MacBook Pro 14" - Purchase decision support

[John_24]

Good evening community,

I am currently in my exam preparation and my MacBook Pro 2015 has broken, but I need to study.

The Buyers Guide says to be patient because they will be updated soon.

A MacBook Air m2 is out of the question, because I absolutely need 16Gb Ram and the savings to a MacBook Pro is too little for me.

The MacBook Pro 14" with 1TB storage, appeals to me very much. Now the question is, should I wait until the beginning of next year for the new MacBook Pros or buy one with the "good deals" currently. I could switch to my work laptop until the new one comes, but would prefer a new MacBook!

Thanks a lot

 

[Silencio]

If you absolutely need 16GB of RAM, you can configure a MacBook Air M2 with that. They actually max out at 24GB.

The new 14" and 16" MacBook Pros are still most likely a few months out. At this point I'd be mildly surprised to see them released as early as January. Unless your workload requires top level CPU performance on a constant basis, you probably won't miss out on much by getting a 14" MacBook Pro now.

 

[VanWinkle]

I would say don't buy it at MSRP, because, like you said, it will be updated soon for a very similar, if not the same, price. But if you can get it for a few hundred off, like I did on Amazon recently ($1599), then you don't have to worry about the fact that it will be updated soon. Even if it does, I still got an incredible computer for much cheaper than the updated one will be.

 

[sifpilsen]

Check the offers around Black Friday? Good offers could indicate a stock clearance to make up more space for new models. But Apple is not known for pushing new products this close to Christmas due to demand and logistics. As @Silencio says, they are more likely to be late January, early February at best.

I prefer the light dark space gray of the 14' and 16', not a fan of the blue-ish black of the M2.

The issue I guess would be how much faster an 14' M1 Pro would be compared to you current setup, if the added speed would have an impact. 14' MBP is such a good machine for work and mobility, and currently faster than the M2 machines.

 

[RedRaven571]

I would say don't buy it at MSRP, because, like you said, it will be updated soon for a very similar, if not the same, price. But if you can get it for a few hundred off, like I did on Amazon recently ($1599), then you don't have to worry about the fact that it will be updated soon. Even if it does, I still got an incredible computer for much cheaper than the updated one will be.

Same here. I just ordered a 14" MBP with 10 core CPU/16 core GPU and 1TB SSD for $1999 (20% off); as you said, for the price point, I'm willing to forgo the 15% spec bump in the M2, when it comes out. I can't ever remember Macs being discounted so heavily.

 

[sifpilsen]

I can't ever remember Macs being discounted so heavily.

I have seen some MasterCardx(InsertBankNameHere) offers at 15-25% on Macs up to $4800 or so. But always time limited offers, depending on availability and so on.

 

[John_24]

If you absolutely need 16GB of RAM, you can configure a MacBook Air M2 with that. They actually max out at 24GB.

The new 14" and 16" MacBook Pros are still most likely a few months out. At this point I'd be mildly surprised to see them released as early as January. Unless your workload requires top level CPU performance on a constant basis, you probably won't miss out on much by getting a 14" MacBook Pro now.

Thank you very much for your reply. If new Macbooks come at the end of January/February, I would still wait. April would be too late for me.

I'll just see if there are any good deals around Black Friday, otherwise I'll wait for the new ones.

 

[Fishrrman]

If you're in the USA, MacBook Pro 14" models are on sale right now at many places.
Up to $400 off.
You're not going to find a better deal.

 

[John_24]

If you're in the USA, MacBook Pro 14" models are on sale right now at many places.
Up to $400 off.
You're not going to find a better deal.

Unfortunately I don't live in the USA and here such "extreme" discounts are not available. Therefore, I will wait for the Back Friday offers and go for them. If there are no offers I will probably have to wait until January/Feb.

My problem is unfortunately the uncertainty of when the new macbooks will come out. I would wait until the end of January or the beginning of February. But I can't wait longer than the end of February, that's the problem.

 

[Marsikus]

Unfortunately I don't live in the USA and here such "extreme" discounts are not available.

Don't hesitate to mention where are you from. This is global forum, maybe someone is from your area too and can advise you about some sale.

 

[John_24]

Don't hesitate to mention where are you from. This is global forum, maybe someone is from your area too and can advise you about some sale.

haha I have no problem saying I'm from Germany. I thought there were more people from the USA here.

 

[Marsikus]

haha I have no problem saying I'm from Germany. I thought there were more people from the USA here.

Oh, all things are quite expensive in Germany.

 

[petvas]

Thank you very much for your reply. If new Macbooks come at the end of January/February, I would still wait. April would be too late for me.

I'll just see if there are any good deals around Black Friday, otherwise I'll wait for the new ones.

I wouldn't hold my breath. I believe that the next Macs will come around the end of March (but I have no proof - it's just an opinion).
If you need a Macbook now, just get it. The 14" MacBook Pro is a great computer, which I use and love. The new M2 Pro based MacBook Pro that will come next year will probably have no new features. It will just be a speed bump.

 

[maflynn]

MacBook Pro 2015 has broken, but I need to study.

I think the hold adage holds true. If you have a need now buy now, if you don't wait. From the sounds of it, you have an immediate need.

This is the best time and worst time to buy a MBP. Its best because the new M2 models will be appearing and we're in the holiday season so you have a great opportunity to buy and save yourself a fairly decent amount of money.

Its the worst time because the M2s are around the corner. Not around the corner, like they'll be released next week, but around the corner like early 2023. Since you can't wait 3 or 4 months, buy it now, and enjoy it now. Don't worry about what the future may bring.

 

[wonderings]

A lot of anxiety comes from tech now, everyone worried they will have the latest and best and worried about the next one coming out. Computers are the worst investment you can make, they get better and better every year. The nice thing is this does not diminish your computer at all, it will still work and do what you need it to do like the day you bought it. Moving from a 2015 Intel MacBook Pro to an M1 is going to be a MASSIVE improvement in every way. Buy for what you need now and don't worry about what will definitely come. You could wait and buy the latest, and in less then a year there will be another upgrade. There are no computers out there that will only last you a few years before they are garbage and you need to upgrade again. You have a 7 year old computer that was working fine for you till it broke. Getting an M1 now will last you a long time. If you truly need something now to continue with your studies I would not hesitate to buy the best one you can afford now. If that is not really the case then sure, wait till the next release and go with that. Personally I don't see much benefit to doing that, but to each their own.

 

[Marsikus]

For me, anxiety comes from all these messages about pain from LED display and some sketchy battery usage that some users have, also expecting some “child illnesses” from M1.
Therefore it raises questions like will be the next model more refined? Or will be another big change with new issues?

 

[wonderings]

For me, anxiety comes from all these messages about pain from LED display and some sketchy battery usage that some users have, also expecting some “child illnesses” from M1.
Therefore it raises questions like will be the next model more refined? Or will be another big change with new issues?

Any device can have issues, can be the most reliable car brand in the world and you can still get one that has something crap out that should not have. The next model will always be more refined as they will fix some of the little issues that they did not notice till there devices were out in the wild in the millions. Little tweaks here and there as things progressively get "better". My main work machine is a 2104 5k iMac. I have a MacBook Pro M1 Max as well and I still use the iMac for my main machine as it works fine and the only big differences I know when working (using Adobe CC) is when it comes to anything processor intensive, so on those occasions I will just drop the job on the M1 Max and let it go while I continue on on my iMac. This is getting close to a 10 year old computer that is still incredibly functional and gets the job done without lagging me behind because it can't handle the modern apps I use. The computer you buy today is going to be a good machine for a long time (unless you don't buy it equipped for what you need now)/

 

[John_24]

Oh, all things are quite expensive in Germany.

that's right, we have to pay another 19% tax on many things. :/

 

[John_24]

I wouldn't hold my breath. I believe that the next Macs will come around the end of March (but I have no proof - it's just an opinion).
If you need a Macbook now, just get it. The 14" MacBook Pro is a great computer, which I use and love. The new M2 Pro based MacBook Pro that will come next year will probably have no new features. It will just be a speed bump.

Yes I will wait until Black Friday and buy one then. The M1 Pro will be an extreme upgrade for me.

 

[John_24]

A lot of anxiety comes from tech now, everyone worried they will have the latest and best and worried about the next one coming out. Computers are the worst investment you can make, they get better and better every year. The nice thing is this does not diminish your computer at all, it will still work and do what you need it to do like the day you bought it. Moving from a 2015 Intel MacBook Pro to an M1 is going to be a MASSIVE improvement in every way. Buy for what you need now and don't worry about what will definitely come. You could wait and buy the latest, and in less then a year there will be another upgrade. There are no computers out there that will only last you a few years before they are garbage and you need to upgrade again. You have a 7 year old computer that was working fine for you till it broke. Getting an M1 now will last you a long time. If you truly need something now to continue with your studies I would not hesitate to buy the best one you can afford now. If that is not really the case then sure, wait till the next release and go with that. Personally I don't see much benefit to doing that, but to each their own.

I completely agree with you there, buying technology is always a bad investment because it moves so fast.

I wonder though, is it worth the upgrade to the 10c & 16c?

 

[Misheemee]

I completely agree with you there, buying technology is always a bad investment because it moves so fast.

I wonder though, is it worth the upgrade to the 10c & 16c?

it depends what you will use it for. If you do photo or video editing - that's were you'll notice this difference. If you do office tasks, browse the net etc, you won't

 

[John_24]

it depends what you will use it for. If you do photo or video editing - that's were you'll notice this difference. If you do office tasks, browse the net etc, you won't

I occasionally edit pictures and videos in my spare time. Probably the lower spec Macbook would nice for my tasks today. But I would like to know if the 2 extra cores make sense for the future. I will use the Macbook for a long time, so I would accept the extra price if it would be more future-proof for me.

 

[Marsikus]

Any device can have issues, can be the most reliable car brand in the world and you can still get one that has something crap out that should not have. The next model will always be more refined as they will fix some of the little issues that they did not notice till there devices were out in the wild in the millions.

Well, at least with previous Mac purchase I had some experience from workplace, and motorbike purchase was reinforced with decades long background of certain model in production.
It is not about good or bad “investment“, it’s simply to avoid wasting money on a lemon.