Is a used 2018 six-core i7 worth considering over a base brand new MBP?

[NewBench]

I am about to purchase a new laptop and the main priority for me now is 16GB memory.

My budget is strict and Apple bumping the cost of 16GB memory up by £100 to £200 has just about put a new i5 MBP with 16GB out of reach. I am unconvinced by the MBA's capacity not to overheat so it seems a waste to buy an i5/16GB MBA.

At the moment I can only afford a base 13" MBP (£1299). My max budget is £1400.

However...

I have the option to buy a 2018 six-core i7 16GB 15" MBP with around 100 battery cycles. Has the 560X 4GB GPU. No warranty or AppleCare at all remaining but the machine seems in excellent condition. The guy will accept £1400.

The butterfly keyboard doesn't bother me but concerned about the lack of protection/warranty.

Does this seem like a good option or should I hold out and try to get a nearly new 2020 base MBP with 16GB?

 

[roflc0pter]

You might not be concerned about the butterfly keyboard now but once you run into an issue with it you'll see why it wasn't worth getting in the first place. The time you have to take to repair/replace the keyboard and being without your macbook etc...

Wouldn't buy any Macbook with it unless it was heavily discounted

 

[NewBench]

You might not be concerned about the butterfly keyboard now but once you run into an issue with it you'll see why it wasn't worth getting in the first place. The time you have to take to repair/replace the keyboard and being without your macbook etc...

Wouldn't buy any Macbook with it unless it was heavily discounted

Did Apple actually ever fix the keyboard fault issues on the last gen MBP (e.g. does a mid-2019 MBP still have those issues)?

If they did fix the flaw/fault and its just down to the lack of key travel with later butterfly keyboards then thats an issue I can tolerate.

 

[roflc0pter]

Did Apple actually ever fix the keyboard fault issues on the last gen MBP (e.g. does a mid-2019 MBP still have those issues)?

If they did fix the flaw/fault and its just down to the lack of key travel with later butterfly keyboards then thats an issue I can tolerate.

I think they made minor improvements to it each refresh but the way its designed it will always be prone to issues.

 

[Sterkenburg]

Does this seem like a good option or should I hold out and try to get a nearly new 2020 base MBP with 16GB?

+1 for the 2020.

I have a top-spec 2018 as my main computer, and while overall I find it an excellent machine the butterfly keyboard always ends up ruining the party. It doesn't sound like a big issue until sooner or later it breaks and you realize how much of a pain it is to send in the laptop for a replacement every time.

The switches improved gradually every year, but the design is inherently flawed. Apple will cover repairs for 4 years since the purchase date, after that you're on your own.
TL;DR Go for the new keyboard, these are expensive machines and peace of mind is important.