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Should we buy a MacBook Pro 16 inch now?
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I bought a 2020 13 inch MacBook Pro and have zero regrets. Even if the ARM processor hits, I would rather wait a few generations in when all of the kinks are worked out. I work in an environment where I need the ability to use Eclipse to write my scripts, the Intel Mac affords me the ability to do that, I am not so sure about ARM based and I needed more mobility than my older 2015 iMac afforded.
One thing I have been curious about is the Mac as a software development platform. As of now a developer can choose to work on a Mac or a PC as both support Intel Processors, is Apple ceding that market to Windows?
One thing I have been curious about is the Mac as a software development platform. As of now a developer can choose to work on a Mac or a PC as both support Intel Processors, is Apple ceding that market to Windows?
If you use an external display and especially if you use multiple displays and/or a single external with the clamshell open, the 5600M is your best friend, whereas experiences with the 5300/5500 can be much more mixed (specifically, the 5300/5500M models draw much more power, which results in considerably more heat, resulting in higher fan speed/noises and reduced CPU/GPU performance for other tasks.) When not using an external and using the dGPU, the 5600M also results in a cooler running laptop. When using the dGPU on battery, the 5600M enables longer run times. If you rarely/never use external displays and you aren't doing things that necessitates the use of the dGPU, then it is potentially less-justifiable of an upgrade.
I do not need the 5600 but an worried about the heat issue when using an external monitor which I do from time to time. It adds a lot of cost that I do not need and I am not a power user. I keep my machines for a long time and I worried about heat ruining the machine over time. $2800 for laptop especially one that will be obsolete once apple silicon comes out is hard to swallow. I can't wait for apple silicon to mature.
It is depressing when any hardware device fails in the first year. I love Apple products but logic board failures has been my experience with Macbooks. So here I am using a Windows computer(even though I prefer MacOS and I REALLY miss the MacBook's track-pad). I have some hope that ARM will improve the Macbook's failure rate, less heat may be good for the logic board.
With an external display, the 5300/5500M can draw between 2-10 times the power at idle in any situation other than select single displays at select refresh rates in clamshell mode. I have not monitored it without a display, but it is way more efficient. I use the dGPU constantly and compared to the 5500M it's cooler operating and battery life on the dGPU is better. The 5600M's usage of High Bandwidth Memory makes a lot of sense for the MacBook Pro IMHO, where physical space is constrained, the available power is capped, and there are major thermal constraints. Currently, the fastest supercomputer in the world uses HBM and all three of the planned exascale supercomputers to be built in the US over the next several years will also employ HBM to some extent...ignoring all other benefits, just on the efficiency front alone, I can understand why.
Unless you are concerned about the temp and heat differences, there is no reason to pay the extra $800 for a 5600XT if you do not plan on using the extra compute cores and need the extra VRAM. 8 GBs of VRAM is overkill for even 4K Displays. It only takes around a 32 MBs for a "4K" (3840 x 2160) at 32-bits per pixel display. Do keep in mind, that some programs will take advantage of the compute cores and VRAM for other things, but based on what you have said, you would most likely be more than fine with the default 4 GBs that come standard on the MBP. I don't use external displays with my MBP, and I have AppleCare+. So, if my 5500XT 8 GBs fails due to the temp and heat, I will just expect Apple to fix/replace it 
. After all, that is why I paid for it. Good luck!
Rich S.
. After all, that is why I paid for it. Good luck!Rich S.
I came across a refurbished 16” base model for $1499. Is that a good deal? Was trying to hold off until November to see if Apple releases any new MacBooks.
It's an incredible deal if it is legitimate...I assume this is NOT Apple refurbished though, and any warranty would come from the third party seller.
That's just my best guess...the price is way, way lower than what Apple sells the base 16-inch in the refurb store for, and while the Apple warranty is transferrable from one end user to another, I would also guess this warranty would not transfer/remain valid in the case of a third party company doing the refurbishing and reselling unless that third party happens to be an Apple Authorized Service Provider. But that's just my guess.
I've observed a lot of 'refurbished' Apple products sold on the web and on Amazon for crazy low prices, and, from what I can tell these are definitely not refurbished (or warrantied) by Apple.
I'm on the fence too. The deals on 16" MBPs are pretty darn good right now. $320 off the base model has me thinking whether I should wait or not. The refresh could be pretty minor.
No harm in waiting. Better deals for 16. Can see what a mess Apple silicon will be.
I bought one of these and found an open box for $1439. Computer looks brand new. Not a scratch on it. Battery only has 7 cycles on it. Warranty is through MicroCenter and not Apple if you want to add it.
Ah... we’ve moved forum threads... I picked up the same deal and so far can’t be happier. Micro Center isn’t exactly a fly by wire operation, and they’re a fully authorized Apple reseller service provider. Can’t imagine they’d keep those designations long if they were in the business of selling sketchy apple refurbs
Yeah I feel confident in the purchase. I have been shopping at MicroCenter for years and never had an issue so far. But I have never seen a deal quite this low on a computer although refurbished that was released less than a year ago.
I’m assuming they’re moving inventory prior to a 10th gen refresh. Even taking that into account this seems to be an abnormally good deal.... possibly a 2020 dearth of sales on higher end laptops combined with a coming refresh.
Did you check if the open box was eligible for AppleCare? I have bought a number of open box Apple items from Microcenter that had never been registered with Apple and they were fine to add AppleCare. I prefer that to the Micro Center warranty just because of the number of Applestores that can do a replacement or repair. I also fully recommend Micro Center, have been doing business with them for many years, same guys in the Apple department all that time and they have never let me down.
Checking the serial number it said that Apple care was not available and the regular warranty was not valid either. I guess being refurbished by a third party cancels out the remaining warranty and the ability to add Apple care. For this price the MicroCenter warranty will be good enough for me should I choose to add it.
Yes that is true. I didn't understand that yours was also refurbished, when you said open box I thought it was a new item that had been returned or used as a display. I am sure a refurbished model would have already been registered with Apple and quite possibly serviced if it was a refurb.