Any reasons NOT to buy a MacBook Pro 16” now?

[Cocorito]

After waiting so long for the good moment to buy a new laptop, I am now stuck.

I originally thought about purchasing a MacBook Pro 16” when it was released with 32GB/2TB/5500M 8GB as it seemed like the perfect machine for at least the next 3-4 years. I ended up waiting to save a bit more in order to justify such a big purchase.

Then the rumours started (miniLED, 10nm, wifi6, etc) and I thought that it would have been better to wait till June. Then June became October/November.

I don’t feel like I can justify spending that much money for that configuration right now as I would feel very frustrated if after waiting for so long a consistent update would get released.

I believe the base i9 would serve me well for at least the next 2 years and a refurbished MacBook Pro has a much more reasonable price.

Just to be clear, it would be my first MacBook (currently using a ThinkPad) and I would still need Windows occasionally/for some light gaming.

At this point, is any future update going to improve drastically the performance/usability of the MacBook Pro in the next 6 months? I doubt I would be willing to wait longer than that as my current laptop is falling apart.

I also don’t have previous experience with refurbished MacBook Pro. Are they practically new? Anything I should be checking if I decide to purchase one? Do they have a lower resale value compared to brand new ones?

Any help is welcome as I am now on the edge of giving up my credit card details to Apple but scared that waiting or purchasing an upgraded laptop would be a better choice (or even just going for the new XPS 15, “sadly”).

 

[bill-p]

But why do you want to switch over to Mac? You already have a good computer (Thinkpad), and it seems you have good alternatives in the Windows world now (Dell XPS 15 or 17).

 

[nrvna76]

This MacBook was just released, the rumor mills are always churning. Thankfully you weren't waiting for a new iMac or you'd have been waiting forever.

If you're sold on the 16", I'd just buy it. You can always sell and buy the new thing if you find that irresistible. You're not risking all that much money.

 

[petterihiisila]

At this point, is any future update going to improve drastically the performance/usability of the MacBook Pro in the next 6 months? I doubt I would be willing to wait longer than that as my current laptop is falling apart.

I don't see a major redesign incoming for the 16" this year, or maybe even in 2021. Because this model is the redesign with its thinner bezels, better thermals and a major spec upgrade. If anything, the rest of the lineup will follow suit. The next spec bump isn't going to be as big (thermal constraints, Intel constraints), and it'd be this Fall at the earliest. I think the current generation will be a popular model when resold in 2 or 3 years.

The ARM model (probably a small laptop) may be the next radical departure, and the 14" thin-bezel MacBook Pro is another people talk about. No one knows if neither of those would appear in 2020.

Refurbished should be OK. They are a bit cheaper, and I don't think it has any meaningful effect on resell value after 2 or 3 years. All prices will drop, and those in pristine condition sell for more, or at least faster. I bet people will look at specs and condition, not whether it was refurbished or not, because per-unit differences will be larger at that age than the original shipping condition, all specs being equal.

 

[rhashem]

Do you plan to use the machine docked? If so, hold off buying it--the machine is an absolute tire fire with regards to power usage with an external monitor and kernel panics waking up from sleep while connected to a dock.

(2019) 16" is HOT & NOISY with an external monitor! :(

I’m not so sure I agree at all with your first paragraph that external monitors are in the minority for MPB16 users. Those that actually NEED a high-end ‘portable workstation’, vs those who ‘feel like they want’ the highest model, are different groups, and while there’s nothing wrong with...

forums.macrumors.com

10.15.5 & 10.15.4 = Wake from Sleep Kernel Panic on 16" MBPro (2019)

Does your 16" MacBook Pro 2019 Kernel Panic or Restart when you wake it from sleep after installing the Catalina 10.15.4/5 Update? Latest Info + Workarounds

mrmacintosh.com

Apple's Q&A has gone downhill. Is it as bad as Lenovo's Q&A? Probably not. But if you've got one of the Thinkpads that doesn't have peeling bezels, etc., I might hold onto it for another year.

 

[jerryk]

Windows on MBP 16 is not as good of an experience as on a Windows laptop. If you you are not committed to MacOS and Mac apps most of the time think twice before committing.

I have both Windows (/Linux) and Mac laptops for this reason.

 

[profcutter]

Yeah, I would reconsider if you really need a Mac. If so, yeah, there will inevitably be an update, it may have miniLED, Wifi6e, maybe some other goodies, but when? Even on a normal calendar it’s impossible to say, but Apple has stated that the closures are slowing down development. Maybe it was due in the fall, maybe it won’t come out til next year. If a new machine does come out in the fall, I’d wait a couple months just to see how the QA was done.
That said, you wanted people to tell you why not to buy? Looks like main problems are display ghosting, bothers some folks not others, overheating and throttling with external display (not sure how prevalent this one is), and concerns about the battery.

 

[russell_314]

There's always going to be updates so if you don't buy based on that then you never will. If you wait for 10th Gen CPU what about 11th or 12th? I bet that 4 nm CPU will be pretty awesome when 14th Gen Intel comes out. It seems like yesterday I bought my Mac mini but it has an 8th gen CPU. It was the new hot thing when it came out but it still works perfectly

There are no major problems with it like the butterfly keyboard and it's just been updated. As to people reporting issues in threads about it, that's all Apple products or just anything. You will find "that thread" about every product so when the 2022 MacBook Pro comes out someone will make a thread about how it gets hot when he connects it to his 8K display.

Buy for your needs today. Get AppleCare so if you have any issues Apple will fix it. If you buy refurbished or new buy from Apple. This way you get the warranty and AppleCare. From what I hear the only way you can tell is refurbished from Apple comes in a plain white box instead of the retail packaging. It looks like new and still has the cool plastic protective film. Also there is the two week return policy that might be longer with the current situation. If you buy refurbished from someone else you might be risking it.

 

[magbarn]

IMHO true 10th gen is 10nm.
The "10th gen" drek that Intel has released for high powered 6/8 core MacBooks is just recycled 5 year old Skylake 14nm architecture. We've basically had the same CPU's since 2015, just added more cores. Only the lower power 2/4 core 10th gen are true 10th gen 10nm chips. Even upcoming 11th gen 6/8 core laptop chips ARE STILL 14nm!!!
Short of going ARM, any true CPU upgrades for the MBP 16 are still probably 18 months away at the earliest.

In other words, CPU upgrades are going to be minimal.

GPU's are stagnant too for now as the MBP 16 already has the latest AMD GPU (Apple likely will never go Nvidia again)

so the only real possible updates are going to Wifi 6 or the vaporware MiniLED

So like the others above have said, get the MBP 16 if you need it now and it's good enough for your needs.

 

[rhashem]

There's always going to be updates so if you don't buy based on that then you never will. If you wait for 10th Gen CPU what about 11th or 12th? I bet that 4 nm CPU will be pretty awesome when 14th Gen Intel comes out. It seems like yesterday I bought my Mac mini but it has an 8th gen CPU. It was the new hot thing when it came out but it still works perfectly

There are no major problems with it like the butterfly keyboard and it's just been updated. As to people reporting issues in threads about it, that's all Apple products or just anything. You will find "that thread" about every product so when the 2022 MacBook Pro comes out someone will make a thread about how it gets hot when he connects it to his 8K display.

Buy for your needs today. Get AppleCare so if you have any issues Apple will fix it. If you buy refurbished or new buy from Apple. This way you get the warranty and AppleCare. From what I hear the only way you can tell is refurbished from Apple comes in a plain white box instead of the retail packaging. It looks like new and still has the cool plastic protective film. Also there is the two week return policy that might be longer with the current situation. If you buy refurbished from someone else you might be risking it.

There is “that thread” about every Apple product. But kernel panics are a different ball game than “you can bend your phone.” In 14 years of owning Macs there have been little annoyances like wonky interactions with external monitors, peeling anti-glare coating, etc. But nothing like this that made me fundamentally not trust the computer.

 

[Ifti]

Do you plan to use the machine docked? If so, hold off buying it--the machine is an absolute tire fire with regards to power usage with an external monitor and kernel panics waking up from sleep while connected to a dock.

Mine is connected to a dock all the time - no issues at all.

 

[ctjack]

I don’t feel like I can justify spending that much money for that configuration right now

Then buy the base Air to test the waters.

I would feel very frustrated if after waiting for so long a consistent update would get released.

Short answer: just buy it!
Release of the new model doesn't make your previous generation obsolete in a second.
New one presumably coming no earlier than November 2020. Current MBP 16 is decent enough to pull the trigger now. But obviously if you buy it in the Fall, then it will be too late.

 

[TheRealAlex]

I’d buy a MBP 16” it’s just I know Apple will either add in WiFi 6, Intel 7nm CPU or switch to a 16” OLED Display as soon as I buy a 16” MBP aNd with Covid-19 life’s little luxuries are on hold I‘m glad to wait for a 2021 MBP.

who knows there has to be there must be a reason Samsung is making 16” 4K OLED laptop Displays. Say it with me guys. *shouts

Pro Display XOLED MAcBook Pro 16” 2021. $4,000

 

[Murgatroyd314]

I also don’t have previous experience with refurbished MacBook Pro. Are they practically new? Anything I should be checking if I decide to purchase one? Do they have a lower resale value compared to brand new ones?

Three of my four Mac laptops have been refurbs, and they've all been indistinguishable from new. I just now placed the order for my next one - same specs that you're looking at.

 

[Analog Kid]

I'm on hold waiting for a new work laptop, but wouldn't hesitate to buy a 16" now. I'm currently using a 2013 and would expect to keep my next one for as long as possible, so I'm not too worried about buying 6 months into a cycle. You'll go nuts worrying about buying at exactly the right time.

That said, WWDC is only a month away-- I'm in the market for a new personal machine and while I'd probably be fine with a 2019 iMac or even iMac Pro, I think I'm going to hold off and see if anything new pops up around WWDC.

 

[leman]

At this point, is any future update going to improve drastically the performance/usability of the MacBook Pro in the next 6 months? I doubt I would be willing to wait longer than that as my current laptop is falling apart.

Very unlikely. There is no new hardware coming out and the display tech has been reportedly delayed.

Any help is welcome as I am now on the edge of giving up my credit card details to Apple but scared that waiting or purchasing an upgraded laptop would be a better choice (or even just going for the new XPS 15, “sadly”).

A reason "not to buy" would be the same as ever — you can get comparable performance for less money (e.g. XPS you mention). The MBP is more of a mobile workstation/multimedia laptop hybrid and is priced accordingly.

 

[clairmyk]

I was going to wait for a refurb 16-inch but Tiger Direct dropped their price to $2099 and I got Best Buy to match it... so one day later, I had my new MBP 16-inch.

They finally have some refurb 16-inch in the US apple store.. I would have saved $60 (listed at $2039) or could have spent $20 more and gotten the AMD5500 version.. but am I happy with what I have? Yes. I came from an MBA early 2014.. which still works but has been too sluggish for WFH.

TL;DR: Buy what you want now. There's always going to be an upgrade in the near future.

 

[throAU]

In the next 6 months there will be no significant upgrades worth waiting for. MAYBE a slightly better GPU (like, 10%), but I doubt it. AMD has nothing significant due out for PC hardware until likely next year and Apple tend to lag GPU hardware updates by some months. I'd put any GPU upgrade of worth out to early 2021 at the earliest.

On the CPU side, intel "10th gen" in the 16" form factor is basically 9th gen with a new sticker attached. Yes official clock speed is higher but the circumstances for that happening are extremely small and the difference is extremely marginal. In some tests 10th gen is actually marginally slower than 9th gen due to cpu microcode updates.

Outside of 6-12 months there will always be something new coming down the pipe.

All of those factors above apply to any intel based PC laptop as well.

If you've been holding off, I'd say go for it.


If you're considering refurbs, you may be able to save some money on essentially the same performing machine as a new one; get AppleCare and you should be fine? I'd just make sure it is a current model 16" refurb with the "magic" keyboard not the butterfly and you'll be fine.

 

[Cocorito]

But why do you want to switch over to Mac? You already have a good computer (Thinkpad), and it seems you have good alternatives in the Windows world now (Dell XPS 15 or 17).

I did try MacOS time ago (few friends have MacBooks) and quite liked it. Anyway for the type of work/studies I did (architecture) it was impossible to justify using MacOS as I would have just been in Bootcamp almost all the time.

Right now, I am using mostly software that I can have natively on MacOS and my work could be carried via the Remote working app most of the time. So as all my mobile devices use iOS, I thought it was a good moment to make the switch.

Then buy the base Air to test the waters.

To be honest, if a Windows laptop will be my main machine, a base Air could be an option. By itself, it would be a bit too underpowered I guess.

Three of my four Mac laptops have been refurbs, and they've all been indistinguishable from new. I just now placed the order for my next one - same specs that you're looking at.

Glad to hear that. Those discounted prices are very tempting. I hope you will enjoy your new MacBook.

A reason "not to buy" would be the same as ever — you can get comparable performance for less money (e.g. XPS you mention). The MBP is more of a mobile workstation/multimedia laptop hybrid and is priced accordingly.

I guess one of the latest XPS or Razer would still be a perfectly good workstation/multimedia laptop. I just don’t feel like having something as bulky as the ThinkPad W520 I currently use.

Something powerful but relatively thin/light and with just enough GPU power would be great right now. I would like to be able to carry around with me once in a while (not planning to dock the laptop any time soon). Even if that sounds naive, a nicely designed/built laptop is quite important for me right now.

 

[leman]

I guess one of the latest XPS or Razer would still be a perfectly good workstation/multimedia laptop. I just don’t feel like having something as bulky as the ThinkPad W520 I currently use.

There are design and component tradeoffs, but they are probably not relevant to the majority fo users. Based on the internals alone, MacBook Pro is closer to the Dell Precision line than to the Dell XPS. The "problem" with Apple is that you don't get much choice. You might not want or need some of the workstation-specific features but Apple forces you to commit to them anyway.

 

[Vjosullivan]

... I would still need Windows occasionally/for some light gaming ...

Other than the above, you haven't said what you intend to use the laptop for. Without knowing that, it is impossible for anyone to give you meaningful advice on what model or operating system to buy.

Other than integration with any iPhones, iPads or Apple watches that you might own, plusdeveloping native apps for them, I can't think of anything that a Mac does that a Windows machine can't also do.

 

[malkovich87]

ARM-based Macs will likely have replaced Intel-based ones within the next 3 years. If you only just got a 15” inch model or have one that’s still under AppleCare+ and don’t require the additional power, it’s probably not the best year to upgrade

 

[malkovich87]

Do you plan to use the machine docked? If so, hold off buying it--the machine is an absolute tire fire with regards to power usage with an external monitor and kernel panics waking up from sleep while connected to a dock.

(2019) 16" is HOT & NOISY with an external monitor! :(

I’m not so sure I agree at all with your first paragraph that external monitors are in the minority for MPB16 users. Those that actually NEED a high-end ‘portable workstation’, vs those who ‘feel like they want’ the highest model, are different groups, and while there’s nothing wrong with...

forums.macrumors.com

10.15.5 & 10.15.4 = Wake from Sleep Kernel Panic on 16" MBPro (2019)

Does your 16" MacBook Pro 2019 Kernel Panic or Restart when you wake it from sleep after installing the Catalina 10.15.4/5 Update? Latest Info + Workarounds

mrmacintosh.com

Apple's Q&A has gone downhill. Is it as bad as Lenovo's Q&A? Probably not. But if you've got one of the Thinkpads that doesn't have peeling bezels, etc., I might hold onto it for another year.

Only if you don’t use clamshell mode - otherwise it’s perfectly fine and quiet with external screens. And in all likelihood, this is a software issue.

As for kernel panics: mine gets those anyway, with or without a dock. Issue was “solved” by disabling power nap.

 

[malkovich87]

Yeah, I would reconsider if you really need a Mac. If so, yeah, there will inevitably be an update, it may have miniLED, Wifi6e, maybe some other goodies, but when? Even on a normal calendar it’s impossible to say, but Apple has stated that the closures are slowing down development. Maybe it was due in the fall, maybe it won’t come out til next year. If a new machine does come out in the fall, I’d wait a couple months just to see how the QA was done.
That said, you wanted people to tell you why not to buy? Looks like main problems are display ghosting, bothers some folks not others, overheating and throttling with external display (not sure how prevalent this one is), and concerns about the battery.

Plus MiniLED won’t turn this into a magical machine. And Wifi6 is still rare today - and most internet connections won’t be able to make use of the higher speed anyway.

Tbh - the only thing I’d worry about now is that Apple will switch to ARM sooner than expected. That would be a serious bummer

 

[russell_314]

There is “that thread” about every Apple product. But kernel panics are a different ball game than “you can bend your phone.” In 14 years of owning Macs there have been little annoyances like wonky interactions with external monitors, peeling anti-glare coating, etc. But nothing like this that made me fundamentally not trust the computer.

It's still "that thread". Of course if the issue is causing you problems it doesn't matter so I do understand. My point is regardless of the specific hardware someone someplace is going to have a problem with it. It doesn't mean the every one of that model is defective. Right now is a terrible time to have problems with the Apple store being closed but this should be over soon.
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Plus MiniLED won’t turn this into a magical machine. And Wifi6 is still rare today - and most internet connections won’t be able to make use of the higher speed anyway.

Tbh - the only thing I’d worry about now is that Apple will switch to ARM sooner than expected. That would be a serious bummer

If Apple switched to ARM I think it would be the MacBook Air or a similar MacBook. I don't see Apple just switching their Pro line.