2018 refurb Vs new 2019 models

[-i2i-]

Been holding off an upgrade to my 2012 MacBook air for a while but feel that now the time has come.

I'm having a hard time deciding between two models and could really do with some advice. My current air has 8gb and 128gb and most of my work takes place through Citrix on Chrome, excel and some home movie editing.

It seems weird to be upgrading to a new machine with the same memory and storage 7 years later but I understand that there will still be a lot of other benefits. I've decided I need 256gb but can probably live with 8gb ram. I'm trying to weigh up between:

2019 13" MBP 1.4Ghz, 256gb, 8gb - £1,348.80 (edu price) with free beats worth about £200

Or

2018 13" MBP 2.3Ghz, 256gb, 8gb - £1,439 (refurb)

Looking at benchmarks the CPUs seem about the same (I'd expect the newer model to have better battery life with the lower TPW) so the only real differences would be the better integrated GPU and the additional ports on the older model.

Do you think the GPU would make much difference or is it worth saving a bit of cash and going for the new model? I was expecting there to be more of a difference between the CPUs but that doesn't seem to be the case.

 

[maflynn]

Looking at benchmarks the CPUs seem about the same

Newer machine, for less money and you get a free set of headphones - it seems like a no brainer to me.

 

[-i2i-]

Sounds pretty straight forward. Thanks for your help.

Have we seen what the GPU differences are like yet?

 

[dtjn]

When will the student deal/free Beats end? I haven't been able to find a date. Thanks.

 

[IMBC]

When will the student deal/free Beats end? I haven't been able to find a date. Thanks.

September 26.

 

[teknikal90]

i would get the refurb. 4 thunderbolt ports, 2 fans and bigger speakers.
You do lose true tone though...

 

[pcd213]

I just posted this same feedback on a similar post:

From what I've read, the 2018 and 2019 models are very, very similar. Yes, the 2019 has the slightly newer keyboard but having typed on both of them, I can't tell a difference and I believe the 2018 models are much, much more reliable than the 2016-2017 models. My recommendation is to purchase the 2018 refurbished model through Apple's website, but see if you can befriend an employee at the Apple store. They can get you 15% off those refurbished models, saving you quite a bit of money.

 

[ilikewhey]

9th gen cpu runs a tad cooler, at least in the 15inch version, probably translatable to 13inch as well. i would opt for 16gb though.

 

[Broadus]

i would get the refurb. 4 thunderbolt ports, 2 fans and bigger speakers.
You do lose true tone though...

Do you? I thought that the 2018 13-inch MBP has True Tone.

 

[pcd213]

Do you? I thought that the 2018 13-inch MBP has True Tone.

It does have true tone

 

[Broadus]

9th gen cpu runs a tad cooler, at least in the 15inch version, probably translatable to 13inch as well. i would opt for 16gb though.

Don’t both the 2018 and 2019 13” MacBook Pros have 8th gen processors, just a bump in speed for the latter?

 

[teknikal90]

Do you? I thought that the 2018 13-inch MBP has True Tone.

I stand corrected

 

[ilikewhey]

Don’t both the 2018 and 2019 13” MacBook Pros have 8th gen processors, just a bump in speed for the latter?

i'm not sure about the 13inch but the 15inch def have the 9th gen and apparently that solved the thermal problemish.

 

[-i2i-]

i'm not sure about the 13inch but the 15inch def have the 9th gen and apparently that solved the thermal problemish.

Pretty sure they're both on gen 8 on the 13 inch.