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2017 M3 Macbook vs 2016 M5 Macbook
- Thread starter neoelectronaut
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IMO responsiveness went into 'not thinking about it' territory- turbo boost to 3.0Ghz probably helps, as does improved SSD speeds and graphics. Also heard battery is about an hour
longer although I didn't compare personally.
From my feel and lots of reviews out there, seems that 2017 m3 is at least 25% faster vs 2016 m5 and I justified paying $10 / % point
Not even close. The 2017 m3 is roughly in the same speed ballpark as the 2016 m5, if you exclude the HEVC video decode/encode enhancements.From my feel and lots of reviews out there, seems that 2017 m3 is at least 25% faster vs 2016 m5 and I justified paying $10 / % point
This is not a big surprise, since their specs are not too far off from one another.
I must have gotten suckered in by Macworld!
http://www.macworld.com/article/3200679/macbook/macbook-kaby-lake-2017-review.html
The Geekbench score of 3041/5860 from Macworld for the 2016 m5 is way off for some reason. One should expect something closer to 3400/6450.
https://browser.geekbench.com/v4/cpu/2873220
Yes, the 2017 m3 still scores faster - roughly 10%, in line with specs - but in stuff like Cinebench R15 multi-core, their scores are near identical at 260 or so.
https://www.notebookcheck.net/Apple-MacBook-12-2017-Laptop-Review.230656.0.html
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Hi, I just purchased the 2016 macbook m5 512 gb @ best buy for $975 (-$500 anniversary sale and -$125 student discount). Wondering if it would be better to exchange it for the 2017 m3 256gb for $1175 or possibly even the 2016 macbook pro TB 256gb i5 for $1375.
I am in college and budget is a concern, but I am willing to pay a little more if I need to. This will be my only computer so I want to ensure it will last about 3 years without performance compromise. For the most part, I usually only use the computer for browsing, excel, ppt etc.
Any advice? Thank you!
I am in college and budget is a concern, but I am willing to pay a little more if I need to. This will be my only computer so I want to ensure it will last about 3 years without performance compromise. For the most part, I usually only use the computer for browsing, excel, ppt etc.
Any advice? Thank you!
For ur mentioned use case u need nothing more than a ten year old computer. So please stop thinking u need the newest CPU for task even a mobile can do
Same here. Mine gets here Tuesday. For $840 (same excellent open box at BB you got) I couldn't justify the extra expense. Maybe I'll get it and hate the keyboard but I'm willing to give it a shot. I spilled water on my trusty 13" mid 2013mbp, my favorite computer so far ever... sigh, so this is replacing that.
Since you keep the laptop for a long time, the 512gb ssd is a big improvement. There's no sd card slot to upgrade like you can on the MBA/MBP's. Also, in 5 years, the 2017 isn't going to be able to magically run an app that the 2016 can't as both will be just as obsolete.
I got both the m7 2016 MacBook and m3 2017 MacBook. The 2017 feels snappier, no lag when opening the aplicaciones folder in the dock and overall a better experience.
(I posted this in another thread but really probably should have in this one)
I just got my 2016 MB 8/512 m5 yesterday. Really nice machine! Keyboard will take some getting used to though.
I haven't used it in person, but I can get the newer 2017 MB 8/256 m3 for $90 more (my BB open box 2016 was $892 after tax and this 2017 is $983) . Is the keyboard improvement (or other updates) worth it though? From a storage standpoint, both machines well exceed my use (I only use about 65gb on my MB since all my media is attached to my Mac Mini).
I just got my 2016 MB 8/512 m5 yesterday. Really nice machine! Keyboard will take some getting used to though.
I haven't used it in person, but I can get the newer 2017 MB 8/256 m3 for $90 more (my BB open box 2016 was $892 after tax and this 2017 is $983) . Is the keyboard improvement (or other updates) worth it though? From a storage standpoint, both machines well exceed my use (I only use about 65gb on my MB since all my media is attached to my Mac Mini).
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Sounds like you wouldn't use the storage and if the price differential is that small, go for the 2017...
If it's any consolation, both my 2015 and 2016 MacBooks went to a 90% maximum battery capacity within a month of opening the box.
I was debating on 2016 vs 2017 but walked into a local Best Buy store and they had a M5 2016 Open Box one in satisfactory condition for $599. Could not resist at that price...It has a small noticeable scratch on the top and that's it. Screen is flawless with cycle count of 3 and Apple warranty until August 17, 2018. Time to find a skin!
Ended up grabbing a 2016 m5 today at my local Best Buy. It will replace my 2014 Mac mini. My Best Buy had it Open Box - Satisfactory for $659. And he opened it up and let me look at it before buying, not a scratch on it. Just a little sticker residue which I already got off. It was Rose Gold color but I can find a skin for it. The sales guy said no one is buying the 12" MacBooks. Everyone is opting for the MacBook Air last year at $899. But Geekbench 4 shows the m5 beats the 2015 i5 MBA.
They still carry the one year Apple manufacture warranty and if you're really worried just buy Apple Care which will cover your battery for three years.
I got a brand new M3 2016, 256GB today to replace my MacBook Air; I liked the Air but found it a touch heavy and the screen wasn't up to standard (today's standards, anyway).
Checking with its serial number I found the 12 was built on the 17th April 2017.
Checking with its serial number I found the 12 was built on the 17th April 2017.
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The 2017 MacBook is the real MVP of the refreshes so far this year, the keyboard along makes it worth it.
Now, if you do get an insanely good deal like $500 difference between the 2017 and 2016, take the 2016 unless you can afford it.
Now, if you do get an insanely good deal like $500 difference between the 2017 and 2016, take the 2016 unless you can afford it.
Call me crazy, but I tried the new MacBook keyboard today and I'm not sure I could tell much of a difference.
The 2017 for $983 seems like the way to go in that situation. I am assuming this is also from Best Buy? I hope I didn't miss a sale or something, but I don't see it listed for that price (even after student discount).
I was looking heavily into an iMac, with some reluctance since it was an all in one and I already had a nice monitor that I like and know that next generations of Intel CPUs should have some major benefits. I had seen the 2016 MacBook 12 M5 512GB SSD for $1099 and then saw the price rise to $1199. When it was brought back down to $1099 ($974 after student discount) I decided to grab it.
For Apple, the 512GB SSD alone is a $400+ option (when trading in 128GB SSD for it on the MBP non touchbar). I just can't see how this does not work out to be a great deal at $975.
I will start shopping for an iMac after the next refresh (It seems like CPUs and graphics will be getting some big improvements in the short term). If I can keep this 2016 MacBook 12" for anything more than 2 years I will be ahead of the game. I was planning on spending $2500 on an iMac and look to get 5 years out of them ($500/year). At $975 for this MacBook 12, I can kick it to the curb and buy a better Mac two years from now, and still save some money.
In my case, I wasn't even in the market for a Mac laptop - and this deal seemed good enough to alter my purchasing plans and give me a shot at some future Macs in the not so distant future (my version of future proofing haha).
It is a huge difference, I had the 2016 MB, 2017 MB and 2017 MBP to make comparisons. Having been used to the 2017 MBP keyboard, switching from time to time to the MB 2017 is painless and fairly straightforward but when I occasionally touch the 2016 MB it is just way shallow, there's almost no key travel and it is very noticeable.