Sold my 2015 15" 16/512 MBP for M1 Air 8/256

[senttoschool]

Wow, what a massive difference in the overall experience.

Overall, my system feels 10x smoother.

I had no issues getting my dev environment setup with Go, Node.js, brew, iTerms2 as well. All my applications work fine including Slack, Zoom, Windscibe, TablePlus, Whatsapp, Sketchapp, etc. Many of the apps that I use already have M1 versions. I only play one game, Starcraft 2 and it's been running far better than on my 2015. I can turn the graphics up much higher.

After updating to Big Sur, my 2015 MBP 15" overall system responsiveness decreased massively. Even opening the notification menu lagged. I had to frequently restart. Instead of waiting for the 2021 16" MBP, I caved and got the M1 Air instead.

I skipped the entire 2016-2019 generation because of the butterfly keyboard and touch bar and because Intel offered no substantial improvements to the speed and efficiency of their CPUs.

I sold my 2015 MBP for $800. Macs hold their value really well, I must say.

The only downsides are obviously the smaller screen compared to my old 15" and now I have to carry a USBC hub around for HDMI/USB A ports.

 

[nquinn]

$800 is such a stupid high price for a 2015 15". It's crazy how much value those machines still hold. The pandemic obviously is part of the equation though since people need machines to work from home and many can't afford new Apple products.

 

[coorsleftfield]

Where did you sell it? I want to sell my 2014 15 16/256

 

[senttoschool]

$800 is such a stupid high price for a 2015 15". It's crazy how much value those machines still hold. The pandemic obviously is part of the equation though since people need machines to work from home and many can't afford new Apple products.

The 2015 15" holds a lot of value because it's the last generation of the great rMBP era.

Honestly, I would still take a 2015 15" over a 16" if I'm ok with the slower CPU and GPU. The 2015 15" has a better keyboard (yes, even better than the Magic keyboard), no touch bar, HDMI, USB A, SD Card slot, Magsafe, and a perfect sized touchpad that your palm doesn't rest over.

In terms of actual experience (minus the performance difference), the 2015 15" is superior to the 2019 16".

 

[dogslobber]

Smaller screen.
Smaller memory.
Smaller hard disk size.

 

[JohnnyGo]

Smaller screen.
Smaller memory.
Smaller hard disk size.

It seems SIZE really matters to you

 

[1240766]

It seems SIZE really matters to you

 

[Apple_Robert]

Welcome to the M1 club. I have been happily impressed as well with the M1. Well worth the price of admission.

 

[turbineseaplane]

These M1's are finally the time to jump from the coveted and well deserving former champ - the 2015 15"

(if screen size reduction can be tolerated)

Hopefully it won't be too much longer to wait (spring?) for larger M1's

 

[turbineseaplane]

I had a lot of usage time with various 2015 15" MBPs so I still have a reasonable memory of it..

The OP is right. This experience (M1) has to be experienced to be understood.

It just feels like raw power and smoothness. No hiccups. No noise. No stutters or lags.
It's just incredible.

I'm not sure how much credit to give to Apple or how much blame should go to Intel for doing so little over the past 4-6 years, but no matter what - there is no going back once you try this - trust me.

(I think I still do prefer the 2015 keyboards, but that's a tiny nitpick as this keyboard is quite good also - just not AS good. Thank god the butterfly horror show is behind us)

 

[DEMinSoCAL]

The 2015 15" holds a lot of value because it's the last generation of the great rMBP era.

Honestly, I would still take a 2015 15" over a 16" if I'm ok with the slower CPU and GPU. The 2015 15" has a better keyboard (yes, even better than the Magic keyboard), no touch bar, HDMI, USB A, SD Card slot, Magsafe, and a perfect sized touchpad that your palm doesn't rest over.

In terms of actual experience (minus the performance difference), the 2015 15" is superior to the 2019 16".

It's also the last model year MBP that you can upgrade the SSD. I used a $10 adapter from Amazon to install a 2TB NVMe SSD in my 2015. The 2015 has what many people still want in a MBP. i7 + 16GB memory is also still a good performer.

 

[turbineseaplane]

It's also the last model year MBP that you can upgrade the SSD. I used a $10 adapter from Amazon to install a 2TB NVMe SSD in my 2015. The 2015 has what many people still want in a MBP. i7 + 16GB memory is also still a good performer.

Still good, but falling off quick I'd say.
I'd be surprised if there is anything it can do that isn't totally smoked by these M1's (save for dual booting x86 Windows, which an M1 can't do of course)

Great point about the ability to pop in an SSD of our own. It drives me crazy that Apple won't engineer a way to allow us to upgrade that one single thing -- even if it required buying "modules" from them. Just having the flexibility would be wonderful.

Yes - I know - it's never coming back. Apple loves the lock down.

 

[nquinn]

The 2015 15" holds a lot of value because it's the last generation of the great rMBP era.

Honestly, I would still take a 2015 15" over a 16" if I'm ok with the slower CPU and GPU. The 2015 15" has a better keyboard (yes, even better than the Magic keyboard), no touch bar, HDMI, USB A, SD Card slot, Magsafe, and a perfect sized touchpad that your palm doesn't rest over.

In terms of actual experience (minus the performance difference), the 2015 15" is superior to the 2019 16".

Ya I agree - it really is the best laptop Apple has made IMO other than being out of date on performance. I'm holding out for the new apple silicon 16", and really hope they drop the touchbar at least. Keyboards are pretty close to me - I think I slightly prefer the 2015 model but it's not a huge difference. Anything is better than the horrific butterfly keyboard they pushed for years.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I'm holding out for the new apple silicon 16", and really hope they drop the touchbar at least.

I wish they'd just make the damned thing optional and let people pick what they prefer

 

[senttoschool]

I wish they'd just make the damned thing optional and let people pick what they prefer

I would have totally gone for the 13" M1 MBP if not for the touchbar. I like the 20 hrs battery life, active fan, and better display.

 

[turbineseaplane]

I would have totally gone for the 13" M1 MBP if not for the touchbar. I like the 20 hrs battery life, active fan, and better display.

It's becoming truly infuriating that they won't make it optional.

They've done all the work to get TouchID and normal keyboard keys up there in the same space occupied by the TouchBar. There is simply no reason not to offer it -- other than super stubborn "Apple being Apple"

It's almost like they're afraid to offer it optionally and have the data, potentially, show them what an unpopular mistake it was.

My other theory at this point is that they like to roll it out there like some big fancy "feature" to help justify higher costs and solidify the mostly artificially created price tiers between the machines.

Apple can be truly frustrating as a company at times. I guarantee they'd still be pushing out those hot garbage butterfly keyboards if there hadn't been so much uproar, and ultimately returns/repairs/costs to Apple.

 

[igneousc]

this thread made me super excited for mine. Using a mid 2012 rMBP that ive been holding on to for so long. 256 gb and 2.3ghz i7 and my fans make SO much noise. Hopefully my air shows up in the next week or so