Just got the 2015 MBP, should I have bought the new one?

[blindpacemaker]

After using a MB Air for nearly 4 years I realised why so many people love macs, it was by far the best laptop I've ever had. Anyway, I spilled water on it (I know) so had to get a new machine. I looked at tons of reviews online and ended up going for the 13" 2015 MBP. As it's so close in price to the new 13" MBP, is there any real advantage to buying one over the other? The new MBP actually comes with a worse processor, the only thing I can see in terms of spec that's better is the screen resolution, but I'd rather save a teeny bit of money and have a faster processor.

I could return this and get the new one, just wondering what everyone here thinks?

Thanks =)

 

[Meister]

The 2016 rmbp has a newer generation processor and slightly updated specs overall.
Also the screen is brighter and it's thinner and lighter.

The 2015 has a variety of ports: ubs3, tb2, hdmi, sd and a magsafe!

I'd certainly keep the rmbp 2015.

 

[thesaint024]

After using a MB Air for nearly 4 years I realised why so many people love macs, it was by far the best laptop I've ever had. Anyway, I spilled water on it (I know) so had to get a new machine. I looked at tons of reviews online and ended up going for the 13" 2015 MBP. As it's so close in price to the new 13" MBP, is there any real advantage to buying one over the other? The new MBP actually comes with a worse processor, the only thing I can see in terms of spec that's better is the screen resolution, but I'd rather save a teeny bit of money and have a faster processor.

I could return this and get the new one, just wondering what everyone here thinks?

Thanks =)

I saw the title and thought "uh oh, here it comes". Good cheap way of getting a post with a ton of replies. I'm hoping it doesn't turn into a hater/fanboy grudge match, but I am not hopeful.

 

[Naimfan]

A very personal decision.

If the 2015 works for you, keep it.

 

[blindpacemaker]

I saw the title and thought "uh oh, here it comes". Good cheap way of getting a post with a ton of replies. I'm hoping it doesn't turn into a hater/fanboy grudge match, but I am not hopeful.

Hi, I really wasn't trying to start any arguments, buying a new Mac is a big purchase so I just want to make sure I made the right decision. Sometimes 2 computers can have the same spec, but one runs much faster than the other. Both of them have good and bad points I'm sure, I just want to get the opinion of long time mac users about which they feel is the better machine, if there's only £150 or so difference. It seems strange to me that the 2015 model would be a better buy than the 2016 model, but that's what a lot of reviews said. However that might just be their way of saying "the 2016 MBP isn't as good as I wanted it to be" but it may still be better than the 2015 model if you don't factor in the slight price difference. I'm looking for advice, not an argument! =)
[doublepost=1483224399][/doublepost]Just out of interest, will I be able to update the RAM on my 2015 MBP pro? I've heard with some models you can't as it's soldered onto the logic board or something, but tbh I have no idea. The _only_ thing that I'd want to update in the next 2/3 years is the RAM.

Thanks

 

[thesaint024]

Hi, I really wasn't trying to start any arguments, buying a new Mac is a big purchase so I just want to make sure I made the right decision. Sometimes 2 computers can have the same spec, but one runs much faster than the other. Both of them have good and bad points I'm sure, I just want to get the opinion of long time mac users about which they feel is the better machine, if there's only £150 or so difference. It seems strange to me that the 2015 model would be a better buy than the 2016 model, but that's what a lot of reviews said. However that might just be their way of saying "the 2016 MBP isn't as good as I wanted it to be" but it may still be better than the 2015 model if you don't factor in the slight price difference. I'm looking for advice, not an argument! =)

Yeah I know. Sorry, wasn't implying you were doing anything more than asking reasonable question here on MR. It's the reactions I'm afraid of.

Objectively speaking, there are a couple of major dealbreakers for people - the lack of built in ports, the keyboard, and the price. If these aren't dealbreakers for you, the new 16 is better in every way. Arguments against that are simply hurt feelings and close mindedness. Those things aren't dealbreakers for me, so I love it. The biggest improvements are the screen, sound, SSD speed, and usb-c. The chip speed is a marginal improvement due to technology limitations of intel. The build is just as good and the improved size and weight are very welcome for me. The majority of people like the new keyboard, but it is polarizing for sure. You need to see if you can at a minimum tolerate it. After time, you get used to it and could grow to love it. The usb-c is very welcome for me. I don't want to carry around the extra ports I don't use and would rather have the flexibility of usb-c, not to mention single plug docking. YMMV. I think it's a big upgrade all in all, maybe not for people coming from a 2015, but if you have the chance to get a new one, and the above aren't dealbreakers, than do it. You'll love it.

 

[blindpacemaker]

Yeah I know. Sorry, wasn't implying you were doing anything more than asking reasonable question here on MR. It's the reactions I'm afraid of.

Objectively speaking, there are a couple of major dealbreakers for people - the lack of built in ports, the keyboard, and the price. If these aren't dealbreakers for you, the new 16 is better in every way. Arguments against that are simply hurt feelings and close mindedness. Those things aren't dealbreakers for me, so I love it. The biggest improvements are the screen, sound, SSD speed, and usb-c. The chip speed is a marginal improvement due to technology limitations of intel. The build is just as good and the improved size and weight are very welcome for me. The majority of people like the new keyboard, but it is polarizing for sure. You need to see if you can at a minimum tolerate it. After time, you get used to it and could grow to love it. The usb-c is very welcome for me. I don't want to carry around the extra ports I don't use and would rather have the flexibility of usb-c, not to mention single plug docking. YMMV. I think it's a big upgrade all in all, maybe not for people coming from a 2015, but if you have the chance to get a new one, and the above aren't dealbreakers, than do it. You'll love it.

Wow, thank you for such an in depth response. The price difference is only £150 for me, so it's not a huge deal when you consider the total cost of a new mac. I guess I'll go to the Apple store tomorrow and spend 15-20 minutes on the new one, try and get a feel for the keyboard and how it performs in general. The port situation is a little annoying, but I only ever use a wireless mouse when I'm at home and I could buy a dongle for that. It may come down to the keyboard!

 

[motime]

Wow, thank you for such an in depth response. The price difference is only £150 for me, so it's not a huge deal when you consider the total cost of a new mac. I guess I'll go to the Apple store tomorrow and spend 15-20 minutes on the new one, try and get a feel for the keyboard and how it performs in general. The port situation is a little annoying, but I only ever use a wireless mouse when I'm at home and I could buy a dongle for that. It may come down to the keyboard!

If the difference is that low then you should consider it, depends on personal taste. For the 15 inch I wouldn't recommend it at all, the price hike is way too high. Worse keyboard, lack of ports, no mag safe, worse battery life in general and lots of other reported issues on an individual basis, YMMV. You will not notice any performance difference in usage unless you opt for a higher end video card model which are insanely expensive. Also remember you can pick up older models as good as new in the refurbished store which are even cheaper. Good luck.

 

[CaptRB]

The new tMBP machines are, as someone else stated, better in every way.

The 2015 machines, which I also own, are also very good.

But there's no reason to buy a 2015 over a 2016 that holds much water.



R.

 

[Meister]

Hi, I really wasn't trying to start any arguments, buying a new Mac is a big purchase so I just want to make sure I made the right decision. Sometimes 2 computers can have the same spec, but one runs much faster than the other. Both of them have good and bad points I'm sure, I just want to get the opinion of long time mac users about which they feel is the better machine, if there's only £150 or so difference. It seems strange to me that the 2015 model would be a better buy than the 2016 model, but that's what a lot of reviews said. However that might just be their way of saying "the 2016 MBP isn't as good as I wanted it to be" but it may still be better than the 2015 model if you don't factor in the slight price difference. I'm looking for advice, not an argument! =)
[doublepost=1483224399][/doublepost]Just out of interest, will I be able to update the RAM on my 2015 MBP pro? I've heard with some models you can't as it's soldered onto the logic board or something, but tbh I have no idea. The _only_ thing that I'd want to update in the next 2/3 years is the RAM.

Thanks

RAM is soldered.
Not upgradeable.
[doublepost=1483231689][/doublepost]

The new tMBP machines are, as someone else stated, better in every way.

The 2015 machines, which I also own, are also very good.

But there's no reason to buy a 2015 over a 2016 that holds much water.



R.

Ehhh ...

The 2015 mbp has a magsafe and many usable ports.

The magsafe alone makes night and day difference.

 

[Scary Spice]

The longer my wife and I live with the new 13" tb mbp the more we love it.

There is no comparison. Like most new apple products, you really don't appreciate the improvements until you use them for awhile and then go back to the previous model for a day or two. Then the old versions seem quite crappy.

 

[capelesshero]

The longer my wife and I live with the new 13" tb mbp the more we love it.

There is no comparison. Like most new apple products, you really don't appreciate the improvements until you use them for awhile and then go back to the previous model for a day or too. Then the old versions seem quite crappy.

I can certainly attest to this, I also went from 2010 MBP to the 2016 MBP. After using it for a couple weeks and then going back to the old one it was a complete "woah" moment. I'm not sure how much more different the 2015 model is but I am certainly satisfied with my new one and plan on keeping it.

 

[HBOC]

i went to the applestore to check out the new MBP - and i thought the touchpad was kind of cheap looking, plus $300 more for the same model as my 2015 MBP. for 94% off the people, the speed difference won't matter. as i have gotten older, I realize that if i don't use it everyday, i don't need it -and as long as i can process my photo files and design my calendars quicker than on my 2011 iMac, i am happy.

 

[dapork]

If ports aren't an issue I don't see why you would opt for the old version instead of the new. As someone stated the newer one is better in many ways, not to mention lighter.

 

[maka344]

I guess it comes down to budgets and other factors; some people preferred the 6s over the 7 due to the headphone jack and the price decrease.

 

[guy_mac]

If ports aren't an issue I don't see why you would opt for the old version instead of the new. As someone stated the newer one is better in many ways, not to mention lighter.

Ports ARE an issue for every single laptop user.

 

[MH01]

Wow, thank you for such an in depth response. The price difference is only £150 for me, so it's not a huge deal when you consider the total cost of a new mac. I guess I'll go to the Apple store tomorrow and spend 15-20 minutes on the new one, try and get a feel for the keyboard and how it performs in general. The port situation is a little annoying, but I only ever use a wireless mouse when I'm at home and I could buy a dongle for that. It may come down to the keyboard!

Hey mate, http://www.apple.com/uk/shop/browse/home/specialdeals/mac/macbook_pro/13

If you are going 2015, look at refurbs. With the price being very close I would choose the 2016, I just think they are too expansive to be honest
[doublepost=1483265127][/doublepost]

The new tMBP machines are, as someone else stated, better in every way.

The 2015 machines, which I also own, are also very good.

But there's no reason to buy a 2015 over a 2016 that holds much water.



R.

Someone has also stated they are not better in every way

I owned both the 2016 and 2015 and cannot agree with your view.

2015 wins on value, battery and convenience

2016 wins on build, cooler operation , screen and Touch ID

The personal preference of hate/love is the keyboard, ports and touch bar.

There is no such thing as winning in every aspect....and as you have stated many times about being a professional, do you understand the accessibility impact of the new touch bar on visually impaired?

Let's drop the black and white assessments , 2015 and 2016 have thier pros and cons.

 

[maflynn]

I'll go to the Apple store tomorrow and spend 15-20 minutes on the new one, t

Definitely try it out. You may like (or not) the new keyboard and you should give it a test drive first. Also the larger trackpad is annoying to some

The new MBP has a crazy fast SSD, and I think that's a great move by apple, the display is brighter and I believe more gamut. Aside from that the processor isn't that much faster, and some people have reported that its actually slower. You get a smaller battery, lose magsafe (which saved my computer a number of times), and will have to deal with the USB-C.

All in all, I don't beleive you can go wrong with either computer but try out which one best meets your needs.

The new tMBP machines are, as someone else stated, better in every way.

Subjective at best. I think the new MBP lacks in a number of areas and so what's best is a personal assessment which there is nothing wrong with but its still an opinion not fact.

 

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

Definitely try it out. You may like (or not) the new keyboard and you should give it a test drive first. Also the larger trackpad is annoying to some

The new MBP has a crazy fast SSD, and I think that's a great move by apple, the display is brighter and I believe more gamut. Aside from that the processor isn't that much faster, and some people have reported that its actually slower. You get a smaller battery, lose magsafe (which saved my computer a number of times), and will have to deal with the USB-C.

All in all, I don't beleive you can go wrong with either computer but try out which one best meets your needs.



Subjective at best. I think the new MBP lacks in a number of areas and so what's best is a personal assessment which there is nothing wrong with but its still an opinion not fact.

CaptRB clearly posts opinion here - obviously nothing wrong with that. But you're actually doing the same with your mention of the MagSafe as for many it's really not missed and the universal ports are far more useful. You say people 'have to deal' with USB C but for me it's a pleasure to use, particularly as I can dictate which port to charge through. So you see many factors are subjective and this really is a horses for courses topic.

I do think that some matters like SSD, RAM, GPU and CPU speeds can be measured objectively but even then user preference will determine the value of each - for instance the CPU's are said to be slower in the 2016s but thermal management is also more efficient and so some may value the new chipsets in the 2016s more regardless of speed downgrades.

It's all good

 

[maflynn]

But you're actually doing the same with your mention of the MagSafe

Correct its my opinion which is why I advised the OP to try out the computer. I offered my perspective not as fact but as opinion. Its up to the OP to make the determination to see which computer best fits him

 

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

Correct its my opinion which is why I advised the OP to try out the computer. I offered my perspective not as fact but as opinion. Its up to the OP to make the determination to see which computer best fits him

Appreciated. Just exploring the issues for the OP. Both machines are exceptional in different regards. I'm starting to regret giving my 2015 to my girlfriend now!

 

[cardinalryan]

OP...I am a lot like you in that I bought the 2015 rMPB 15" about a week ago and I struggled with which model was better. At the end of the day, I was just not satisfied with buying the dated machine, so I took it back and got the 2016 and could not be happier.

It's a personal decision, but for me, I am very glad that I took the plunge for the 2016. That said, you will end up with a great machine either way.

Happy New Year!

 

[maka344]

OP...I am a lot like you in that I bought the 2015 rMPB 15" about a week ago and I struggled with which model was better. At the end of the day, I was just not satisfied with buying the dated machine, so I took it back and got the 2016 and could not be happier.

It's a personal decision, but for me, I am very glad that I took the plunge for the 2016. That said, you will end up with a great machine either way.

Happy New Year!

If you can afford it, the new model is the way to go for the little extra it'll cost over the 2015 model. In two years, the 2015 model will be really dated whereas, the 2016 model will look current until 2020.

 

[blindpacemaker]

OP...I am a lot like you in that I bought the 2015 rMPB 15" about a week ago and I struggled with which model was better. At the end of the day, I was just not satisfied with buying the dated machine, so I took it back and got the 2016 and could not be happier.

It's a personal decision, but for me, I am very glad that I took the plunge for the 2016. That said, you will end up with a great machine either way.

Happy New Year!

Yeah, it's a difficult choice! Thanks for everyone who has replied so far, it seems that there really is no "better" machine and that it comes down to what you value more. As it's only £150 difference, I'll go into the Apple store tomorrow and spend a while with the 2016 model and see how it feels. I'm probably worrying over nothing as the most intensive thing I do is browse with 30+ tabs open and have VS Code and itunes running at the same time.

 

[LogiLink]

I work on Early 2015, and honestly recommend purchasing a new MBPro Late 2016

You get better audio, screen, keyborad, touchpad, CPU

There are no illuminated apple logo I assume that you can live with it