where to get 2015 13" MacBook Pro these days?

[cub4bearin]

Hello everyone.

I just got few days ago my refurbished 2017 13" MacBook Pro with TB, 16 GB RAM and 500 GB flash storage. and I love it, BUT...

reading here the crazy stories about failing keyboards, got me worried, if I should keep this one OR look for a 2015 model?

I am a guy who will keep my laptop for some time (Last time I got MB Pro was mid 2010 model), but I am ready for newer one now. Since I want to keep it for longer time, will the keyboard be the biggest problem to worry about?
I started to look for 2015 model of 13" MBP, but looks like apple refurbished site doesn't have them, and only the 15" are available.

On other hand... ebay has a lot of them BUT used and without any warranty left.

Any help will be welcome, and Thank You.

 

[New_Mac_Smell]

Hello everyone.

I just got few days ago my refurbished 2017 13" MacBook Pro with TB, 16 GB RAM and 500 GB flash storage. and I love it, BUT...

reading here the crazy stories about failing keyboards, got me worried, if I should keep this one OR look for a 2015 model?

I am a guy who will keep my laptop for some time (Last time I got MB Pro was mid 2010 model), but I am ready for newer one now. Since I want to keep it for longer time, will the keyboard be the biggest problem to worry about?
I started to look for 2015 model of 13" MBP, but looks like apple refurbished site doesn't have them, and only the 15" are available.

On other hand... ebay has a lot of them BUT used and without any warranty left.

Any help will be welcome, and Thank You.

Why not just keep it for a year and judge it then? If you have zero issues then you know, if you get a couple then get AC. The keyboards aren't failing per-se, it's more the tight tolerance means small particles can get wedged and cause the keys to become defective. This is an issue with any keyboard, it's just the MBP uses such a small clearance it's an 'issue'. Clean it regularly and use compressed air and it's not a problem, I haven't had a single stuck key in the year I've had mine. There are other reports however not so much recently of keys 'deforming' through heat and such, which Apple have replaced. Either way the warranty and aftercare should protect you.

Basically, if you love the computer and are just worried about a potential then don't let it make you buy an older computer. The screen could delaminate on the older one, they keyboard could still mess up, virtually anything could still go wrong with any computer you buy. So if you buy an older one with no warranty then you're out of luck. Alternatively if you must buy an older one keep an eye out for a refurb, at least it'll have a warranty.

 

[Naimfan]

I'd be wary of the 2016 models, but less so the 2017.

A 2016 was replaced by a 2017 after the keys were "cleaned" by Apple and then the top case replaced - twice. The 2016s seem more susceptible to problems; the 2017 I have has not yet misbehaved. Then again, I'm using a 2014 so as not to have to put up with the absurdly sized trackpad, an awful feeling keyboard, etc.

It is ludicrous that anyone should suggest cleaning a laptop keyboard with compressed air is necessary for it to work at all.

 

[project_2501]

I have actual video evidence of the fans and heat going crazy and repeated keyboard failures. Also damage to the laptop display from the mismanaged heat when in clamshell mode - which required a replacement display .. for an overheating issue.

Be wary of voices telling you everything is fine - many large companies pay agencies to counter narratives on social media and forums, I've seen it first hand.

See my thread for actual evidence. https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/2017-macbook-pro-13-non-tb-review.2056971/

 

[Naimfan]

Be wary of voices telling you everything is fine - many large companies pay agencies to counter narratives on social media and forums, I've seen it first hand.

And we get to see it all day, every day right here. Oh, joy.

 

[cub4bearin]

Thanks everyone... one more question...

how big of difference in performance would be 2015 MacBook Pro 13"
- the difference in price would be $500 less for the 2015 model vs what I paid for the 2017.

• 2.9 GHz Intel Core i5 (Broadwell)
• 16GB of Onboard 1866 MHz LPDDR3 RAM
• 512GB PCIe-Based Flash Storage
• Integrated Intel Iris Graphics 6100

versus 2017 Macbook Pro 13" (TB version)

• 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5 Dual-Core
• 16GB of 2133 MHz RAM | 512GB SSD
• 13.3" 2560 x 1600 Retina Display
• Integrated Intel Iris Plus Graphics 650
• 802.11ac Wi-Fi | Bluetooth 4.2
• Touch Bar | Touch ID Sensor
• 4 x Thunderbolt 3 (USB Type-C) Ports
• 3.5mm Headphone Jack | Stereo Speakers
• Force Touch Trackpad
• macOS Sierra

Once again, I am coming from mid 2010 model and was struggling working on RAW files from my Sony DSLR on my old MackBook... also, some videos (watching and editing) would get choppy...


Thanks again

 

[leman]

how big of difference in performance would be 2015 MacBook Pro 13"
- the difference in price would be $500 less for the 2015 model vs what I paid for the 2017.

The difference in CPU performance will be rather minor, but it depends on your usage. If your work involves a lot of number crunching, the new model might be a bit faster (as it has more processing units). But for generic stuff, not much difference.

Both the GPU and the SSDs are a significant upgrade in performance, which again might or might not be noticeable in your case.

I am sure that both the 2015 and 2016/2017 models will be adequate for RAW file processing, unless you do something too crazy with it. I'd decide based on price + other features (e.g. is USB-C more of a comfort or a burden for you).