$899 for 19MBA, i5 or 20MBA, i3

[Rugburn]

Hello,

Trying to help my 18 yr old decide which to get for $899. She’s going to use my Apple Card with a $1000 limit, so $899 is the price ceiling.

Basically a 2019 has an i5 processor, but a 2020 has an i3 processor (it’s the $999 model with a educational discount)

Reviews make it sound like an i3 would be the worst thing ever, lol.

this is for typical college student stuff. And thanks to covid she’s already started taking some online colleges classes since senior year is now a bust.

she’s also the only one in the household rolling in the $$$ thanks to covid and working full time hours at Target filling online orders! So I want to help her spend it wisely!

 

[gpat]

2020 i3 is still faster than 2019 i5.
Reviews bash the i3 being dual core, but so is the 2019 i5.
2020 i3 still has a slightly faster CPU, significantly faster GPU and better keyboard.

 

[deeddawg]

If there’s any possible way to go up $100, that’s the price of the i5 upgrade for the 2020 model.

can you buy a couple Apple Store gift cards with the Apple Card, pay it off, the do a combo purchase using the gift cards plus Apple Card?

 

[Rugburn]

If there’s any possible way to go up $100, that’s the price of the i5 upgrade for the 2020 model.

can you buy a couple Apple Store gift cards with the Apple Card, pay it off, the do a combo purchase using the gift cards plus Apple Card?

Hmmm that’s a thought. I’d have to see what’s available to do online since in person stores are a no-go at the moment.

 

[chrisgeleven]

2020 just for the keyboard alone. Never mind the i3 should be a nice speed bump over the 2019.

 

[TechieGeek]

Spend the money for the 16GB memory rather than the 8GB, it’ll make your laptop far more responsive and extend its longevity, particularly for a student. Odds are she won’t be pushing the CPU to its limits, but will be multitasking across multiple tabs and applications.

 

[deeddawg]

Hmmm that’s a thought. I’d have to see what’s available to do online since in person stores are a no-go at the moment.

Apple Store gift cards by email here: https://www.apple.com/shop/personalize/electronic?product=E_GIFT_CARDS

 

[Seanm87]

Personally I’d go for the cheaper one but that’s because I don’t mind the butterfly keyboard.

 

[frou]

Personally I’d go for the cheaper one but that’s because I don’t mind the butterfly keyboard.

You might not mind it, but it minds you!

 

[Ericdjensen]

2020 i3. As others have said, it’s worth it for the keyboard alone and the i3 is faster than 2019’s i5 anyway.