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Base 2016 13" MBP nTB vs 2017 - how much better?
- Thread starter Munch
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I do full stack web development and light Photoshop and Illustrator work. I plan to start tinkering with iOS/MacOS development once I get the MBP. I have a 2012 11" MBA just won't cut it at this point and feels slow as molasses now. It pinwheels a lot.
I'll probably watch 4K a few years from now once I own a monitor/TV that supports it. I got 5 years out of my MBA, I'm hoping that I can get 7+ on a MBP.
Battery life isn't important - aren't they about the same for both years though? This laptop will mostly be used at home.
I know over the life of several years, the extra money to get this year's isn't a lot. But I'd like to save money today if the difference between the two years is not significant.
I'll probably watch 4K a few years from now once I own a monitor/TV that supports it. I got 5 years out of my MBA, I'm hoping that I can get 7+ on a MBP.
Battery life isn't important - aren't they about the same for both years though? This laptop will mostly be used at home.
I know over the life of several years, the extra money to get this year's isn't a lot. But I'd like to save money today if the difference between the two years is not significant.
You mean the base 2016 (256GB) versus base 2017 (128GB), right? The 2017 model is about 20% faster. Also the keyboard is supposedly improved. The huge drawback is the smaller SSD. It really comes down to whether you could deal with only having 128GB.
The 2017 non touch bar has a removable SSD like the 2016 non TB had (confirmed by OWC). You could theoretically upgrade the SSD later on but you'll be limited to very expensive Apple SSDs on the used market.
Edit: It's more like 20% faster (9237 vs 7600 Geekbench 4 multi). That's a pretty big improvement.
The 2017 non touch bar has a removable SSD like the 2016 non TB had (confirmed by OWC). You could theoretically upgrade the SSD later on but you'll be limited to very expensive Apple SSDs on the used market.
Edit: It's more like 20% faster (9237 vs 7600 Geekbench 4 multi). That's a pretty big improvement.
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I actually meant both 256gb versions. I'd also upgrade to 16GB RAM too on either the 2016 or 2017.
20% faster does seem like a lot year over year.
Edit: It's more like 20% faster (9237 vs 7600 Geekbench 4 multi). That's a pretty big improvement.[/QUOTE]
The i7 in the nTB that I recently purchased shows a multi core score of 9975 and single of 4937.
https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/3245525
When OP factors in the improvements in battery life due to kaby lake and the raw performance upgrades, the newer model is a no brainer. Don't forget graphics. Push the ram to 16gb if possible and I suspect that machine will last 5+ years np.
Unfortunately 2016 owners got the short end of the stick... but in their defense Apple doesn't typically adopt new internals (just) 9 months after a new product's released.
The i7 in the nTB that I recently purchased shows a multi core score of 9975 and single of 4937.
https://browser.primatelabs.com/v4/cpu/3245525
When OP factors in the improvements in battery life due to kaby lake and the raw performance upgrades, the newer model is a no brainer. Don't forget graphics. Push the ram to 16gb if possible and I suspect that machine will last 5+ years np.
Unfortunately 2016 owners got the short end of the stick... but in their defense Apple doesn't typically adopt new internals (just) 9 months after a new product's released.
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Presumably the difference is similar between the 2016 13" MBP with touchbar and the equivalent 2017 model?
The gap isn't quite as wide as the nTB 16 and 17 but its still very large.
Go to Geekbench and type:
MacBookPro14,2 or MacBookPro13,2 into the search bar and you should be able to compare differently spec'd computers with the touch bar between 2016 and 2017. Hope this helps!