Need a new MBA - 2017 refurb or 2020 new?

[BobBailey]

My wife's 2015 MBA (1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) has finally bitten the dust and we need to replace it. We are considering either a refurb 2017 MBA (1.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 256GB SSD) for $929 or a new 2020 MBA (most likely config is 1.1GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, 8GB RAM, 512GB SSD) for $1199 w/ educator discount. Are there any compelling reasons to go one way or the other here? We tend to buy and hold for quite some time if that sways your opinion.

Thanks for your input!

-BB

 

[bodonnell202]

Considering you usually keep it for a while I would go with a new one. The refurbished you are looking at is basically the same as the MBA that already bit the dust (including the same 5th gen Core i5, just an extra 0.2 GHz) versus hardware that is 5 years newer.

 

[hobowankenobi]

Also consider that new Apple Silicon Macs are due soon. First model(s) to be announced in November....days/weeks away. Rumors are first thing out will be a Macbook of some sort.

If you can, it might be wise to wait a few weeks to see what new options are available. If nothing else, it could drive down prices on close-out current models.

 

[flaubert]

Some thoughts: the 2020 screen is going to be much, much better and the newer processor will be supported going forward for much longer. Those two things alone probably tip you to the later model. The downsides? It's a jump into USB-C/Thunderbolt dongle world, and you'll likely have to purchase a small dock to go with it ($60 to $120) so that you have USB-A ports for printers and phone backups, etc. Also, knowing that you keep computing hardware for a good long time means that in the current Apple purchase environment you have to buy as much hardware capability as you'll ever want/need, since nothing is upgradeable. Keep this in mind when selecting RAM and disk space.

That being said, I have a lot of fondness for my 2017 MBA. The SSD is upgradeable, it runs the latest OS, and the keyboard seems fine. It has a couple standard USB ports, which is handy.

 

[BobBailey]

Thanks for the input. Initially the 2017 was in the running because it had the USB-A ports which she will need since she does keep quite a bit of work on portable drives. And it is basically a copy of the one that died, so there's some familiarity there. My concern was that it would be 3 years old when we get it, and thus would likely not last us as long.

Also consider that new Apple Silicon Macs are due soon. First model(s) to be announced in November....days/weeks away. Rumors are first thing out will be a Macbook of some sort.

If you can, it might be wise to wait a few weeks to see what new options are available. If nothing else, it could drive down prices on close-out current models.

I had forgotten about the possibility of the new Macs, so we might hold for a couple weeks to see. She's currently limping along on my old 2014 MBA

 

[hobowankenobi]

Thanks for the input. Initially the 2017 was in the running because it had the USB-A ports which she will need since she does keep quite a bit of work on portable drives. And it is basically a copy of the one that died, so there's some familiarity there. My concern was that it would be 3 years old when we get it, and thus would likely not last us as long.


I had forgotten about the possibility of the new Macs, so we might hold for a couple weeks to see. She's currently limping along on my old 2014 MBA

If nothing else...something will be going on closeout/sale in November. We just don't know what yet.