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MBP 2015 or MBP 2016

J

jon5511

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Nov 5, 2016
2
0
Hey guys,

I am a student and was waiting for the macbook pro 2016 for a year, I was 100% sure, that I would buy one. After the release I was a bit shocked by the price increase and I am not sure which one to buy now. I would be very grateful if you could give me your opinion on the following macs:
(Btw: Using it for Adobe Indesign, Photoshop, Xd, and final cut --> Creating currently an app, so no professional use - but I want to keep the mac for at least 4 years).

Prices in Euro so taxes are included (Im from Germany)

First option:

Apple MacBook Pro Retina 13" 2015 MF839D/A CTO BTO 2.9GHz, 16GB, 128GB
--> Need for external drive
1599 Euro
1879 (with 256 ssd, but 2,7 i5)
1899 (with i7 and 128gb)


Second option:

Apple MacBook Pro 13" – Space Grau 2016 MLL42D/A 2.0GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
--> Is the processor suitable ?
--> Just 2 ports
1899 Euro

Third Option:

Apple MacBook Pro 15" Retina 2015 MJLQ2D/A 2.2GHz, 16GB, 256GB SSD
-->Not so portable + battery life
-->4th Generation of i7
1949 Euro

Fourth Option:

Apple MacBook Pro 13" – Space Grau 2016 MLL42D/A CTO BTO 2.4GHz, 16GB RAM, 256GB SSD
--> Touchbar
--> Higher clockspeed + Memoryspeed
2249 Euro

Thank you so much !
 
Last edited:
i picked up a mid 2015 15" MBP for $2K with AppleCare until 2/19 in July. It has the 2.5GHZ, 512 SSD and 2GB graphics card. Check on eBay (be careful - but there are smoking deals!) - got mine from the original owner.
 
After spending some time researching both the 2015 and 2016 rMBP, I opted for the fully spec'd 15" 2015 version. For me, it had all of the connectivity options without having to either upgrade, replace or dongle'ize my peripherals. I had too much invested at this time to fully switch over. The option of the iris Pro or Radeon 370x just made it a much better choice for my needs. So I plan to ride this new rMBP laptop out for as long as it lives.
 
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You're a student so I'll recommend you pick up the high-end 2015 15" since it's about the same amount of money. As a student, I bought a 2012 cMBP right when the new Retina Macbook Pro's came out because it made sense to me, financially and whatnot. Now, as an adult, I'm treating myself to a fully spec'ed 2016 15" model after waiting for so long and I have no regrets. You are not going to be dissatisfied with the 2015 15" and it will last you five years, minimum.

Use this logic:

willgreene99 said:
After spending some time researching both the 2015 and 2016 rMBP, I opted for the fully spec'd 15" 2015 version. For me, it had all of the connectivity options without having to either upgrade, replace or dongle'ize my peripherals. I had too much invested at this time to fully switch over. The option of the iris Pro or Radeon 370x just made it a much better choice for my needs. So I plan to ride this new rMBP laptop out for as long as it lives.
Click to expand...
 
The 2015 model would be a more logical choice for the time being. I feel the 2016 is a transition product (it's going to take another generation of laptops or two before USB-C becomes the standard) and not having to think about dongles just to connect your peripherals is another plus.

As for the processor speed, I don't think you'll notice a huge difference, especially as a student. You might shave a few seconds with the latest MBP, but it's not a groundbreaking improvement. If you can find yourself a good deal on the 2015 model, I would personally opt for that.
 
I don't think the 2016 version is ready for prime time either. Too many compromises for an added expense...

For me, personally, keyboard is everything in laptop. If it weren't for the securely attached keyboard, I'd probably just use a tablet for 90% of tasks. Nerfing the keyboard is a big deal. YMMV, of course.

The 2016 isn't that much more expensive if you're buying new - and definitely probably a better idea for future-proofing it, but it's also not totally necessary.

If I were in your shoes I'd wait for a sale on the 2015's or look for a refurbished deal.
 
Goto the refurbished site or a bookstore in one of the universities around you. 2015 15" MBP would be the better buy for you IMHO. Whether or not you need one with a dedicated graphics card your going to have to look into that for software requirements. If you get student pricing on the system buy the Applecare if you can afford it. I know locally there selling the new MBP's but I've seen more of last years models going out the door at Best Buy and Apple Store than new one's. With refurbs around the holiday season you have to be fast because there flying out of the wharehouse's
 
2015 15 inch from the refurbished store or off eBay is by far the best value for a MacBook right now.
 
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Option 3 is what I'd do. It is far and away the fastest/most powerful due to the quad core CPU. The 2016 models are overpriced, and I like the bigger screen.
 
uptownnyc said:
The refurbished store all lack dGPU, correct? Where am I able to buy a 2015 with dGPU?
Click to expand...
No, refurbished store is the only place you can get a dGPU model from Apple directly. There was.a dedicated model available a couple of days ago, keep checking it should show up again.
 
After more than one "side by side" comparison of the 2016 13" vis-a-vis the 2015 13" MBPro's...
... I decided the 2015 was the better buy, for me at least.

The only advantage I saw in the 2016 was the brighter screen. But the 2015 is still a superb display.

Reasons I chose the 2015:
- Better keyboard. I opened Pages on both, then typed some text on one, and then the other. Far too many typing errors on the 2016 - the keyboard just didn't "do it" for me.
- Faster CPU. 2.7 vs. 2.0.
- Ports that are actually usable with the stuff I have (and will continue to use, in the foreseeable future). That includes firewire (one would need TWO dongles just to hook a firewire device to a 2016 MacBook). I particularly like that it has two thunderbolt/minidisplayport ports along with two USB3 ports and an HDMI port as well.
By contrast, the non-touchbar MacBookPro has only the two USB-c ports, total.
- Good price. Paid $1,189 for the 8gb/250gb drive version (new).
- I was also put off a little by all the minor complaints folks are making about the new ones. The 2015 represents a "mature product", fully developed, whereas the 2016 is the first of its breed (with all the hassles that come with being so).

Waiting right now for the UPS guy to deliver it.
Should be a nice "move up" from my April 2010 MacBook Pro -- which still runs very well with an SSD inside (I'll keep and maintain it as a spare).

Final thought re the "dongle wars":
When I have to start buying dongles to connect the stuff I already have to the MacBook, then it will be time to think about buying a MacBook with USB-c ports.
But not yet. At least not for me...
 
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