Suggestions on a 12" inch 2015-17 Macbook in 2025?

[ARK]

I've wanted to own one of these 12 inch MacBooks since they were introduced (impressed with the form factor) I have an opportunities to pick one up soon off the used market.
I know they aren't the best in terms of specs in 2025 and I've done some limited research, but would like some "real" input from actual users here on the forum about the reliability of these 2015-17 models?

I’m currently using a 2017 Space Grey with 512gb ssd, 16gb ram, and i5 processor for freelance work.

I’m hooked up to a LG Ultrafine 27” 5k display and working fine now for a year with this setup. I’m using Adobe Illustrator to edit labels and packaging for a national retailer. With me being hooked to a monitor I’m rarely interacting with the keyboard so can’t comment on that. I’ve never had problems however. Dont eat around it so debris in the keyboard is never an issue. The battery is sitting around 81%.

It’s not the fastest thing and sometimes goes really slow while doing a teams call with my vendor but otherwise it does what I need. I have been able to share my screen to discuss projects and that worked ok enough.

Like you, I loved the form factor and decided to get one used a couple years ago. Hope this helps.

 

[MultiFinder17]

As much as I like the form factor of the 12" MacBook, it seems likes these machines have a lot of issues... I'm wondering if a 2017 MacBook Air would be more feasible?
I'd go for a M1 MacBook Air in a heartbeat, but this would be a secondary machine and I am on budget.
Suggestions?

If you're looking for something more reliable and likely slightly more performant, then yes, a 2015/2017 Air would be a solid choice. However, you are giving up the Retina display for a much poorer-quality display, so if that is a dealbreaker for you, then you may want to continue to hunt down a 12" rMB. The Air is also larger and heavier, though still not bad to tote around.

I love both of them personally, and myself use a 2016 12" rMB and 2015 11" Air pretty much interchangeably.

 

[rb2112]

I have to agree with most of the comments above, as a collectors item sure.
As an actual computer you plan on using every single day or even a back up computer, absolutely not.
Even assuming you can find one in perfect condition at a reasonable price, let’s say $200, you can also find an M1 MacBook Air for not that much more and it’s going to absolutely destroy that 12 inch MacBook in every aspect. Software support, reliability, speed, everything.

mostly....but not going to destroy it in "every" aspect: portability....I have fit the 12 inch MacBook in coat pockets before. I bicycle with it in a small camelback sheath. So small. It is really cool how they made it that size! I only use it for writing, like MD2433 posted above.

 

[Xand&Roby]

I have to agree with most of the comments above, as a collectors item sure.
As an actual computer you plan on using every single day or even a back up computer, absolutely not.
Even assuming you can find one in perfect condition at a reasonable price, let’s say $200, you can also find an M1 MacBook Air for not that much more and it’s going to absolutely destroy that 12 inch MacBook in every aspect. Software support, reliability, speed, everything.

I had an iMac M4 for 14 days alongside MBr of various years and configurations, I did not feel all this destruction, rather I felt the destruction when the M4 went in bulk for an hour to load a video and when it failed, for 18 hours and 3 attempts, the transfer of two 15 gb folders, which also became extremely hot.

And it is a product with 6 months of life and its native operating system, imagine when it will have to run the fifth version of the operating system from its presentation!