I have a 2018 2.3ghz (the one with four thunderbolt ports) 8gb 512gb of storage MacBook Pro. I took advantage of the keyboard replacement program not too long ago so I have the 2019 butterfly keyboard which I love and since I had the keyboard replaced they put in a brand new battery. This machine still flies so I am struggling to think of reasons why I need the new M1 apart from battery life and being newer. What do you all think? Did anyone upgrade from the 2018 MBP?
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Is it worth upgrading a 2018 MacBook Pro to a M1 MacBook Pro?
- Thread starter Jacoblee23
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I can't decide for you, but if it were me, I would hang on to the 2018 MBP and wait at least for the second generation of Apple silicon MacBook Pros. Your 2018 MBP is still a great machine that will last for several years or more.
Wait until the new 14” comes out. Then you can decide if you want to trade up to the 14” or down to the M1 2-port 13”. The 4-port 13” will not get a replacement, I think.
As usual do you have an urgent need now? If not it may pay to wait to get a clearer picture of what is coming.
As usual do you have an urgent need now? If not it may pay to wait to get a clearer picture of what is coming.
You posted your answer already. Struggling to come up with reasons is the answer no, in big red letters. Keep what you have.
I have the MacBook Pro 2018 i9. Good laptop. You probably did not get the 2019 butterfly replacement, for I had my battery serviced a few months ago and they replaced the battery, keyboard and trackpad and they told me that the replacement keyboard will be the 2018 version. They don't upgrade the 2018 to the 2019 keyboard versions.
I have also the M1 Mac mini. It is great, but my MacBook Pro 2018 of course was expensive, but is better to keep it then get the first generation M1 MacBook Pro, for not that much better than what you currently have (maybe in some things, but overall not much better if that). If you did not already have the MacBook Pro 2018, then Yes, the M1 is decent to get, especially for the price.
But your MacBook Pro 2018 is good enough still not to upgrade it right now. Wait a few more years and your upgrade will be well worth it. But now..the trade not that much. This comes from one who has a M1 to compare.
I have also the M1 Mac mini. It is great, but my MacBook Pro 2018 of course was expensive, but is better to keep it then get the first generation M1 MacBook Pro, for not that much better than what you currently have (maybe in some things, but overall not much better if that). If you did not already have the MacBook Pro 2018, then Yes, the M1 is decent to get, especially for the price.
But your MacBook Pro 2018 is good enough still not to upgrade it right now. Wait a few more years and your upgrade will be well worth it. But now..the trade not that much. This comes from one who has a M1 to compare.
^What they said. They don't generally replace the 2018 with anything but the same keyboard. Oddly the keyboards work now. I had the replacement done in a 2017 13" 3.5Ghz Dualcore i7 16GB RAM, and Apple confirmed they were replacing the old keyboard with the same. No issues since.
You say your computer still flies and I'd agree. I bought mine the most loaded I could get it, in order to achieve some longevity, and I'd struggle to find a reason to upgrade yet. Perhaps by Fall 2021 there will be 2nd generation M1 laptops, or something better, or wait for a change to 14" or 16". For now, I can't find a reason either.
You say your computer still flies and I'd agree. I bought mine the most loaded I could get it, in order to achieve some longevity, and I'd struggle to find a reason to upgrade yet. Perhaps by Fall 2021 there will be 2nd generation M1 laptops, or something better, or wait for a change to 14" or 16". For now, I can't find a reason either.
You ask "is it worth", the answer is no.
Underlying, I imagine the message "I want it, give me reasons!"
So, here is one: You have a laptop, how about an extra desktop? A Mac mini M1, for example?
If you use your MBP already with external keyboard & monitor, at least sometimes, you could get the best of both worlds
This is what I did, with the difference that I came from a 2015 MBP. For me, it is great to have a top-speed desktop and also a laptop from the Intel world that can run Windows, for so important legacy apps as Minesweeper
Underlying, I imagine the message "I want it, give me reasons!"
So, here is one: You have a laptop, how about an extra desktop? A Mac mini M1, for example?
If you use your MBP already with external keyboard & monitor, at least sometimes, you could get the best of both worlds
This is what I did, with the difference that I came from a 2015 MBP. For me, it is great to have a top-speed desktop and also a laptop from the Intel world that can run Windows, for so important legacy apps as Minesweeper You're right. I just have the itch to buy a new apple product lol.
We all get that from time to time. It will come up again when the new Macs officially release.
i still using MBP 2014-mid...M1 is attracted me, but I still waiting for 2021 spec come out only decide, I cant wait for it anymore
Echo others here, doesn't feel like it makes sense for you. I'm still on my 2016 13" MBP, and excited to wait to see what the new 14" / 16" MBPs look like.
With so many rumors / very high-likelihood that the higher-end 13" MBP (to become 14") and 16" MBPs are coming out this year, very possibly with new designs, the ONLY people I would recommend even considering upgrading now before seeing what these new versions will look like, are those who absolutely need a computer NOW. Their existing computer has failed, or is absolutely on its last legs.
Just imagine you were to pull the trigger because "you're itching for a new product", and then 5 months from now, Apple announces their new 14"/16" with a new design language. I know I would have real buyer's remorse if I did.
With so many rumors / very high-likelihood that the higher-end 13" MBP (to become 14") and 16" MBPs are coming out this year, very possibly with new designs, the ONLY people I would recommend even considering upgrading now before seeing what these new versions will look like, are those who absolutely need a computer NOW. Their existing computer has failed, or is absolutely on its last legs.
Just imagine you were to pull the trigger because "you're itching for a new product", and then 5 months from now, Apple announces their new 14"/16" with a new design language. I know I would have real buyer's remorse if I did.
I have a maxed out 2018 Macbook Pro and an M1 Macbook Air.
Compared to the 2018 Macbook Pro, the air is silent, and has ridiculously long battery life, and doesn't get hot. In every other conceivable metric, the Macbook Pro is the better machine.
Unless you're worried about resale value or the keyboard breaking, I'd hold on to the 2018 Pro until Apple releases the 14" or 16" Macbook Pros, since those will probably be the true "Pro" model, as opposed to the M1 pro that's basically an Air with a fan.
Compared to the 2018 Macbook Pro, the air is silent, and has ridiculously long battery life, and doesn't get hot. In every other conceivable metric, the Macbook Pro is the better machine.
Unless you're worried about resale value or the keyboard breaking, I'd hold on to the 2018 Pro until Apple releases the 14" or 16" Macbook Pros, since those will probably be the true "Pro" model, as opposed to the M1 pro that's basically an Air with a fan.
Can you give me some real world examples on how the 2018 is a much better machine? My 2018 is the 2.3ghz 8gb of ram, 512gb of storage one with four thunderbolt ports if that helps.
- No random bugs, like the screensaver bug or major bluetooth issues.
- The ability to use multiple external monitors
- 2x as many ports
- The speed is about the same for 99% of tasks (really, how often do you max out all of the CPU cores?)
- Larger screen => More screen real estate
- The speakers on the low end Intel Macbook Pro are noticeably worse than the higher end Macbook Pros. I don't know how the M1 Macbook Pro speakers compare, but this is the "new" low end Macbook pro.
- Stupid touchbar
- TouchID (you might get an escape key)
- Trackpad
- Battery life is "good enough" for most tasks, most of the time
- Likewise, the 15" MBP doesn't get hot, most of the time
- The keyboard differences are down to preference (I prefer the magic keyboard on the M1)
- Webcam is the same
You can connect to dual external displays. M1 laptops are limited to 1 external display.
4 ports means double the available bandwidth for USB / TB3 devices. Also, you can plug in to charge on either side (obviously not a huge advantage, but some people like this option).
Bootcamp intel Windows / Linux. Can’t install windows on ARM unless you somehow get an OEM copy of ARM windows, which isn’t sold anywhere so other than flying the pirate flag not sure how one gets their hands on a copy. Even so, program compatibility and performance will be limited, although things could improve on this from, as MS has X64 compatibility layer for ARM windows in development and available for testing to certain MSDN members.
One last thing. These are first generation machines. Apple’s second generation machines usually have a much longer usable life than the first generation ones. Look at the first intel Macs that came out with only 32 bit CPUs. Macs released 6 months later had 64 but CPUs.
ipad 1 became unusable years before the iPad 2 became unusable.
Ultimately the want for outstanding battery life won out and I got my m1 pro yesterday. I hope that I don’t regret this. I don‘t use windows so that doesn’t bother me. I hope this machine doesn’t get the iPad 1 treatment though. Maybe I should return it.
I would say 100% NO. The next generation of macbooks being released this year (if rumors are true) are going to be the one you would want to consider. It also depends on what you're doing with the laptop. I would imagine you're not doing video work, otherwise you would have went the 15/16 inch route. I'm still using a 2015 15 inch MBP and use Photoshop, Lightroom and Ableton on a regular basis with no complaints (no pinwheel loading or CPU overload).
If you're just itching for some sort of new tech, by all means go for it. Although I think the feeling will be worse when the new ones are released, especially if they update the design and ditch the touch bar.
If you're just itching for some sort of new tech, by all means go for it. Although I think the feeling will be worse when the new ones are released, especially if they update the design and ditch the touch bar.
A lot of really good posts and I wasn't going to reply until I saw you got one. I don't think you will regret it, but hope after a week of use that you come back and comment. I have both a MacBook Air m1 and a 2019 16" MacBook Pro and the M1 feels snappier. Only being able to attach one external keeps it from being my main driver at work (it is at home). One thing I notice is my 2019 MacBook Pro will occasionally heat up, especially when watching YouTube, and the whole system (keystrokes etc) bogs down, the fan ramps up and gets noisy, and then I have to wait for it to cool off. That never happens with my M1.
I guess I'm in the small minority...as I just replaced my $3400 2019 16" MBP with a 13" M1 16gb ram, 1tb machine...no contest...I much prefer the M1 machine. But of course, the M1X rumored machines sound insanely awesome. You can't go wrong imo.
I'm in the same boat with the 8/256 4 port base MBP 2018. I also had a new battery and keyboard recently. One thing that might happen is if you like the Touch Bar. I do. I know it's divisive. I hear Apple may be discontinuing it so the M1 MPB might be the last one with the Touch Bar. My friend has the M1 and it flies, very cool and quiet and the Magic Keyboard is much nicer. The battery life is over twice mine! I hope you can let us know how you've been getting on.
Is this a 13" or a 15"? Your post doesn't clearly define which.
Secondly, if losing two Thunderbolt ports isn't a big deal for you, and we're talking about a 2018 13" model, then I'd absolutely sell your 2018 model in favor of an M1 model. My reasons why are as follows:
1) Greater support longevity (There will come a time when the 2020 M1 2-port 13" MacBook Pros will be supported for a new macOS release and both 2020 Intel 13" MacBook Pro models won't.)
2) The performance really is THAT much better
3) Your keyboard will inevitably fail again (this wouldn't be a part of my recommendation to someone with a 2020 Intel model as those also don't have the butterfly keyboards)
4) Physical Escape Key (have you ever had to force quit an app that also crashed your TouchBar?)
5) The machine runs cooler and you will likely seldom (if ever) hear your fan rev, which is definitely unlike your 2018 model
6) And yes, as you've stated, battery.
Were it a normal upgrade cycle (that didn't involve moving from an inevitably failing keyboard design), I wouldn't advise you to upgrade so soon. However, the above warrants an exception.
I should also add that, while many are waiting for a redesign, the MacBook Pros have long had a history of the first one or two revs of a new redesign being the least reliable (and most prone to quality repair extension programs). This was true of the first Intel MacBook Pros, which had various heat issues caused by the ATI Radeon X1600 Mobility, as well as the second batch that had the dreaded NVIDIA GeForce 8600M GT. The first Unibody models also had issues, albeit the least out of any MacBook Pro design generation. The first 15" Retina MacBook Pros suffered from GPU issues, and the first TouchBar MacBook Pros suffered from a myriad of issues on top of the keyboards. The benefit of the 2020 M1 2-port 13" MacBook Pro is that most of the rest of the components are unchanged from its 2020 Intel 8th Generation ULV U-series equipped 2-port predecessor. Components like the keyboard, the display and other things are the same. The design of the logic board is even the same, even if the processor, RAM, storage, and underlying architecture is different.
A redesign changes all of that and usually isn't stable until the second or third rev. Certainly, a 2020 M1 2-port 13" MacBook Pro is still a massive upgrade over a 2018 4-port 13" MacBook Pro. But it's also a stable one.
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I have a 13" 2018 MacBook Pro, discrete graphics etc. and I am planning on updating, for 2 reasons. I can't stand the. Touch Bar. It also probably adds 20% time to my workload. I'm only a therapist, but I have to type notes daily. The keyboard has SO many typos (stuck keys), including periods from double. spaces (hah! just like that one - what are t he odds) and all sorts of double letters. I know I can swap the keyboard, but after period of time, it will. only happen again. I currently use my iPad Pro with magic keyboard and strongly prefer that typing experience. My note taking software doesn't autocorrect (for whatever reason), so I have to review everything... the time. For instance, I just wrote "all" but it added an extra letter, several times, and then just. disappeared.
I love OSX. I have used Macs for decades. I'll continue to use Macs. But MAN, I should have paid more attention to my gut when I learned about the keyboard problems.
I. would have updated already but I prefer ports on both sides. It's just a convenience feature, but. one I want.
Lastly, even though I game on my computer - we're talking steam rogue-light games. I presume that even without a discrete graphics card, it'll be fine.
It really shows. how one or two thing can really ******* a great product. I really value. efficiency....I don't want to have to look down for the escape key ever again lol. Oddly enough, with the change in providing therapy via video, I want to be looking at the screen, typing, as little as possible.
I love OSX. I have used Macs for decades. I'll continue to use Macs. But MAN, I should have paid more attention to my gut when I learned about the keyboard problems.
I. would have updated already but I prefer ports on both sides. It's just a convenience feature, but. one I want.
Lastly, even though I game on my computer - we're talking steam rogue-light games. I presume that even without a discrete graphics card, it'll be fine.
It really shows. how one or two thing can really ******* a great product. I really value. efficiency....I don't want to have to look down for the escape key ever again lol. Oddly enough, with the change in providing therapy via video, I want to be looking at the screen, typing, as little as possible.