I have looked at both 2015 and 2016 models and I know I want the bigger screen of the 15" since I am coming from an Airport Air -13. Have been trying both in different stores and here is my take. Appreciate any insight.
in AppleStore i put both at 70% brightness and 50% volume and played songs from iTunes. Made sure no other applications were running except Activity Monitor and after a few minutes both machines increased the remaining battery time until both stabilized, -16 on 7h and 30 minutes while the -15 showed 8h and 39 minutes.
I have read several tests that seems to indicate the new -16 has better battery life for CPU intensive tasks. However I find most of the time that you want long battery life when reading emails, listening to songs playing videos etc. If you plan to do final cut pro editing I think most people make sure they are close to a power outlet for that.
The -15 was the base model still sold in Applestore with no dGPU. The -16 was the base model as well with Radeon 450.
What I like about the - 16:
- lightness and smaller size
- new architecture (hopefully means longer life expectancy support wise from Apple)
- Better screen but note there that once I dialed down the screen intensity the -15 looked just as nice if not more bright then the -16.
- Touchbar, I actually like it
- From what i have rad it stays cooler and much quieter since fan runs less and this is something I really like!
Negatives of the -16:
- The keyboard. the one I tried in the Applestore had a semi functioning Command key left of the space bar.
- keyboard again, sound wise it is quite loud and I have read so many reports about high pitch keys etc. Although to be fair the space bar on the -15 was as loud or even louder than any key on the -16 and the keyboard on the -16 feels nice to write on but not quite as good as the "classic" one.
Positives of the -15:
- Keyboard, the same excellent one that I have used for many years on my 2013 Air.
- Ports, mostly I am happy wth SD card slot!
- Battery life seems better than the -16?!! (for none CPU intensive tasks at least)
- CPU/Speed etc, starting up a few apps like Garage band I noticed no difference in speed.
- Sound and screen almost as good as the -16.
Negatives of the -15:
- old architecture, will this have more than a year of less useful life before it doesn't get supported by Apple any longer?
- weight and size, it does make a difference...
- No dGPU so limited ability to play games and penalty when using Final Cut Pro.
I keep going back and forth and hadn't it been for the keyboard I would have ordered the -16 long time ago.
But maybe it grows on you like I have read some comments etc.
There is always the waiting game to play but I doubt they will change much except upgrading CPU and GPU a little bit. Pretty sure keyboard will stay the same etc. Cant really wait either since my son will need to take over my existing MBA and i want to replace with something a bit more powerful.
Oh, I almost forgot but here is what I plan to use it for:
- Virtual machine running Windows (7 and soon 10)
- Office package for Mac
- edit videos, some 4k ones. ( not long clips but maybe 5 minute ones that I will merge)
- some games, Civ 4 and 6 and some WoW.
- Photo editing.
- Some programming as well.
- I type a lot(!) so keyboard will be used for sure.
- Skype, many hours a day on audio conferences! (this is where multitasking comes in
)
- Seriously multitasking is something I do a lot so running a VM, using Office, editing a picture while having a bunch of other apps open as well etc.
Most of the activities will actually be better on a 15" than the 13" MBA I have today so I definitely want a 15 inch MBP, only question is go for an older model or take chance on the new one???
Before anyone suggest a Windows machine, don't! I have been using Macs for 25 years and my first was the original Plus and my first real job was creating invoicing programs on Macs so skipping OS X is not an option. I have tried tons of other brands in my roles at different jobs and nothing comes close to a Mac.
Thanks!
in AppleStore i put both at 70% brightness and 50% volume and played songs from iTunes. Made sure no other applications were running except Activity Monitor and after a few minutes both machines increased the remaining battery time until both stabilized, -16 on 7h and 30 minutes while the -15 showed 8h and 39 minutes.
I have read several tests that seems to indicate the new -16 has better battery life for CPU intensive tasks. However I find most of the time that you want long battery life when reading emails, listening to songs playing videos etc. If you plan to do final cut pro editing I think most people make sure they are close to a power outlet for that.
The -15 was the base model still sold in Applestore with no dGPU. The -16 was the base model as well with Radeon 450.
What I like about the - 16:
- lightness and smaller size
- new architecture (hopefully means longer life expectancy support wise from Apple)
- Better screen but note there that once I dialed down the screen intensity the -15 looked just as nice if not more bright then the -16.
- Touchbar, I actually like it
- From what i have rad it stays cooler and much quieter since fan runs less and this is something I really like!
Negatives of the -16:
- The keyboard. the one I tried in the Applestore had a semi functioning Command key left of the space bar.
- keyboard again, sound wise it is quite loud and I have read so many reports about high pitch keys etc. Although to be fair the space bar on the -15 was as loud or even louder than any key on the -16 and the keyboard on the -16 feels nice to write on but not quite as good as the "classic" one.
Positives of the -15:
- Keyboard, the same excellent one that I have used for many years on my 2013 Air.
- Ports, mostly I am happy wth SD card slot!
- Battery life seems better than the -16?!! (for none CPU intensive tasks at least)
- CPU/Speed etc, starting up a few apps like Garage band I noticed no difference in speed.
- Sound and screen almost as good as the -16.
Negatives of the -15:
- old architecture, will this have more than a year of less useful life before it doesn't get supported by Apple any longer?
- weight and size, it does make a difference...
- No dGPU so limited ability to play games and penalty when using Final Cut Pro.
I keep going back and forth and hadn't it been for the keyboard I would have ordered the -16 long time ago.
But maybe it grows on you like I have read some comments etc.
There is always the waiting game to play but I doubt they will change much except upgrading CPU and GPU a little bit. Pretty sure keyboard will stay the same etc. Cant really wait either since my son will need to take over my existing MBA and i want to replace with something a bit more powerful.
Oh, I almost forgot but here is what I plan to use it for:
- Virtual machine running Windows (7 and soon 10)
- Office package for Mac
- edit videos, some 4k ones. ( not long clips but maybe 5 minute ones that I will merge)
- some games, Civ 4 and 6 and some WoW.
- Photo editing.
- Some programming as well.
- I type a lot(!) so keyboard will be used for sure.
- Skype, many hours a day on audio conferences! (this is where multitasking comes in
)- Seriously multitasking is something I do a lot so running a VM, using Office, editing a picture while having a bunch of other apps open as well etc.
Most of the activities will actually be better on a 15" than the 13" MBA I have today so I definitely want a 15 inch MBP, only question is go for an older model or take chance on the new one???
Before anyone suggest a Windows machine, don't!
I have been using Macs for 25 years and my first was the original Plus and my first real job was creating invoicing programs on Macs so skipping OS X is not an option. I have tried tons of other brands in my roles at different jobs and nothing comes close to a Mac.Thanks!
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