Longevity of 2015 15" Vs. 2016 15" Question

[BondFancy]

I've been very conflicted between purchasing the base 2015 15" with 512 SSD or a base 2016 15" with 512 SSD.

As I can see from the forums the pros of the 2016 model are the improved speakers, display, touch bar, thunderbolt 3, dGPU, and SSD speeds. When I look at the pros of the 2015 I see slightly better battery life, better keyboard (depends on who you ask), more relevant ports (USB 3.0, HDMI, MagSafe), better iGPU, and slightly cheaper price point. I find the 2015's keyboard too spongey and the 2016's too hard (can't find the right word LOL), just to note as the keyboard has been a big factor for most.

Personally I have no need for the power of a dGPU and I am worried about the effects of it on the longevity of my laptop, as Apple currently still has issues integrating a dGPU properly (see the many threads on these). However, I don't want to be stuck with USB-A when USB-C is becoming the future. The price differences don't really bother me as getting the 2015 model and AppleCare will only be ~300 cheaper than my current 2016 model with AppleCare I have preordered (slated for delivery December 8-14).

My goal is to get 5 years of usage with the help of AppleCare/AMEX in case of hardware failure during years 1-4. My usage will consist of Office, mail, web browsing (YouTube/forums), boot camp (Atmel Studios/Matlab), Xcode (Python/C languages), iPhone integration (FaceTime/messages), and light video editing (i.e. 1080p). I am currently coming from a crappy 15" quad core HP Pavillion 1035dx, that is laggy and borderline unusable at times, however when I purchased it, it was only $600. I have never owned an a Apple computer nor spent a fortune on a laptop before, so this has been a big decision. Between the OS MacOS>>>>>>>Windows 7/8/10 and iPhone integration I really wanted to jump ship to the Apple ecosystem.

Sorry for the long essay, but this has been bothering me and I am sure many others have these concerns. I have thought about the 13", but the quad core and screen size are more important than portability for me.

TLDR: I want a 15" Apple laptop that lasts me comfortably 5 years, however I have concerns about the longevity of the newer model and the older 15" model.

 

[dark_mark]

I've been very conflicted between purchasing the base 2015 15" with 512 SSD or a base 2016 15" with 512 SSD.

As I can see from the forums the pros of the 2016 model are the improved speakers, display, touch bar, thunderbolt 3, dGPU, and SSD speeds. When I look at the pros of the 2015 I see slightly better battery life, better keyboard (depends on who you ask), more relevant ports (USB 3.0, HDMI, MagSafe), better iGPU, and slightly cheaper price point. I find the 2015's keyboard too spongey and the 2016's too hard (can't find the right word LOL), just to note as the keyboard has been a big factor for most.

Personally I have no need for the power of a dGPU and I am worried about the effects of it on the longevity of my laptop, as Apple currently still has issues integrating a dGPU properly (see the many threads on these). However, I don't want to be stuck with USB-A when USB-C is becoming the future. The price differences don't really bother me as getting the 2015 model and AppleCare will only be ~300 cheaper than my current 2016 model with AppleCare I have preordered (slated for delivery December 8-14).

My goal is to get 5 years of usage with the help of AppleCare/AMEX in case of hardware failure during years 1-4. My usage will consist of Office, mail, web browsing (YouTube/forums), boot camp (Atmel Studios/Matlab), Xcode (Python/C languages), iPhone integration (FaceTime/messages), and light video editing (i.e. 1080p). I am currently coming from a crappy 15" quad core HP Pavillion 1035dx, that is laggy and borderline unusable at times, however when I purchased it, it was only $600. I have never owned an a Apple computer nor spent a fortune on a laptop before, so this has been a big decision. Between the OS MacOS>>>>>>>Windows 7/8/10 and iPhone integration I really wanted to jump ship to the Apple ecosystem.

Sorry for the long essay, but this has been bothering me and I am sure many others have these concerns. I have thought about the 13", but the quad core and screen size are more important than portability for me.

TLDR: I want a 15" Apple laptop that lasts me comfortably 5 years, however I have concerns about the longevity of the newer model and the older 15" model.

I have both the 2015 15" and 2016 15". My 2016 has UI lags due to less powerful iGPU. Therefore I am considering returning it. Lack of usable ports is a PITA. By the time USB C becomes ubiquitous, the 2016 model will already be outdated, so why upgrade to a machine which has less powerful iGPU, slightly less powerful CPU, worse keyboard, worse battery life and a huge price hike?

I really love the thin design, but is it worth $1000 price difference? Hell no. Besides whatever weight reduction you get will be canceled out with the fact that you will have to carry a bag of dongles with you. You decide.

 

[dk808]

If you dont care about the gpu you should get the 2015 with the igpu only.
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I have both the 2015 15" and 2016 15". My 2016 has UI lags due to less powerful iGPU. Therefore I am considering returning it. Lack of usable ports is a PITA. By the time USB C becomes ubiquitous, the 2016 model will already be outdated, so why upgrade to a machine which has less powerful iGPU, slightly less powerful CPU, worse keyboard, worse battery life and a huge price hike?

I really love the thin design, but is it worth $1000 price difference? Hell no. Besides whatever weight reduction you get will be canceled out with the fact that you will have to carry a bag of dongles with you. You decide.

Did you look at your old thread? Another guy posted video of his and there was no lag on his one. Something may be wrong with yours

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2016-15-mbp-ui-lag.2016332/page-3#post-23956489

 

[dark_mark]

If you dont care about the gpu you should get the 2015 with the igpu only.
[doublepost=1479765791][/doublepost]
Did you look at your old thread? Another guy posted video of his and there was no lag on his one. Something may be wrong with yours

Yes, he has less applications in his app folder, that's why his doesn't lag. But over the course of the ownership you will install many more apps which will definitely stutter. I don't see myself not downloading the apps I need just so that I don't experience stutter. Besides the laptop also stutters in facebook, scrolling in messages in outlook, mission control and many more situations.

I just don't have the time to keep arguing with the people in the old thread, people will still be defending Apple even if they included wasps in the box. I just don't feel like wasting my time arguing.

 

[dk808]

Yes, he has less applications in his app folder, that's why his doesn't lag. But over the course of the ownership you will install many more apps which will definitely stutter. I don't see myself not downloading the apps I need just so that I don't experience stutter. Besides the laptop also stutters in facebook, scrolling in messages in outlook, mission control and many more situations.

I just don't have the time to keep arguing with the people in the old thread, people will still be defending Apple even if they included wasps in the box. I just don't feel like wasting my time arguing.

He had no stuttering in mission control either. Your time machine backup probably has something weird

 

[dark_mark]

He had no stuttering in mission control either. Your time machine backup probably has something weird

I tried a clean install and installed all the apps I need fresh from the app store. I got the same result.

 

[dk808]

I tried a clean install and installed all the apps I need fresh from the app store. I got the same result.

Take it to the apple store and show them, they'll replace it free of charge. Ive looked online on many places here and reddit and everyone says they dont have any lag or stuttering. Or maybe its even a touch bar issue that is causing the problem. I would wait to see if an update happens since we have a extended holiday return policy

 

[dark_mark]

Take it to the apple store and show them, they'll replace it free of charge. Ive looked online on many places here and reddit and everyone says they dont have any lag or stuttering. Or maybe its even a touch bar issue that is causing the problem. I would wait to see if an update happens since we have a extended holiday return policy

In his second video, scrolling the verge stutters. Mission control also stutters.

 

[dk808]

In his second video, scrolling the verge stutters. Mission control also stutters.

Yea he said that because he was doing screen recording. He posted another video from an iphone recording and it was smooth

 

[dark_mark]

Yea he said that because he was doing screen recording. He posted another video from an iphone recording and it was smooth

Maybe, but the 2015 15" never stutters. Not even while recording a video. It's obvious that HD 530 is running at it's limits just to drive the UI animations. What if next year Apple decides to change the rendering from Metal to Metal 3.0 which requires more resources? Yep, too bad you will have to deal with even more stuttering or buy another 3k laptop. HD 530 is very weak, there's no arguing about that, it's barely barely enough for today. But are you buying a 3k laptop just to use for a year? If yes, then great. But I keep laptops for 3-4 years.

 

[Stotka]

I would go with the newer machine. I have the 15" 2015 with dGPU and it throttles like crazy and is a pain to use with a cintiq that is 1080p. This experience made me decide to never get a dGPU macbook ever again, and will be switching to the 13" touch bar soon. I used to have a 2011 iMac, the last thick one. And I bought it a few months before the thin ones came out. I then decided to never buy old hardware (~10months+ since release). I dont know if the new 15" throttle but I would wait for a few in depth reviews before deciding on it. Also Im guessing you need the screen size, otherwise go 13"

 

[dk808]

Maybe, but the 2015 15" never stutters. Not even while recording a video. It's obvious that HD 530 is running at it's limits just to drive the UI animations. What if next year Apple decides to change the rendering from Metal to Metal 3.0 which requires more resources? Yep, too bad you will have to deal with even more stuttering or buy another 3k laptop. HD 530 is very weak, there's no arguing about that, it's barely barely enough for today. But are you buying a 3k laptop just to use for a year? If yes, then great. But I keep laptops for 3-4 years.

Pretty sure Apple wouldnt do that, they wouldnt **** people over especially after only one year. You say its barely enough yet no one else experiences this lagginess. And even in your case it just stutters for half a second when scrolling in a finder window. I dont understand, how is that "barely barely enough"?

Also the 2016 igpu is stronger than the one in 2012 retina mbp yet theres no lag on that one?

 

[dark_mark]

Pretty sure Apple wouldnt do that, they wouldnt **** people over especially after only one year. You say its barely enough yet no one else experiences this lagginess. And even in your case it just stutters for half a second when scrolling in a finder window. I dont understand, how is that "barely barely enough"?

Listen, if you don't notice the stutter. Just buy it. Stop arguing. I see what I see.

 

[dk808]

Listen, if you don't notice the stutter. Just buy it. Stop arguing. I see what I see.

Yea, except you're the only one seeing it lol...

 

[BondFancy]

I would go with the newer machine. I have the 15" 2015 with dGPU and it throttles like crazy and is a pain to use with a cintiq that is 1080p. This experience made me decide to never get a dGPU macbook ever again, and will be switching to the 13" touch bar soon. I used to have a 2011 iMac, the last thick one. And I bought it a few months before the thin ones came out. I then decided to never buy old hardware (~10months+ since release). I dont know if the new 15" throttle but I would wait for a few in depth reviews before deciding on it. Also Im guessing you need the screen size, otherwise go 13"

The problem is that all 2016 models come with a dGPU, hence the dilemma.

 

[dark_mark]

Also the 2016 igpu is stronger than the one in 2012 retina mbp yet theres no lag on that one?

Because it doesn't scale to 1680 by 1050 by default.
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Yea, except you're the only one seeing it lol...

Ok. Whatever rocks your boat buddy.

 

[dk808]

The problem is at that all 2016 models come with a dGPU, hence the dilemma.

The dgpus this year are much cooler and quieter than the one from last year
[doublepost=1479768057][/doublepost]

Because it doesn't scale to 1680 by 1050 by default.
[doublepost=1479768005][/doublepost]
Ok. Whatever rocks your boat buddy.

Didnt you say you still saw the lag when you scaled it to the former resolution? Yea, software issue.

 

[dark_mark]

The dgpus this year are much cooler and quieter than the one from last year

He said he doesn't need dGPU. In which case having the 2016 dGPU will still be hotter and louder than 2015 with no dGPU.

 

[dk808]

He said he doesn't need dGPU. In which case having the 2016 dGPU will still be hotter and louder than 2015 with no dGPU.

He should get the 2015 igpu version then definitely

 

[Ender17]

Anyone have benchmarks of iris pro 5200 vs 530?

 

[BondFancy]

Well everyone I am gonna stick with the preorder on the 2016 15" MacBook Pro, however if I have any issues within the return period I will get the 2015 15" version. I really enjoyed the new keyboard and the touchbar, so I'm gonna give it a chance. Thanks for all your input everyone!

 

[WhiteWhaleHolyGrail]

Well everyone I am gonna stick with the preorder on the 2016 15" MacBook Pro, however if I have any issues within the return period I will get the 2015 15" version. I really enjoyed the new keyboard and the touchbar, so I'm gonna give it a chance. Thanks for all your input everyone!

I have the 2016 2.7ghz stock model and I have no lag or UI interferences at all. Glitches exist in different systems which is what your right to exchange is there for. In short, the machine is an absolute beast, mainly because of the SSD speeds.

I posted my first impressions in another thread if it helps. Otherwise, go for it!

 

[knux11]

i had tons of glitches on my first 2016. exchanged it and they went away.

 

[MH01]

I have the 2015 2.8 max spec and 2016 2.7 460 512, for the same price or near, I'd keep the 2016.

I got the 2015 as a refurb , and would need to buy a 2016 2.9 1TB to can the same , so for me it's an extra £1000. No way the 2016 is worth an extra £1000 for me. The battery though is a major downgrade

In your case OP, as you say the pricing is similar go the 2016, if you can accept the reduced runtime

 

[knux11]

Yeah the battery is horrible. My first one averaged about 3.5 hours, new one gets 2.5 per charge. Anyone know how long the 2015 15" lasted on average?