MBP 16” - base model and wait for the 2020?

[Abaganov]

I need a new laptop ASAP and going to order the 16”.

If I knew the next model would be significant improvement over the 2019 one I would just buy the base model for now and sell it when the new one will come out and then order the specs I want from the 2020 model. (More ram and storage)

Reasoning is that I can live with 16GB ram and the 512 SSD of the base model for now and i will take less of a hit on value when I will sell it when the new model will be out.

what do you guys think? Is the 2020 model worth doing all this for?

 

[AKS3003]

I would suggest you get the specs you require, now. No point waiting for the 2020 model. The difference isn't going to be much. Incremental improvements. Why lose money by selling a laptop within 6-8 months of purchase.

 

[simonmet]

If you look after it well you can generally get a good resale value within the first year, and more people look for or can afford the cheaper configs in my opinion.

What are you looking for in a future model? My understanding is that it may have a different or better screen technology; a 10th-Gen processor with LPDDR4; and WiFi 6. If any of those things matter to you and you don’t need more RAM and storage now I’d be inclined to get a lesser model.

The current model is already quite powerful; even the base i7. I have no idea how much power Low Power RAM can save compared to DDR4, but it tends to be clocked quite a bit faster. I wanted to wait for LPDDR4 before going to 32 GB.

More important is getting the best possible deal on whichever model you decide to go with. On this I didn’t do very well myself, because I bought the BTO without a discount.

 

[lowfreq]

Was coming to post something similar. I didn't "need" a new laptop, but my late 2013 MBP was getting long in the tooth and starting to have some issues so I bought the 1 TB 16" MBP last night. Still in the box actually (way late when I got home).

I spent about an hour or two before the purchase reading up on the what may be in the next release and reading reviews on the 16" before my head started to spin.

Bottom line is there is always going to be something better around the corner. Hopefully the 16" will last me another 7 years.

 

[kitenski]

I personally wouldn't buy a laptop now knowing it didn't suit your needs. If it does meet your needs buy it now and keep it!

 

[MrGunnyPT]

Get what you need and upgrade afterwards if the next refresh is anything special really.

 

[maflynn]

Just get what you need now and don't worry about what the future may (or may not) bring.

 

[TedJustAdmitit]

I wish I had waited and done more research. New Macbook Pro 16” showed up today and that is when I realized I don’t get WiFi 6 and the camera is only 720P. My mistake and am going to return it. Spent too much money without doing my research, just stinks that I can’t go to an Apple store and return it.

 

[modernmoments]

It’s funny. I have a 12.9” iPad Pro (3rd gen) and just ordered the 16”. I’m actually thinking of selling my 12.9” iPad Pro for the new 11” and the magic keyboard. I feel like I’d have the best of all worlds. iPhone 11 Pro Max, a new 11” iPad Pro w/ Magic Keyboard and the 16” MBP. I can’t think of a much better setup for my needs.

 

[0279317]

Just get what you need now and don't worry about what the future may (or may not) bring.

I agree to a point but, for example, wifi 6 is definitely coming (in fact already here) and I think it's worth wating for. I won't buy a device without it.

 

[maflynn]

I agree to a point but, for example, wifi 6 is definitely coming (in fact already here) and I think it's worth wating for. I won't buy a device without it.

That's fine, but the OP had stated he has a more immediate need and I was addressing that.

 

[0279317]

That's fine, but the OP had stated he has a more immediate need and I was addressing that.

You're correct, he did say "ASAP" and that's a clear statement of a pressing need. And, he could get decent coin selling the current model if he decides to upgrade to the speculative 2020 model. It's just that I'm getting sick of throwing money at Apple and my 'hang-on to the old machine' bias is showing.

My suggestion would be to go refurb - 15% off softens the blow and makes trading up less painful.

 

[FreddyJ]

If your need is ASAP as stated, go for it now. There will always be something newer and shinier on the horizon.

 

[badsimian]

I haven't heard that much about wifi 6 from real world usage. Theoretically goes much higher but not great through walls? I am not in a rush to upgrade al lthe networking in my house and the 16" is a great machine. The base model is *still a very powerful computer*. People forget that it was 18 months ago when everyone went gaga over 6 cores in a laptop and now that is base. Unless you do heavy workloads all the time (in which case a desktop would arguably be more appropriate) then the chances are your laptop is idling more than it is busy.
Yes I know this is a generalisation and there will be people for whom time is money etc. The base is great value. You lose more in depreciation the more you spec it up in general. Get a base model with appropriate ram/storage for your needs and if new shiny ones appear in the next year or so you can always flip then.

 

[dapa0s]

My suggestion would be to go refurb - 15% off softens the blow and makes trading up less painful.

Some people think refurb is bad, since a lot of times people just buy a macbook for 14 days, use and test the cpu to the limit, and then just return it, and apple doesn’t swap out the cpu with refurbs.

 

[0279317]

Some people think refurb is bad, since a lot of times people just buy a macbook for 14 days, use and test the cpu to the limit, and then just return it, and apple doesn’t swap out the cpu with refurbs.

Do some people? Have you done it? How do you know that some people do this? And if they do test the MacBook to the limit, does this harm it, which you seem to imply? And if you think it does harm, what harm exactly and, how do you know this?

I've purchased 4 refurbs (2 macs and 2 iPads) and have never had a problem. Have you purchased refurbs?

 

[Steve686]

I haven't heard official specs on the next model so I, myself, can't call the next model a "significant improvement" over the 16 inch I just bought.

And that phrase, "significant improvement" is such a broad stroke. Improvement in what area that makes your workflow or experience using it any better than the previous model?

Basically what I am pointing to is if you put out 5 MacBook Pros from different core inner components of consecutive Apple "improvements" and had people use them as they would for their normal workday, most people would never notice a difference among any of the machines.

So ya, I buy now and try not to be the dog chasing its tail.
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Some people think refurb is bad, since a lot of times people just buy a macbook for 14 days, use and test the cpu to the limit, and then just return it, and apple doesn’t swap out the cpu with refurbs.

And a lot MORE times, a lot of people buy a MacBook and just change their minds without testing the cpu to the limit and return it. Conjecture, of course.