Doubts regarding MacBook Pro 13"

[bbezerra]

Hi all,

I already searched the forum, but could not find any reply that could satisfy my doubts. I currently own a Late 2011 13" MacBook Pro with a 2.4 GHz i5 and 4 GB 1333 MHz of RAM.

I feel that is finally time to update this machine, but looking at the prices for the 13" that are available, I keep noticing that the Early 2015 (MF839LL) seems to be better in terms of hardware then the Late 2016 without the TouchBar (MLL42LL) and costs less. In fact, if I upgrade to the 256 GB SSD, they both end costing the same, but I get a 2.7 GHz i5 instead of a 2.0 GHz i5.

What am I missing here? Is the GPU that much better on the newer model?

I appreciate all the help I can get in this.

 

[BBD90]

New MacBook Pro 13 nonTB has a slightly faster CPU, double GPU performance, significantly faster SSD, better display, better speakers, thinner, lighter, and better battery life. The one advantage 2015 Pro has is the ports. You have to stop comparing CPU speeds across generations and actually look at how they perform in benchmark tests to visualize the performance difference.

 

[HoosBruce]

First off, yes the GPU is really, really good.

Personally, I navigated from the Early 2011 MBP to the 2016 MBP w/o touch bar, and I am absolutely loving it. I'm not the biggest spec nerd, so I can't go into the deep details here, but the computer outperforms the specs. Apple does a tremendous job at optimizing everything to make it work even better than it should on paper. This 13" machine is more than capable of doing what I need it to do, and I've also seen other reports/examples of how it seems to be performing better than expected based on the spec sheet. You may not notice a huge difference in performance between those 2 specific machines, so it comes down to more than just the "on paper" performance.

Also, that SSD speed...wow.

I like the keyboard much better than the older generations', and I know others really don't like it, so that is an individual taste.

Does a larger trackpad matter to you? I didn't think it really did for me until I began using the new one and noticed how much easier it was to scroll through things, especially when editing video.

It also depends on how you will be using your laptop. Will it go with you a lot? Will you ever use it in super bright environments or outside? Will you be ok with the TB3 USB-C transition? It is much more portable, and the screen is just so damn good and bright, that I would also consider that in your decision.

All in all, you have 2 fantastic computers to choose from, and I highly doubt you'd regret either one.

 

[Hyloba]

I have the opportunity to buy a second hand 2015 13" MBP with 2,9ghz, 16gb of ram, 512gb of storage for less than a new base non-touch bar MBP (1500€ vs 1600€). If I were to get these specs now, I would have to pay 2300€, and I would have to buy several dongles.

I would be missing the better screen, spacegray color, better gpu and more portability. But I get to save 800-900€, which to me, is actually a lot of money. I will wait some years until the current flaws have been ironed out (poor battery life, trackpad bugs, expensive dongles, less than stellar keyboard, still not gamebreaking touchbar)

 

[HoosBruce]

I have the opportunity to buy a second hand 2015 13" MBP with 2,9ghz, 16gb of ram, 512gb of storage for less than a new base non-touch bar MBP (1500€ vs 1600€). If I were to get these specs now, I would have to pay 2300€, and I would have to buy several dongles.

I would be missing the better screen, spacegray color, better gpu and more portability. But I get to save 800-900€, which to me, is actually a lot of money. I will wait some years until the current flaws have been ironed out (poor battery life, trackpad bugs, expensive dongles, less than stellar keyboard, still not gamebreaking touchbar)

The battery life on the non-TB model is great, what trackpad bugs?? Most dongles aren't that expensive especially since you can buy a hub that has "all-in-one" capabilities, the keyboard is personal preference (way better than before IMO), the touchbar isn't even relevant in this particular discussion.

 

[Hyloba]

The battery life on the non-TB model is great, what trackpad bugs?? Most dongles aren't that expensive especially since you can buy a hub that has "all-in-one" capabilities, the keyboard is personal preference (way better than before IMO), the touchbar isn't even relevant in this particular discussion.

I get you're defending your purchase, and in a way I guess so am I.
I was comparing the 2015 model to the touch bar MBP because that's the direct follow up. But also, 2 ports are not ok for me. I need to connect the laptop with a screen, so that's one port gone, charging is another. So you may suggest getting a dock, but I don't feel like shelving out another 200-300 euro for something I could do with the 2015 version out of the box. Or you may say get a dongle, but I don't feel like having to live with dongles for the life of the device. 2 ports are OK if you don't plan on connecting a bunch of stuff, which is fine of course, but for me it isn't.

So then I get left with the touch bar version, which is plagued with low battery life (main gripe), a bar which I don't need, and a high cost. It's not that I would not like the touch bar version. It's just that 2300€ is a lot of money for something that I would not entirely be happy about.

But if you can manage with 2 ports, I would of course suggest a base 2016 MBP, unless you can find a 2015 version for half the price and you like to save some money.

Edit: oh and every 13" 2016 MBP version I have tested had the 3 finger drag trackpad bug, which is discussed here in some posts.

 

[xb2003]

The race between the 2015 and 22016 13" machines isn't as close as the 15"s. The 2016 is no doubt the better machine, if you can get over the ports and keyboard. (Maybe you like the ports and keyboard, I don't know). Although know that you can get that 256GB model 2015 at BH for $1350 and I think $1200 refurbished.

 

[HoosBruce]

I get you're defending your purchase, and in a way I guess so am I.
I was comparing the 2015 model to the touch bar MBP because that's the direct follow up. But also, 2 ports are not ok for me. I need to connect the laptop with a screen, so that's one port gone, charging is another. So you may suggest getting a dock, but I don't feel like shelving out another 200-300 euro for something I could do with the 2015 version out of the box. Or you may say get a dongle, but I don't feel like having to live with dongles for the life of the device. 2 ports are OK if you don't plan on connecting a bunch of stuff, which is fine of course, but for me it isn't.

So then I get left with the touch bar version, which is plagued with low battery life (main gripe), a bar which I don't need, and a high cost. It's not that I would not like the touch bar version. It's just that 2300€ is a lot of money for something that I would not entirely be happy about.

But if you can manage with 2 ports, I would of course suggest a base 2016 MBP, unless you can find a 2015 version for half the price and you like to save some money.

Oh, I absolutely understand. This is why I said in my first post that it all depends on who you are/what you do. In this instance it doesn't seem like the new models are for you.

Maybe hubs are more expensive where you are, but they typically aren't $200-300 here (I'm sure some are though, it just depends on which ones you're looking at), so if they are truly that expensive then that is annoying. But let's make sure it's clear for everyone that just because you need to plug it into a screen doesn't mean that takes up one port and that's the only thing that can be used by that one port. That's where the hub/multi-use dongles come into play (I know you know this, but others may not).

 

[bbezerra]

New MacBook Pro 13 nonTB has a slightly faster CPU, double GPU performance, significantly faster SSD, better display, better speakers, thinner, lighter, and better battery life. The one advantage 2015 Pro has is the ports. You have to stop comparing CPU speeds across generations and actually look at how they perform in benchmark tests to visualize the performance difference.

Thanks for your quick reply. I tried, but could not find the benchmark tests. Could you be so kind to let me know where I could find these?

 

[geachy92]

Thanks for your quick reply. I tried, but could not find the benchmark tests. Could you be so kind to let me know where I could find these?

Sorry for the absolute potato quality of this. Working on a computer I'm unused to and for the life of me couldn't get the bloody thing to work (#windowsproblems)

It shows that the 2.0GHz processor in the base 2016 model scores nearly as well as the i7 3.1 GHz processor from the 2015 model. All the 2015 models are highlighted in orange.

Benchmarks, as many will tell you, aren't the best tool to make a decision from as they don't show real world usage, but they give some indication of what you can expect.


EDIT: Here is the Geekbench link for Mac results.

 

[bbezerra]

Sorry for the absolute potato quality of this. Working on a computer I'm unused to and for the life of me couldn't get the bloody thing to work (#windowsproblems)

It shows that the 2.0GHz processor in the base 2016 model scores nearly as well as the i7 3.1 GHz processor from the 2015 model. All the 2015 models are highlighted in orange.

Benchmarks, as many will tell you, aren't the best tool to make a decision from as they don't show real world usage, but they give some indication of what you can expect.
View attachment 673192

EDIT: Here is the Geekbench link for Mac results.

Well well well... would you look at that! Thank you very much!

 

[montanaco]

I also just upgraded from a 2011 pro to the new touchbar model. The speed increase, display improvement and speakers are worth it alone imo. Videos don't do it justice but the speakers and display themselves are incredible. The massive speed and efficiency increase are just as phenomenal.