Does a 2015 MacBook Pro still cut it in 2024?

[CraigJDuffy]

Imo do not buy a 2015 MacBook Pro. You’d be better getting an M1 or newer MacBook Air but that’s the oldest Mac I’d recommend buying.


I own a 2015 MacBook Pro (13” 8GB, 128gb) and it’s hot and slow with terrible battery life (even after being serviced). It’s fine enough but it’s not a machine I’d recommend in 2024.

 

[turbineseaplane]

own a 2015 MacBook Pro (13” 8GB, 128gb)

2015 13" is a dog compared to 2015 15", particularly with base specs

 

[CraigJDuffy]

2015 13" is a dog compared to 2015 15", particularly with base specs

Yes, this is true. Old macOS isn’t a great experience though

 

[turbineseaplane]

Yes, this is true. Old macOS isn’t a great experience though

Oh I totally disagree -- I'm a huge fan of older macOS releases

 

[CraigJDuffy]

Oh I totally disagree -- I'm a huge fan of older macOS releases

It’s a faff with SSL on websites for general browsing, I think the 2015 can still run a modern version of Firefox though. I’m more talking about using Lion in 2024 etc.

I’d still not recommend any 2015 MBP for any money in 2024. You’d be much better off with a M Series MBA.

 

[ApplesAreSweet&Sour]

I don't know what you're looking at in terms of budget.

But I'd most certainly get any kind of M1 14" or 16" if possible.

I'd gladly take any refurbished or secondhand M1 Pro if I couldn't find a new one at a fair price.

I also don't see exactly which Intel MBPs are a good deal post Apple Silicon. Well, except maybe some of the ones that dropped just up to the transition?

Idk.

If it's ports and swapping RAM yourself then I get why Apple Silicon might not be so great for you.

But then maybe holding onto your 2015 model is about as good? If it gets the job done?

 

[CraigJDuffy]

OK, it has two ports only, but then, they are both Thunderbolt 3 (40Gb/s, up to 6GB/s), and USB 3 (20Gb/s, up to 3GB/s) appx. Do you have lots of devices to plug in? If so, you'll have lots of cables anyway, and a hub would maybe even help tidy things up.

They’re thunderbolt 3 / USB 4!

 

[turbineseaplane]

I’d still not recommend any 2015 MBP for any money in 2024.

Agree to disagree
👍

 

[turbineseaplane]

maybe holding onto your 2015 model is about as good? If it gets the job done?

Exactly right

 

[CraigJDuffy]

yes but that's all it will run. If you have files and software in use going back to 2011 a new AS mac will only work with that which has current versions of the software written specifically for these new AS macs. We're supposed to be so awed at the speed of a chip that we're happy just throwing our long term projects out the window?

If OP makes a list of his actual uses for a laptop that a 2011 serves, there's a good chance there's going to be some glaring omissions that an Mx mac will even do at all. If a new mac is a non-starter because of it, then yeah, a 2015 is probably the pinnacle of Mac notebooks.

This is functionally not true, Rosetta 2 runs any optimised software - you’re not only limited to software written for M Series Macs.

 

[CraigJDuffy]

I don't know what you're looking at in terms of budget.

But I'd most certainly get any kind of M1 14" or 16" if possible.

I'd gladly take any refurbished or secondhand M1 Pro if I couldn't find a new one at a fair price.

I also don't see exactly which Intel MBPs are a good deal post Apple Silicon. Well, except maybe some of the ones that dropped just up to the transition?

Idk.

If it's ports and swapping RAM yourself then I get why Apple Silicon might not be so great for you.

But then maybe holding onto your 2015 model is about as good? If it gets the job done?

The 2015 also has soldered RAM though so this isn’t even a benefit, even the SSD requires (sometimes flakey) adaptors or specific Apple keyed drives that are expensive so it’s not been that big a benefit imo.

 

[MBAir2010]

seems to me that anything that works for that person is a good thing no matter the age.
if someone like me can comfortably use 2012 macs with mountain lion as their main set up today is great!
now to recommend that set up to another member here is preposterous,
since i have no idea what they need the mac for.

 

[turbineseaplane]

even the SSD requires (sometimes flakey) adaptors

The "sometimes flaky" comment is total FUD

I've had three 2015 15", each with different random NVMe adapters off Amazon and had zero issues ever

 

[jbmelby]

Above all, stop giving this enshattified company your money.

If you’re so bitter about Apple’s computers, why are you hanging around on this forum and posting repeatedly? Seems as though there would be better uses for your time.

 

[CraigJDuffy]

The "sometimes flaky" comment is total FUD

I've had three 2015 15", each with different random NVMe adapters off Amazon and had zero issues ever

My 2015 13” had issue with sleep mode after I swapped the SSD - it’s quite a common issue. Also the new SSD (Samsung 980) ran HOT which I think contributed to the fans spinning up more. I ended up swapping back to the original drive and using the SSD as an external SSD.

Deep Sleep issue after SSD upgrade - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Battery Drain after NVME Upgrade MacBook … - Apple Community

discussions.apple.com

Macbook air 2017 not sleeping properly after upgrade to nvme ssd

I was running very low on storage on my early 2017 model MacBook Air, so I followed this iFixit guide to try to upgrade my drive. Unfortunately, it's been a few days, and I'm still experiencing an ...

apple.stackexchange.com

 

[turbineseaplane]

Samsung

Those are to be avoided in this usage -- a mostly known thing in the thread about NVMe upgrades

Power usage, especially idle power usage, is an important thing to pay attention to when selecting a drive for this upgrade.

Highly recommend a hynix gold p31, but I've had great success with SanDisk 3D Ultra / WD Blue also

 

[CraigJDuffy]

Those are to be avoided in this usage -- a mostly known thing in the thread about NVMe upgrades

They were the highest rated drives at the time when I upgraded (2018). Didn’t see anything warning me about them at the time.

This SHOULDN’T be an issue though and does detract from the appeal of upgrading if you have to watch for stuff like this. I ended up getting a better adapter later on and it didn’t have any issues with that drive.

Point is, while the idea of it technically being upgradable is nice it’s not always smooth sailing.

 

[turbineseaplane]

They were the highest rated drives at the time when I upgraded (2017). Didn’t see anything warning me about them at the time.

This SHOULDN’T be an issue though and does detract from the appeal of upgrading if you have to watch for stuff like this. I ended up getting a better adapter later on and it didn’t have any issues with that drive.

I'm trying to help you out (thus the rest of my post)
Sorry it didn't work out for you

The larger performance issue in your situation was likely the 13" vs 15" honestly

I've had a 13" 2015 and it felt like a machine that was 3 years older than the 15" 2015 based upon how badly it performed, even when new.

 

[MBAir2010]

Those are to be avoided in this usage -- a mostly known thing in the thread about NVMe upgrades

Power usage, especially idle power usage, is an important thing to pay attention to when selecting a drive for this upgrade.

Highly recommend a hynix gold p31, but I've had great success with SanDisk 3D Ultra / WD Blue also

WD blue are great! i have 4 blades and need more enclosures.
today i purchased a OWC G6 265GB for the MacBook Air 2010,
and they confirmed that will work with Mt_Lion osx.
They make (or place stickers on generic) outstanding and reliable ssd drives fro all macs!

 

[CraigJDuffy]

I'm trying to help you out (thus the rest of my post)
Sorry it didn't work out for you

The larger performance issue in your situation was like the 13" vs 15" honestly

I've had a 13" 2015 and it felt like a machine that was 3 years older than the 15" 2015 based upon how badly it performed, even when new.

Don’t worry, that machine is long gone to the great recycling facility in the sky. Thanks for the help though!

Yeah the 15” was definitely better but that’s too large for a laptop imo. Those things were like an aircraft carrier.

Best part about the M series machines imo is you can have the “small” laptop with pretty much all the same performance as the big one.

I bought a M1 MacBook Air before the credits even finished on the keynote and every windows PC (desktop, laptop, mac or windows) feels completely broken now in comparison.

 

[turbineseaplane]

Thanks for the help though!

You bet!
Have a good one 👍

 

[DaveEcc]

But then maybe holding onto your 2015 model is about as good? If it gets the job done?

Exactly right

Sure, if you have a 2015 MBP, and have no need to update, then stick with what you have until you've got an issue... sure.

I’d still not recommend any 2015 MBP for any money in 2024.

Agree to disagree

For those who HAVE run into an issue, or for someone just looking to get a machine right now, you can't honestly be suggesting people look into getting a 2015 MBP... can you? My M1 Pro is better than anything that came before it for my needs.

What needs, other than an explicit need for Intel, ie: to boot Windows, or to run abandoned legacy software, would be better served by an 2015 MBP?

 

[turbineseaplane]

you can't honestly be suggesting people look into getting a 2015 MBP... can you?

I see 2015 15" models in nearly mint condition with super low cycle counts (usually replaced batteries at some point) for $100-150

The value there and what the machine can still do is untouched

If the price is right and it fits ones needs, there is no reason to shy away from a 2015 15" MBP

I almost bought another one last week honestly

 

[rwh63]

Just bought a Max Specced, lightly used one a few months back on FB. I got lucky, it was a used for stage production at a local auditorium and only had 45 cycles on the battery!

As far as your question, yes. I bought a fully specced late 2015 IMac at the same time, and they both hold up really great. Obviously the MacBook less so, but it’s still really fast. Especially if you aren’t comparing it to Apple silicon, as you stated.

I got a really good price of.. I want to say 175, for it to max specced and in pristine condition. And I’m extremely happy and grateful, as I always wanted this model.

Lastly, I haven’t tried to max out the workload on them, but the only thing I’ve thrown at either that they couldn’t do was play an 8K video. And that was almost entirely for giggles.

for 150-200, i would grab one also. most on bay seem to be in the 350-400 range. i could still get one of those, and an earlier M as well.

 

[nothingtoseehere]

Imo do not buy a 2015 MacBook Pro. You’d be better getting an M1 or newer MacBook Air but that’s the oldest Mac I’d recommend buying.


I own a 2015 MacBook Pro (13” 8GB, 128gb) and it’s hot and slow with terrible battery life (even after being serviced). It’s fine enough but it’s not a machine I’d recommend in 2024.

Agreed. My Early 2015 13" MBP was great until about two years ago. Now as I have a M1 Mac mini and a M3 MBA, I don't use the old machine very often, especially not for serious tasks (and that includes writing a document in MS Word).
If on budget, I would recommend a refurbished M1 MBA. That is, unless one uses older software that doesn't work wwll with Apple silicon.