Upgrading MBP 15" late 2013 to MBP 13" 2018

[SERLAA]

Hi,

I am considering upgrading my late 2013 MBP 15" to a new MBP 13" and I am wondering if it is worth it. I would like a laptop with a smaller footprint and a better battery capacity.

I use it for some (amateur level) photo and video editing in adobe Lightroom/photoshop/premiere plus the usual day-to-day web surfing and some office work. Most of the time it will be connected to an external monitor at my desktop.

I am mostly worried that the built in graphic card of the 13" will make editing slower compared to my 15" 2013 model. But on the other side, technology probably has improved the last 5 years.

Will this upgrade make a noticeable change?

My current MPB has a Intel Iris Pro 1536 MB graphic card.

 

[maxgts]

Be sure to google “2018 macbook pro keyboard problems” before buying.

 

[SERLAA]

Yes, I have seen this. But have tried the keyboard at the local Apple Store and it seems to work fine for me. I am mostly worried about the performance and how a 2018 MBP 13" (4 core) will compare against my 5 year old MBP 15" .

 

[maxgts]

Yes, I have seen this. But have tried the keyboard at the local Apple Store and it seems to work fine for me. I am mostly worried about the performance and how a 2018 MBP 13" (4 core) will compare against my 5 year old MBP 15" .

As long as you’re aware of the likelihood the keyboard will fail prematurely.

 

[FlushedNotRushed]

I just bought a refurbished 2018 MBP 15" base model. I'm aware of the keyboard issue but I also heard that its the best keyboard from the 2016-2018 lineup.

So potentially, if you were going to upgrade, the 2018 KB will have the least chance of malfunctioning, but there's still a chance it will. Overall, refurbished is the way to go if you are thinking about a 2017-2018 as they are the cheapest but you are still provided with Apple's customer service / warranty / return policy.

 

[Nbd1790]

It should be fine for light photo / video editing. My only concern would be further down the line if you start dabbling with intense video editing (photo editing should be no problem at any point).

Apple laptops are typically an investment kept around for at least a 5 year span and sometimes more. I would highly recommend taking a look at the newer 15 inch models as it would be the safest way to future proof yourself should your video editing become more complex in the next few years.

Also, although not a HUGE difference in size, the current 15 inch models are a bit smaller and thinner than the current 15 inch you own which may satisfy your desire for something a bit more portable.

Good luck!