2016 MacBook Pro or 2015?

[raqball]

I recently purchased a 2017 and considered getting a 2015. B&H has a good price on a 2015 with i5 / 16 / 256 right now.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1128944-REG/apple_z0qn_mf8401_13_3_macbook_pro_notebook.html

In the end I just could just justify paying $1250 for a 3 year old machine.. While the price is good and the specs are fine I opted for a similarly spec'd 2017 with Apple Care +. Yes it was more $$ in the end but I just could not convince myself to spend that much dough on a 3 year old machine.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I wouldn't focus on the age of something that's not super antiquated.
If one prefers the 2015 features and offering, it's a superb machine even today.

 

[KiterTodd]

You guys are killing me! I am very close to pulling the trigger on a 2017 13" MBP... saw this thread, and now I find out the keyboard may have serious issues.

 

[macdudesir]

You guys are killing me! I am very close to pulling the trigger on a 2017 13" MBP... saw this thread, and now I find out the keyboard may have serious issues.

Get the 2017...Get AppleCare for peace of mind (you should always do this)...Enjoy your new machine. People come here to complain. The vast majority of machines will never have an issue...Mine is working great, and I love the new keyboard. Take what you see here with a grain of salt.

 

[raqball]

Get the 2017...Get AppleCare for peace of mind (you should always do this)...Enjoy your new machine. People come here to complain. The vast majority of machines will never have an issue...Mine is working great, and I love the new keyboard. Take what you see here with a grain of salt.

Yeah Apple Care + is a must have with a 2016 or a 2017 as an out of warranty KB repair can hit the $700 mark.. There are plenty of sales right now on the 2017's and someone could easily take that savings and apply it to the cost of Apple Care +.

 

[Naimfan]

You guys are killing me! I am very close to pulling the trigger on a 2017 13" MBP... saw this thread, and now I find out the keyboard may have serious issues.

The 2017 models *appear* to be more reliable than the 2016 models.

I'd still suggest a 2015, which has been much less troublesome. If you do get a 2017, definitely pad Apple's profit margins and add Applecare.

 

[NY Guitarist]

Do both the '15 and '16 have the battery that's glued in place? What happens if the battery goes bad, just throw it away? Or is it replaceable?

 

[Queen6]

Yeah Apple Care + is a must have with a 2016 or a 2017 as an out of warranty KB repair can hit the $700 mark.. There are plenty of sales right now on the 2017's and someone could easily take that savings and apply it to the cost of Apple Care +.

Just find it truly saddening that Apple Care is now near mandatory, as the cost of repair has now spiralled to the point where a problem out of warranty basically writes off the notebook for many, cost of progress I guess...

Q-6

 

[jerryk]

Do both the '15 and '16 have the battery that's glued in place? What happens if the battery goes bad, just throw it away? Or is it replaceable?

Battery is glued in place on 2015, 2016, and 2017. If battery dies out of warranty can buy one from iFixIt and deal with heating up the battery and trying to cut through the glue. Or pay Apple's rates

 

[raqball]

Just find it truly saddening that Apple Care is now near mandatory, as the cost of repair has now spiralled to the point where a problem out of warranty basically writes off the notebook for many, cost of progress I guess...

Q-6

I really wish Apple would become less about squeezing every penny out of consumers and more about customer satisfaction.

A brief and recent example is take a look at what Google did with the Pixel 2 phones. There were complaints about the Pixel 2 XL screens so what did Google do? They changed the warranty from one year to two years on all the Pixel 2 phones! The regular Pixel 2 was not effected by the screen issue but Google upped the warranty for it along side of upping the warranty on the Pixel 2 XL.

Apple really should up the warranty on the 2016 and 2017 machines to a minimum of 2-years for at least the KB but they should do it for the entire machine. Apple won't do this because they want to squeeze every penny that they can from every human walking the planet.

 

[Falhófnir]

I really wish Apple would become less about squeezing every penny out of consumers and more about customer satisfaction.

A brief and recent example is take a look at what Google did with the Pixel 2 phones. There were complaints about the Pixel 2 XL screens so what did Google do? They changed the warranty from one year to two years on all the Pixel 2 phones! The regular Pixel 2 was not effected by the screen issue but Google upped the warranty for it along side of upping the warranty on the Pixel 2 XL.

Apple really should up the warranty on the 2016 and 2017 machines to a minimum of 2-years for at least the KB but they should do it for the entire machine. Apple won't do this because they want to squeeze every penny that they can from every human walking the planet.

They would also do well to reverse the nickel and diming like removing the power extension cord, the microfibre cloth, not just including a USB A adapter in the box when it's clearly going to be useful to every single person who buys one of these machines. They're charging enough, little touches like that really add to or detract from the 'premium experience' they insist they are selling.

 

[Queen6]

I really wish Apple would become less about squeezing every penny out of consumers and more about customer satisfaction.

A brief and recent example is take a look at what Google did with the Pixel 2 phones. There were complaints about the Pixel 2 XL screens so what did Google do? They changed the warranty from one year to two years on all the Pixel 2 phones! The regular Pixel 2 was not effected by the screen issue but Google upped the warranty for it along side of upping the warranty on the Pixel 2 XL.

Apple really should up the warranty on the 2016 and 2017 machines to a minimum of 2-years for at least the KB but they should do it for the entire machine. Apple won't do this because they want to squeeze every penny that they can from every human walking the planet.

They would also do well to reverse the nickel and diming like removing the power extension cord, the microfibre cloth, not just including a USB A adapter in the box when it's clearly going to be useful to every single person who buys one of these machines. They're charging enough, little touches like that really add to or detract from the 'premium experience' they insist they are selling.

Your both absolutely correct Apple has just become lazy, cheap and greedy. For a so called provider of premium products nickel & diming customers at every instance is real turn off, Apple will be charging for the box as an additional extra next. 2016/2017 MBP's that have keyboard design issues Apple will do as it's always done - "nothing" until compelled by a court of law or Apple knows it has zero chance of rebuking the case...

Once you generate a monopoly this is always the blowback, with the consumer rarely benefitting. In these cases Apple want it's customers to purchase adaptors & dongle, power cables that carry high margins and happily lap up repairing Mac's out of warranty...

Agree very much detracts from the experience of owning such products

Q-6

 

[raqball]

Your both absolutely correct Apple has just become lazy, cheap and greedy. For a so called provider of premium products nickel & diming customers at every instance is real turn off, Apple will be charging for the box as an additional extra next. 2016/2017 MBP's that have keyboard design issues Apple will do as it's always done - "nothing" until compelled by a court of law or Apple knows it has zero chance of refuting the case...

Once you generate a monopoly this is always the blowback, with the consumer rarely benefitting. In these cases Apple want it's customers to purchase adaptors & dongle, power cables that carry high margins and happily lap up repairing Mac's out of warranty...

Agree very much detracts from the experience of owning such items

Q-6

Yup!

When considering the purchase of the 2016 or 2017 machines we also need to consider what also needs to be added. These are not nice to have add ons, these are must have add ons.

1. Apple Care + = $270 (one out of warranty KB repair is $700 so you better have this)
2. Dongles or a hub = $30-100 depending on what the user needs

So in reality the cost of any new MacBook Pro is not what you see at the store and pay when you leave. You will need to tack on a bare minimum of $300 to that price. More depending on what you need. Need the extension cable that Apple no longer provides? Well, tack on some more to the cost..

It's ridiculous.... You can buy a 2k MacBook Pro and a 1k iPhone X and guess what? You can't even connect them out of the box(s) without having to spring additional moola for a dongle..... LOL

 

[Queen6]

Yup!

When considering the purchase of the 2016 or 2017 machines we also need to consider what also needs to be added. These are not nice to have add ons, these are must have add ons.

1. Apple Care + = $270
2. Dongles or a hub = $30-100 depending on what the user needs

So in reality the cost of any new MacBook Pro is not what you see at the store and pay when you leave. You will need to tack on a bare minimum of $300 to that price. More depending on what you need. Need the extension cable that Apple no longer provides? Well, tack on some more to the cost..

It's ridiculous.... You can buy a 2k MacBook Pro and a 1k iPhone X and guess what? You can't even connect them without having to spring additional moola for a dongle..... LOL

From a business point of view it's smart as you have no alternatives short of switching platforms, hence why Apple is constantly looking at ways to lock it's customers in and build further dependency on it's hardware.

Apple is as obvious as the day is long; some don't care, some cant see, some have no other choice and Apple all to well knows and looks to capitalise at every instant. Just waiting to see what Tim & Co come up with next to screw us over. Personally I don't care about the pricing so much as long as the value is there, however I do care about the principle...

Q-6

 

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

OP - take all comments regarding KB failures with a pinch of salt. I have a 15" 2016 model and my KB has been perfect since day one. Many other posters will have a similar experience to me but it tends to be those with bad experiences and whose vitriol encourages them, that will claim model wide issues.

Get Applecare on a 2016 and you're covered. The 2015 is old now and not worth the relatively steep investment.

Good luck.

 

[raqball]

My problem is I dig MacOS and I dig iOS so the continuity and handoff function between them is handy and appreciated. I purchased a 2017 about a month ago and 3 days in the KB developed an issue so I returned it.

A few weeks ago I found a 2017 with i5 / 16 / 512 at a killer price so against my judgement, I purchased it. So far happy with it but I did add Apple Care + which added $270 to my out the door cost. I already have plenty of dongles and hubs so that was not an issue.

I still find it hilarious that someone can spend thousands and thousands on Apple's latest and greatest computer and iPhone but since Apple wants to squeeze an extra buck out of them, they don't include an adapter to connect an iPhone to a Mac.

 

[Fishrrman]

The keyboard issues have been so numerous on the nearly-new 2016 -and- 2017 MacBook Pros, that I cannot recommend them. I wouldn't buy one myself.

If so many keyboards are failing so soon, what's going to happen when these units turn 3, 4, 5 years old?

This is one instance where "older tech beats newer tech".
I prefer "robustness" and longevity to "the latest and greatest". So...
...The 2015 remains my standard recommendation (bought one myself)...

 

[jerryk]

My problem is I dig MacOS and I dig iOS so the continuity and handoff function between them is handy and appreciated. I purchased a 2017 about a month ago and 3 days in the KB developed an issue so I returned it.

A few weeks ago I found a 2017 with i5 / 16 / 512 at a killer price so against my judgement, I purchased it. So far happy with it but I did add Apple Care + which added $270 to my out the door cost. I already have plenty of dongles and hubs so that was not an issue.

I still find it hilarious that someone can spend thousands and thousands on Apple's latest and greatest computer and iPhone but since Apple wants to squeeze an extra buck out of them, they don't include an adapter to connect an iPhone to a Mac.

They also do not give you that power cord we used to get with the charger. That is $20 at the Apple Store.

 

[turbineseaplane]

OP - take all comments regarding KB failures with a pinch of salt. I have a 15" 2016 model and my KB has been perfect since day one.

But buy AppleCare - our in house 2016 13" space bar just started sticking the other week..

It's absolutely a real problem, at the very least way more of a problem than it ever was with 2015 and earlier keyboards.

The new keyboard designs have tolerances that are just too tight and the keys become much more easily stuck by any foreign debris/dust than ever before.
[doublepost=1518546288][/doublepost]

My problem is I dig MacOS

That's my problem too..

Who knows - Maybe Apple will go way too far and turn what's left of macOS into iOS on a laptop/desktop and I'll have no choice but to leave anyhow. It would be a sad day, but at least I'd be done getting screwed on hardware by Apple.

I really just want them to course correct and I honestly am ready for new leadership at the company - or at least a new hardware vision. Doesn't Johnny want to go race cars or something? Go retire lad - you've "done enough"...

 

[mbkthrowaway]

The keyboard issues have been so numerous on the nearly-new 2016 -and- 2017 MacBook Pros, that I cannot recommend them. I wouldn't buy one myself.

If so many keyboards are failing so soon, what's going to happen when these units turn 3, 4, 5 years old?

This is one instance where "older tech beats newer tech".
I prefer "robustness" and longevity to "the latest and greatest". So...
...The 2015 remains my standard recommendation (bought one myself)...

Good points, I'm actually reconsidering the 2015 if I'm able to get a deeper discount.

 

[raqball]

Good points, I'm actually reconsidering the 2015 if I'm able to get a deeper discount.

Hope it's a monster discount as it's a 3-year old machine.. Nothing wrong with the 2015 just not at the prices they are going for..

 

[mbkthrowaway]

Hope it's a monster discount as it's a 3-year old machine.. Nothing wrong with the 2015 just not at the prices they are going for..

It's a tough decision. The 2016-17 models are beautiful, they're hard to pass up.

 

[Naimfan]

They also do not give you that power cord we used to get with the charger. That is $20 at the Apple Store.

Not to mention that the USB charging cable isn't included if you buy a second charger . . .

 

[Queen6]

It's a tough decision. The 2016-17 models are beautiful, they're hard to pass up.

Just need to roll the dice, if you get a good one, you'll be happy if you get one with a problematic keyboard, likely to be expensive and inconvenient sooner or later...

Q-6

 

[MyMacintosh]

I guess I’m the crazy one here. Have a 15inch 2016 touchbar, with no Apple care, and have never purchased it on any of my Apple devices...... As to OP’s question, it really depends on where you’re coming from. I had a 2008 unibody 15, then a 2012 retina 15, and now a 2016 touchbar 15. Personally after having the 2012 style for a few years, I absolutely am loving the updated keyboard, battery life, speeds and look of the 2016 design. But since you are coming from a 2008, I have no doubt you are going to love the retina MBP in general. With that being said, all things considered, if it simply boils down to cost, I would ultimately go with the 2016 as others have said, the price for ~ 3 year old tech doesn’t seem justifiable to me.