Upgrade from 2015 Macbook Pro to 2016?

[Adelphos33]

I'm thinking about updating my 2015 13" rMBP (256GB, 8MB RAM to the 2016 13" Touchbar version with 16GB RAM. My main rationales are:

- Weight (0.5 pounds lighter, thinner - I carry an iPad Pro when I travel as well, and saving the weight would help)
- Screen quality
- Speed and longevity (I expect to own this computer for four or five years, and I don't really anticipate rMBP overhauls for another few years)
- Touchbar and TouchID
- USB-C (I never use SD cards or HDMI; I could use USB-C to lightning cables to charge iPhone and iPad)

The only con is that I don't know if I want to spend $2,500 on the computer after spending $2,000 in 2015. I would only get about $500 back for selling my current rMB

Thoughts?

 

[jerryk]

Surprised to hear your 2015 is only worth $500.

I have a 2015 15" rMBP and am going to wait and see what 2017 brings. The 2016 is new and issues are still being discovered and worked on. And I think the process of manufacturing the new, smaller, MBPs is still being tweaked to improve quality. Also, USB-C accessory availability should get better as time goes on.

I really want a dock or monitor that can run at full TB-3, charge a 15" MBP, and drive attached storage devices and ethernet. All on one USB-C cable.

 

[capathy21]

I would only get about $500 back for selling my current rMB
Thoughts?

Where are you getting that figure? You can sell your 2015 on Swappa for $1,040 at a minimum. That's the current lowest priced model that matches your configuration. While it's still a huge loss from the $2,000 or so you paid, it's much better than $500.

However, I would agree with jerryk and hold off until the next release.

 

[Naimfan]

Only if you want to downgrade.

 

[ZapNZs]

The refurbished version of your computer with the lowest end CPU sells for like $1,200. You can get more than $500.

However, it seems unlikely you would get much functional benefit from an upgrade, and you would certainly lose some money in the process. Further, you have a very mature platform, where as the TB versions are premiere models, and (like many premiere models) may suffer from more bugs/quirks than what follows the premier.

As has been the case for several years, the differences among CPU generations see a very marginal gain, and the biggest gain is probably the iGPU and SSD (and your 2015 already has a solid version of each.) Unless you need 16 GB of RAM, differences in day-to-day operations will likely be minimal.

The other reason to potentially hold off is because Apple is killing the MacBook Air, and several respected analysts feel the 13-inch MacBook Pro is going to see a considerable drop in price with the next generation (especially with the base version.)

 

[The Game 161]

I was tempted to upgrade my 2015 macbook pro due to lack of storage. I only have about 5-7 GB left on mine but really i have had to delete some stuff. The macbook pro 2015 is still great afterall.

 

[Samuelsan2001]

I'm thinking about updating my 2015 13" rMBP (256GB, 8MB RAM to the 2016 13" Touchbar version with 16GB RAM. My main rationales are:

- Weight (0.5 pounds lighter, thinner - I carry an iPad Pro when I travel as well, and saving the weight would help)
- Screen quality
- Speed and longevity (I expect to own this computer for four or five years, and I don't really anticipate rMBP overhauls for another few years)
- Touchbar and TouchID
- USB-C (I never use SD cards or HDMI; I could use USB-C to lightning cables to charge iPhone and iPad)

The only con is that I don't know if I want to spend $2,500 on the computer after spending $2,000 in 2015. I would only get about $500 back for selling my current rMB

Thoughts?

It really is not worth it for most people but only you can put a price on those changes.

You should get $1000 - $1200 for your 2015 though unless you have ruined it.

 

[Adelphos33]

Thanks guys. I'm keeping the Macbook. I've been using it more lately after ditching the case I bought for it (the case added bulk). It's a very good machine with two or three more years left.

 

[leman]

I have updated from a 2015 model to a 2016 model (15"). Was totally worth it. CPU performance has increased around 25-30% and I am not even talking about graphical performance.