 
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mj_ said:
The USB-C revolution Apple has so famously and desperately been trying to jump-start since introducing the 12" MacBook in early 2015 is not happening. It's been more than two years now and literally nothing has happened or changed. Nada. Zero.
Click to expand...

Actually, a lot of stuff is starting to happen, and happen quickly. Right now, the USB-C is gaining momentum at high speed. Flagship Android phones are all USB-C now (and this market is a big driver of change!). Dell's refreshed XPS line is USB-C only. More and more PC laptop makers are incorporating USB ports. The supplier where we buy hardware from lists 15% of their external HDDs as coming with a USB-C cable or port out of box. Doesn't seem like much, but these are all models that have been released in the last few month. There are all these new USB-C monitors being released as well.

Looking at all this, I really believe that 2018 will be the USB-C year. Although you are of course right that USB-C and USB-A will still coexist for some time. Certainly less then 10 years though...
 
My suggestions:

- 2015 MBPro 15" -NEW- (still available as newly-produced units from Apple)
- 2015 MBPro 15" Apple Refurbished
- 2015 MBPro 13" Apple Refurbished
 
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