Thinking about selling my Macbook Pro '15 (2018)

[TinaBelcher]

It's been sitting in a drawer since I graduated in early 2021.
I take it out a couple of times a year, to update it and see if it still works well.
When I look at it, I feel nostalgic and reminiscent of my study days. it's a powerful beast and served me well. But there's really no use for it anymore. The year before I graduated I bought an iMac '27 (2020), which has become my main computer. My Ipad Pro '11 has become my new mini laptop. It's always with me in bed and on trips/vacations. I use it for media consumption.

I don't know if I'm gonna buy a laptop again in the future, but I cannot see myself having the need for one any time soon. Prioer to stuying I was never much of a laptop owner. I'm not a programmer, but I do enjoy editing photos in my spare time. Nothing major. My 9-5 job is social work, and I've gotten a cheap iPad for documentation and emailing. Also, a couple of standard Windows computers to share with my co-workers when I'm at the office. So I don't carry my MBP with me to work. If I should carry anything of my own with me, it would be my own iPad as it's faster.

But this may also be the last year my MBP gets a big MacOS update. 2017 MBP has been dropped. So, maybe I SHOULD sell it while it has some value left in it? I probably answered my own questions, but maybe there's someone out there willing to scream NOOO at me and tell me why I shouldn't sell it. Lol.

 

[Fishrrman]

An MBP 15" from 2018 has the butterfly keyboard, which will limit its resale value.

If even one key fails, the repair cost is $750-800 (just for ONE key), because the entire top case needs to be replaced. And soon that may be added to Apple's "obsolete" list and they won't do repairs on it at all any longer.

So be honest with any potential buyer...

 

[TechGod]

I am selling my 13" same year for sure because it may stop getting updates next year and therefore have a huge drop in value. I really think you should try sell it asap.

 

[Sterkenburg]

If it does not see much use at all, then yes sell it while it still has value. Especially so since that model comes with the butterfly keyboard time bomb and the replacement program is over.

 

[DenisK]

I have one of these too, a 2018 beast with 32 gigs of ram, 4gb video ram and 2tb HD.... Ever since I got it -- it saw very little use as I continued to use my olde MBA as a daily driver, until i was given a windows portable by work. It is practically pristine as on day 1. I might just give it a try on ebay while its not too late.

 

[Benz63amg]

An MBP 15" from 2018 has the butterfly keyboard, which will limit its resale value.

If even one key fails, the repair cost is $750-800 (just for ONE key), because the entire top case needs to be replaced. And soon that may be added to Apple's "obsolete" list and they won't do repairs on it at all any longer.

So be honest with any potential buyer...

Does the 2017 13 inch MacBook Pro have that keyboard as well?

 

[Yebubbleman]

It's been sitting in a drawer since I graduated in early 2021.
I take it out a couple of times a year, to update it and see if it still works well.
When I look at it, I feel nostalgic and reminiscent of my study days. it's a powerful beast and served me well. But there's really no use for it anymore. The year before I graduated I bought an iMac '27 (2020), which has become my main computer. My Ipad Pro '11 has become my new mini laptop. It's always with me in bed and on trips/vacations. I use it for media consumption.

I don't know if I'm gonna buy a laptop again in the future, but I cannot see myself having the need for one any time soon. Prioer to stuying I was never much of a laptop owner. I'm not a programmer, but I do enjoy editing photos in my spare time. Nothing major. My 9-5 job is social work, and I've gotten a cheap iPad for documentation and emailing. Also, a couple of standard Windows computers to share with my co-workers when I'm at the office. So I don't carry my MBP with me to work. If I should carry anything of my own with me, it would be my own iPad as it's faster.

But this may also be the last year my MBP gets a big MacOS update. 2017 MBP has been dropped. So, maybe I SHOULD sell it while it has some value left in it? I probably answered my own questions, but maybe there's someone out there willing to scream NOOO at me and tell me why I shouldn't sell it. Lol.

I have a 2018 15-inch MacBook Pro and am in a similar boat with it. I have a 2019 16-inch MacBook Pro that is all set to replace it; I just haven't found screen and trackpad protectors that I like and want to put on it. I'd imagine that once I do, I'll have no real need for the 2018 model (seeing as the 16-inch machine is newer and has more storage; the 15-inch one has 512GB while the 16-inch has 2TB). The 15-inch machine is in really good shape (the top case assembly was replaced recently as was the display clamshell). But, like you said, this is probably the last year the 2018 MacBook Pros have any kind of support and seeing as I want to keep my T2 Mac population to a minimum (I HATE the T2 chip) and don't really need two Intel Macs if one is markedly superior to the other, I might as well sell. I just haven't worked up the courage to part with it yet. I'm sure I will soon.

An MBP 15" from 2018 has the butterfly keyboard, which will limit its resale value.

First off; I see fully decked out 2018 models going for $2000 on eBay. I'm not saying that one should expect a low-mid-range model to sell for that much, but the average eBay user isn't looking for butterfly keyboard versus non-butterfly keyboard. It stands to reason that if they were, they could easily filter by model year and not shop for a 2018 model altogether.

If even one key fails, the repair cost is $750-800 (just for ONE key), because the entire top case needs to be replaced.

Apple flat-rate mail-in repairs top out at just shy of $500. Apple battery replacements (which would entail a replacement of the top case anyway) are even less.

And soon that may be added to Apple's "obsolete" list and they won't do repairs on it at all any longer.

Products aren't made obsolete until they've been discontinued for five years (seven if in the state of California or the nation of Turkey). 2018 MacBook Pros won't be made obsolete until next summer at the absolute earliest.

So be honest with any potential buyer...

Stating the model year and the condition is enough honesty. Plus, most people looking to buy a machine that old generally don't care about model/year specific nuances. Trust me. I've been in the position of having to warn people accordingly and they just. don't. care.

 

[StoneJack]

An MBP 15" from 2018 has the butterfly keyboard, which will limit its resale value.

If even one key fails, the repair cost is $750-800 (just for ONE key), because the entire top case needs to be replaced. And soon that may be added to Apple's "obsolete" list and they won't do repairs on it at all any longer.

So be honest with any potential buyer...

Generally true. Though there might be people interested in good condition Intel Macbook Pro. It is not bad computer per se (former MBP 2016 user here), depends on price though.

 

[Fishrrman]

"Does the 2017 13 inch MacBook Pro have that keyboard as well?"

Yes.
And it's now passed out of Apple's "extended warranty" for the keyboard.

 

[daneoni]

Sold mine for £595. If you're not using it then why not make some cash off it.

 

[TinaBelcher]

Sold mine for £595. If you're not using it then why not make some cash off it.

I’m gonna sell it for sure.
I also plan on selling my iMac. I finally got the studio display for like 30% off. So, I have to decide now if I want my new Mac to be a mini, studio or Air.