Best Pro for Students

[i4Collin]

I am going to try and keep this short, but I am an American student studying abroad in Europe, and my MacBook Pro has just died.

It's specs are as follows:
Mid-2012 15inch Retina
2.3 QC i7
8GB ram
256gb SSD
1gb dedicated NVIDIA

So I am planning on replacing it with a 2016 early next month when I return home but am stuck on deciding which one.

Here are my requirements:
1. Portability
2. Battery life (over 7 hours is a must)
3. Storage at least 512gb
4. 90% of time internet/Microsoft office
5. Light 4K video editing/iMovie/occasional photoshop/occasional gaming <10% of time
6. Must last at least 4 years performing these tasks

I would like to purchase a 13 inch model, and am considering the non touch bar model, as for me right now the less money spent is the better. However I fear by doing this and going from a 15 inch laptop with dedicated graphics, I may not be satisfied with the performance when I use the laptop intensively over time. Any thoughts are appreciated!

 

[jjjoseph]

13" Non Touch is the way to go!!
Have fun with your purchase.

 

[Apple_Robert]

I agree with the 13" non touch suggestion. No need to overspend.

 

[xSyao]

Like the previous posters said 13 inch non touch bar is the way to go as it is better value, better battery , and only 5% weaker then a TB 13 inch.

However for 4 years of usage I would recommend a 15 inch w/ 512gb upgrade since its a lot more powerful then a 13 inch both models, the battery life isn't bad like the 13 inch and is almost as good as the NTB model.

Here are my requirements:
1. Portability - New 15 inch is 4lbs / 20% smaller footprint then old 15 inch
2. Battery life (over 7 hours is a must) - If using the IGPU, I get around ~8 hours // DGPU I get 5-6 depending on what I do
3. Storage at least 512gb - Base model edu pricing + 512gb upgrade my opinion
4. 90% of time internet/Microsoft office - Strong enough to do it
5. Light 4K video editing/iMovie/occasional photoshop/occasional gaming <10% of time - Having a DGPU will be better then iris 540 / 550 graphics and the base DGPU is as strong as last years m370X while using less battery and heat.
6. Must last at least 4 years performing these tasks - It will last quad core, dgpu, strong battery life, 4 TB 3 ports , the NTB has only 2 ports while the TB has 2 gimped ports (ports on right side has 50% less bandwidth then the left side)

15 inch is a no compromise if your planning to upgrade every 4 years or so

Came from a 13 inch late 2013 retina MacBook Pro , was gonna go 13 due to stock, reviews, and trying it out on Apple Store ended up getting a base 15 inch.

Also 15 inch will come standard with 16gb ram while on a 13 inch you'll have to upgrade well BTO and the price gap between the 2 becomes closer.

By your requirements you either go base NTB 13 + 16gb ram upgrade / 512gb ssd upgrade or base 15 + 512gb ssd
The touch bar 13 is least value, bad batter life, and underpowered for its price.

Also if you plan to do more editing or stronger gaming go for the 460 pro other wise the base 450 is fine.

All this based on my base 450 pro, 256gb base TB 15 😀