2016 mbp15" or 2017 mbp13"

[nickelt]

hey guys, im in the market for a new mac as my son spilt water on my 2012 mba (ok I wasn't overly disappointed ) and im looking at the brand new bottom spec touch bar model 13"mbp (i5,8gb ram, 256gbssd) or last years base 15" (i7, 16gb ram, 256gb). Realistically both are overpowered for what i need it for just i like them. I am swaying towards last years 15" because of the quad i7 and 16gb ram thinking it will probably be more future proof. Is this what you guys would recommend?

Regards
[doublepost=1499896589][/doublepost]They are basically the same price, while I could afford any mac i could hardly justify spending the 2017 price of a 15" for my realitively basic needs. Has anyone had use of both, its mainly just a spec bump for 2016 v 2017 right..

 

[UltraInstinct]

I personally would get the 2016 15" i7, 16gb, 256gb model.

 

[leman]

These are very different computers. The 13" is more mobile, the 15" is faster. Both are "future proof" in the same way — meaning that if you get to a point that the 13" is too slow for everyday tasks for you, the 15" will also be too slow. But the 15" is better suited for demanding work due to its quad-core CPU and faster graphcics.

 

[macintoshmac]

Consider the 12" rMB if your usage is basic and portability is a prime concern. If you use more ports than 1, the 13" is the best notebook you can get for medium requirements as well as fairly powerful hardware on tap when you need. The 15" is a beast of a machine if portability is any concern (with light use only).

Up and about often with a laptop and using it for media consumption and everyday tasks - 12"
Up and about often/ or not with a laptop and using it for consumption and everyday tasks along with frequent photo editing and such, also need more than 1 port often - get the 13"

Need the performance behemoth that you can carry around? Get the 15". But you will not be very happy with the size of the 15 once you have touched and experienced the 13 and 12 in a bag.

I have a DSLR bag with a laptop slot, and I would take a 13" max because of its form factor. Ideal would be 12", if portability were my only concern.

So, evaluate your concerns ad usage and the result will become clear to you.

 

[Cloudane]

I think either model will last you a good 6 years at least before it feels a bit lacking.

Consensus I heard when umming and ahhing was that you don't really need those beefy quad core CPUs and dGPUs unless you're doing a lot of video encoding or software compilation. For day to day use, including RAW photo processing (unless it's literally what you do all day for a living) the 13" with the dual core should be fine.

I did very nearly go 15" (PC actually) but went 13" and glad I did as it's heavy enough as it is, the screen is plenty after squinting at an 11" Air for the past 6 years, it runs cool most of the time and doesn't blast the fans or hammer the battery etc (HQs with the higher TDP will run warmer, consume more battery and possibly be a little noisier to cool, but existing 15" users will have a better idea)

 

[macintoshmac]

I am very happy with my 2016. if anything, the keys seem too ready to be pressed. The performance seems adequate, it can handle anything I throw at it and file transfers are a charm. Very fast. There are only some niggles in the design such as the keyboard keycap quality that people are facing an issue with, the hinge issue that a couple more and I myself are facing.

 

[nickelt]

Just got the 13" 2017 i5 3.1 8gb ram 512gb ssd with touchbar and wow! Its a beast! Probably overkill for my need but absolutely love it. Wife has a 2016 MacBook but im glad i went this route. Def a step up from my old 2012 MacBook air

 

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

I am very happy with my 2016. if anything, the keys seem too ready to be pressed. The performance seems adequate, it can handle anything I throw at it and file transfers are a charm. Very fast. There are only some niggles in the design such as the keyboard keycap quality that people are facing an issue with, the hinge issue that a couple more and I myself are facing.

Can you elaborate a bit more on those issues?

 

[tarzanyow]

I personally would get the 2016 15" i7, 16gb, 256gb model.

i will do the same.

 

[macintoshmac]

Can you elaborate a bit more on those issues?

https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...high-pitched-keyboard-clicking-sound.2022399/

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/mbp-tb-2017-super-tight-hinge.2055473/