My 2016 MacBook Pro is getting old. What new Macs will be significantly more powerful and biggest bang for buck at a budget price? Doing digital photography, nothing too intensive. Notebook is preferred but if compelling I'd consider a desktop rather than MacBook Pro. Thanks for ideas.
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Suggest upgrade for 2016 MacBook Pro
- Thread starter macmesser
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As the saying goes, "if you need now, buy now".
So...
If you absolutely, positively need a replacement right NOW, get a 2021 MacBook Pro 14" or 16".
If you can wait a little while longer (probably into early next year), wait for the "next-generation" of the MBP 14" or 16".
So...
If you absolutely, positively need a replacement right NOW, get a 2021 MacBook Pro 14" or 16".
If you can wait a little while longer (probably into early next year), wait for the "next-generation" of the MBP 14" or 16".
M2 Air with 16 GB RAM for the best bang for buck and total silence. (Please note that all Apple Silicon MacBooks are significantly more powerful than their Intel-based predecessors, so even the fanless Air is now a serious machine.)
The M1 Pro is a bit more powerful and has a brighter, more sophisticated screen, but it's also larger, heavier, has a fan and cost quite a bit more. So that's really up to you and your budget.
The M1 Pro is a bit more powerful and has a brighter, more sophisticated screen, but it's also larger, heavier, has a fan and cost quite a bit more. So that's really up to you and your budget.
If you'll consider a desktop, then check out the Studio. That is an amazing machine for the price.
Might need right away. I just had the battery replaced on my '16 MBP last year and it's totally busted again. Not sure it's worth fixing again.
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I've been considering a low-end desktop as I have an iPad Pro, but it would take some getting used to.
If you think you will need portability, the new MBP machines are amazing.
It's absolutely, positively not worth fixing. Even an M1 MacBook Air/Pro would be a quantum leap over your 2016 rMBP.
Thanks for input. I'm hearing this. Performance wasn't a problem, so cost factor loomed large. It looks like I have to upgrade anyway and I'm sure I'll enjoy the performance boost.
Last year, I upgraded my work laptop from a 15" 2017 MacBook Pro to a 13" M1 MacBook Air. It was really a night and day difference in performance. I wasn't doing anything particularly heavy on the MacBook Pro aside from lots of web browser tabs and video conference calls, but the fans would max out, the temperature of the chassis would shoot up, and performance would lag after a short amount of time. The same workflow on the M1 MacBook Air was totally effortless.
Also an idea for desktop is a next gen Mac Mini. The new M2 based Mini might be announced this September and might be a good fit and cost effective. Also a new Macbook Pro 14' and 16" are rumored to be out soon. M2 Air would also be a good choice if it is powerful enough and you don't need the sd card slot and HDMI.
For not too intense you could probably get away with the M2 air just fine.
If you do anything that is cpu or gpu intensive then a MBP 14" or above would be the best fit.
I guess what to you value most? Battery life and weight yet very good burst performance or Maximum performance under sustained load, XDR screen and ports. Since you do digital photography and sd card reader might be a big benefit and as mentioned if you don't care about M2 the M1 14" at $1599 seems like a perfect fit. If you value the first three-battery life, light weight and burst performance and don't care about sd card reader or xdr mini led screen the air would be the best choice.
Good luck whatever you choose.
For not too intense you could probably get away with the M2 air just fine.
If you do anything that is cpu or gpu intensive then a MBP 14" or above would be the best fit.
I guess what to you value most? Battery life and weight yet very good burst performance or Maximum performance under sustained load, XDR screen and ports. Since you do digital photography and sd card reader might be a big benefit and as mentioned if you don't care about M2 the M1 14" at $1599 seems like a perfect fit. If you value the first three-battery life, light weight and burst performance and don't care about sd card reader or xdr mini led screen the air would be the best choice.
Good luck whatever you choose.