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Wait for the new 16” or buy now?
- Thread starter n198ua
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I'm going to give you advice that you likely won't like: Do one of two things:
1) Buy the current M1 13" MacBook Pro
Or
2) Wait for not the upcoming 16" MacBook Pro, but rather one or two refreshes of it thereafter
Here's my reasoning:
(A) It's extremely likely that every thing that you want to do on this MacBook Pro that you want to buy is already Apple Silicon native and you haven't stated that you need any of the capabilities that are unique to Intel Macs and likely to forever be absent from Apple Silicon Macs. So, buying an Intel based 16" MacBook Pro now would be silly when you might as well be on the newer side of this processor architecture transition.
(B) It has been the case for every brand new redesign of MacBook Pro (dating all the way back to the first MacBook Pros to come out during the PowerPC to Intel transition, following the final PowerBook G4 refreshes) that the first model or two has some serious reliability issues for a sizable amount of users. As an example, the first of the Touch Bar 13" and 15" MacBook Pros had many issues that had zero to do with the fact that it was Intel (for CPU) and AMD (for graphics) under the hood and had everything to do with the nature of the new body style not being tested well enough. This phenomenon is often referred to as "Rev. A sickness" and occurs often in brand new designs of MacBook Pro and iPhone most commonly. So, if you're leaning toward an Apple Silicon 16" MacBook Pro, I'd not only wait for the redesign, but I'd wait for it to mature.
(C) Your needs are probably going to be plenty served by the current M1 13" MacBook Pro which uses a pretty mature body style that is very likely not going to give you any kind of issues. It sounds like it will be plenty performant for your needs. The only drawback you might experience is finding the 13" display to be too small, assuming you prefer a larger screen.
(D) The M1 13" MacBook Pro might feel like a bad move given that the MacBook Pro product line seems imminently due for a refresh, but you might feel less bad about spending money on one by shopping for an Apple Certified Refurbished model from the Apple Certified Refurbished Mac section of the Apple Online Store as models aren't necessarily discontinued there when their new-in-box equivalents are. Plus your discount is even cheaper than academic.
I agree with everything you say, except that I think the Air is the winner of the best M1 MacBook competition - with the Air you can either save the $200 or get the RAM or SSD upgraded, rather than pay the extra $$ for the Pro with a (IMHO) dodgy touchbar and the pretty minimal improvements in speed, audio and screen.
Honestly, I think it's a crapshoot between the two that largely depends on where your priorities lie (i.e. how you feel about the microphones on the Pro and the Touch Bar) and whether or not you're going to have the computer go through sustained workloads where the fan would be useful in preventing CPU throttling. I was more trying to talk the OP down from an Intel 16" MacBook Pro and from an Apple Silicon Rev A redesign and the M1 13" MacBook Pro seemed to be the easier sell (given that the OP seems to have more of a model affinity with the MacBook Pro). But it's certainly the case that the M1 makes the MacBook Air viable in ways that it wasn't with 2018-2020 Intel models.
I'm using a Late 2009 iMac 27. Silicon isn't outdated if you chose your configuration carefully.
Personally I would either upgrade to the current M1 Air or Pro if you want the Touch Bar and the brighter screen etc… use that for the next couple of years until the redesign has matured and all the issues are fixed, then if you feel the need sell and upgrade it.
I just don’t see how a $2000+ laptop is required for your use case.
I personally held off getting a MBP in anticipation for the refresh rumoured for WWDC, and said to myself no refresh and I am getting the current M1…
Yes the main con of buying now is within the next 6 months the design will be the old design… however as already stated EVERY redesign of MacBooks in the past has had teething issues that have needed to be refined and fixed…
Screen issues will probably be the most common with miniLED, but then you have a new cooling system which might not work as intended, redesign also means likely a new hinge, possible new keyboard mechanism (don’t really need to say anymore about that), possible new trackpad functions which could potentially be worse.. there is just a huge amount that can go wrong with a redesign and it’s whether your willing to spend $2000+ to be a BETA tester.
The current M1 Air and Pro are both matured designs with all the flaws pretty much ironed out from this design generation… yes you will get a worse webcam, slower chip, and worse screen tech, however, all these things have been tried, tested and perfected.
Personally the primary reason why I have pulled the trigger is to use it for the next couple of years until the 2nd ‘refreshed designed’ entry MBP is launched possibly in 2023… sell this gen and upgrade it, on top of this:
-I saved a bundle as the M1 MBP is not only cheaper (estimated about $500/£450 cheaper) than the new models planned for release but I also got a discount off the normal retail price aswell.
-I have never used the Touch Bar but like the idea of it so thought what the hell let’s give it a go and see if I like it.
-I got the M1 MBP because now and again I edit music but use quite large lossless audio, so think the fans might come in handy for when the need arises.
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IMHO I think you made a good choice. I've had my M1 MBP for a bit over six months now and it's been great. That it is a two-port model has not been an issue for me, same with the single-external display limitation. I don't want the larger chassis of a 16" model, though I can understand why some might.
Touchbar - play around with the settings within SysPrefs->Keyboard - you can do a lot of customization. There are some threads here discussing tips & tricks.
As for fans - with the exception of the day I had Lightroom recreate a couple thousand previews from RAW files, I've never heard my M1 MBP's fan. Even then it wasn't loud or annoying.
Can’t wait to fire it up, going to be setting it up tomorrow, from pretty much every video, review and post I have seen pretty much everyone has said both the MBA and MBP are fantastic machines, and tbh, if Apple announced the new MBP’s tomorrow I don’t even think I will be too bothered… yeah don’t get me wrong I am a latest and greatest type of person, can’t help it… but I am slowly loosing that fascination, because nothing is the latest and greatest for long anyway.
Even my iPhone 12 Pro will be old hat in about 3 months time, I have started to learn to let others rush out and buy, beta test the product get the reviews out and then decide if it’s something worth buying…
Even if the MBP announced tomorrow shipping next month, we will only know how truly great they are in about 6 months time when people have had an extended period of time with them.
If they launch in October and ship in November we are a year away from honest, road tested reviews and opinions and by then I would have enjoyed a full 12 months with my MBP and looking at potential improvements coming in the release after the upcoming one.
The OP says he likes a 16-inch screen, so a bunch of people recommend a 13-inch. Strange.
16" MacBook Pro right now is a powerhouse. Depending on your workflow, still has lots of benefits like running Windows via VMs, BootCamp, and eGPUs.
Normally I'm very much a "buy the thing when you need it"-type, but in the case of the switch to Apple silicon, I'd say wait if there's no reason for you to go now. It's likely to be six months max, and the switch is pretty meaningful.
If you do really need it now and can live without the M1-specific features, though, just go for it.
If you do really need it now and can live without the M1-specific features, though, just go for it.
I have the 2019 16" MBP and hate it.
Fans spin up, hotter than a pistol barrel, and sucks the battery out fast.
Had to run it underneath a laptop cooling fan platform to prevent it from thermal throttling.
Big Sur runs slower than Catalina.
Battery is at 81% after 18 months now.
Getting ready to have AppleCare replace it when it reaches 79%.
My advice: Don't buy it. Wait for the M1.
I love my M1 Pro, Mini and iMac!
Fans spin up, hotter than a pistol barrel, and sucks the battery out fast.
Had to run it underneath a laptop cooling fan platform to prevent it from thermal throttling.
Big Sur runs slower than Catalina.
Battery is at 81% after 18 months now.
Getting ready to have AppleCare replace it when it reaches 79%.
My advice: Don't buy it. Wait for the M1.
I love my M1 Pro, Mini and iMac!
I'm fairly confident that the 2014 model he'd be upgrading from doesn't have a 16" screen...
IMHO there's nothing wrong with folks offering alternative choices to the ones presented by the person asking. They're free to consider or dismiss those alternatives as they see fit.
The problem is that the 16 inch screen is attached to machine that is in other respects becoming out of date. I love a large screen MacBook Pro, but now is not the right time to buy one.
As others have said, while usually the "buy what you need when you need it" adage is good advice, if ever it makes less sense, it's right now for the 16" MBP. To summarize:
- You'd be paying full price if purchased at the Apple Store
- It's the 2019 model, so paying full price to buy 1.5yr old tech
- On verge of transition to a 1) new MBP body / model, 2) Apple silicon, which almost certain to be released this year (and potentially in next few months)
Even more so given your use case doesn't seem to require the 16" (other than a preference for a larger screen), seems to makes even less sense.
If you'd rather not wait, I personally like the advice to either 1) get a used / refurbished 16" at a significantly discounted price, or 2) get a M1 13" MBA/MBP for now to tide you over, both of which should hold its value much better than a brand-new 16" Intel model, and you can decide what to do once the new 14/16" MBPs are released.
- You'd be paying full price if purchased at the Apple Store
- It's the 2019 model, so paying full price to buy 1.5yr old tech
- On verge of transition to a 1) new MBP body / model, 2) Apple silicon, which almost certain to be released this year (and potentially in next few months)
Even more so given your use case doesn't seem to require the 16" (other than a preference for a larger screen), seems to makes even less sense.
If you'd rather not wait, I personally like the advice to either 1) get a used / refurbished 16" at a significantly discounted price, or 2) get a M1 13" MBA/MBP for now to tide you over, both of which should hold its value much better than a brand-new 16" Intel model, and you can decide what to do once the new 14/16" MBPs are released.
You may end up buying twice if you don’t wait. Buying now would provide short-term gratification, but you would undoubtedly regret not waiting once the new 16”s are released.
It all boils down to how much you want the 16” screen… if you 100% want that wait for the next release… if not buy the M1 MBP 👍
I'd wait, the new model will have a better display, be faster, run cooler and likely have even more battery life, in addition to more ports, faster wifi card, etc. The current 16" is no slouch, but the M1 Air I have is just better in every way, other than display size.
Normal year to year stuff doesn't apply here, this is a generational leap.
Normal year to year stuff doesn't apply here, this is a generational leap.
This is exactly what I did a couple of days ago, and if someone's in the market for a 16" MBP, this IMO is the best way to go. I was lucky to find a used 16" that was bought as a certified refurbished from Apple in the first place, which means that it cost me less than a base M1 MBP new.