MacBook Pro 13 - 2018 high end vs 2019 low end?

[saturnotaku]

I've just about had it with my Windows-based laptop and want to come back to MacOS. While the former is better for gaming, I did get into the NVIDIA GeForce Now beta, so I can stream and get good performance in more modern titles. Other games I play that have MacOS ports are much older (2004-2012) so they shouldn't have any trouble running on a system without a dGPU. I would otherwise be using the laptop for basic content consumption and Office applications.

I have two options in front of me, both with 8 GB of RAM. One is a used but excellent condition 2019 base model (1.4 GHz i5, 128 GB SSD, 2 Thunderbolt ports), which I can buy for $1,000. The other is a brand-new 2018 high end (2.3 GHz i5, 256 GB SSD, 4 Thunderbolt ports) for $1,400.

Pros of the base model include the price, updated keyboard, and a processor that should run cooler and quieter while offering a minimal performance hit over the high end. The latter's advantages are its greater CPU and GPU power, more onboard storage, and extra I/O ports. The latter point really appeals to me because it's nice to have the extra flexibility to plug the laptop into either side depending on the machine is situated. However, I'm uncertain as to whether or not the older model's extra features are worth a $400 price premium.

I defer to the wisdom of this forum for guidance.

 

[Nbd1790]

I would probably just go with the 2018 model. The performance difference is going to be minimal, but you might get a little more out of the 2018 model. In addition, you'll get 4 TB3 ports instead of 2 (which isn't a huge deal with adapters, but still a nice addition to have) - more importantly, the extra storage is going to be really nice. The base system shouldn't even be offered with a 128gb, it's close to having nothing. Throw a few applications on there along with some documents / photos and you'll find yourself falling short very quickly. If there's anything else I might tell you to consider, it's look for even more storage. Even for the average light user I highly recommend at least 500gb.

 

[Howard2k]

Easy choice. More storage, faster storage, slightly faster CPU, slightly faster GPU, 50% faster wifi, more ports.

The lower end machine is actually pretty great IMO, and a $400 uplift is pretty hefty, but I think it's worth it.

 

[saturnotaku]

I bought the 2018 with 256 GB of storage but returned it in favor of a similar model with 512 GB. The extra $200 up front was slightly painful but I think it'll work out better in the long term. The discount off the original MSRP from MicroCenter was enough to pay for AppleCare+ and then some.