My co worker has a 2019 macbook pro with the i5, 256gb drive and 8gb of ram. He is thinking about selling it and I am thinking about buying it to dip my toes in macOS again. What would a fair price (for both of us) be? TIA!
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
What is a 2019 macbook pro i5, 256gb worth used?
- Thread starter The point and shoot pro
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
That will be the 13".
Keep in mind neither storage nor memory can be upgraded, so you'd have to be okay with this limited config. The butterfly keyboard is inherently flawed and at this point you'll likely have one or more keys that don't always work properly, and eventually you can expect a key to fall off entirely due to the mechanism breaking. It's more common to happen after 5+ years so it might be fine right now, and with some revised versions it might be less likely to happen.
Battery life will be down to very few hours, expect 2-3 depending on display brightness. The battery is glued in, this makes replacing it very tedious, and the Apple replacement would cost you more than the entire device is worth, or about as much.
And finally, you can expect software support to be dropped soon. Ventura already requires a 2017 machine, this year's MacOS will require a 2018 model, and next year you can expect the last MacOS to be released for this machine. In other words, at the latest full software support with full security updates will end mid 2025. And that's the longest you can expect, Apple could decide to stop supporting it a year earlier. But I doubt that, so very likely it will be mid 2025.
Considering that you can get a M1 Air with the same configuration used for 500 bucks or so, and a brand new Mac Mini for just a bit more (no display and no laptop, but still)... I wouldn't actually buy that at all. For 100 bucks or so? Sure. I think it is technically worth more, $300-$400 at the most. But that is too close to the M1 Air, so that makes no sense. The middle ground would be about $250 but unless it's flawless in great condition I wouldn't even pay that much.
I have a similar Macbook that I am not selling because it's worth more to me as a couch potato TV device (due to the excellent retina display!) than the $250 I can sell it for. It's like a bigger iPad to me at this point.
Keep in mind neither storage nor memory can be upgraded, so you'd have to be okay with this limited config. The butterfly keyboard is inherently flawed and at this point you'll likely have one or more keys that don't always work properly, and eventually you can expect a key to fall off entirely due to the mechanism breaking. It's more common to happen after 5+ years so it might be fine right now, and with some revised versions it might be less likely to happen.
Battery life will be down to very few hours, expect 2-3 depending on display brightness. The battery is glued in, this makes replacing it very tedious, and the Apple replacement would cost you more than the entire device is worth, or about as much.
And finally, you can expect software support to be dropped soon. Ventura already requires a 2017 machine, this year's MacOS will require a 2018 model, and next year you can expect the last MacOS to be released for this machine. In other words, at the latest full software support with full security updates will end mid 2025. And that's the longest you can expect, Apple could decide to stop supporting it a year earlier. But I doubt that, so very likely it will be mid 2025.
Considering that you can get a M1 Air with the same configuration used for 500 bucks or so, and a brand new Mac Mini for just a bit more (no display and no laptop, but still)... I wouldn't actually buy that at all. For 100 bucks or so? Sure. I think it is technically worth more, $300-$400 at the most. But that is too close to the M1 Air, so that makes no sense. The middle ground would be about $250 but unless it's flawless in great condition I wouldn't even pay that much.
I have a similar Macbook that I am not selling because it's worth more to me as a couch potato TV device (due to the excellent retina display!) than the $250 I can sell it for. It's like a bigger iPad to me at this point.
Thanks for the reply. I would be buying this just for trying the OS. My windows computers do my heaving lifting. I have two well built systems. One is my laptop with i7, 64gb of ram and 2tb SSD, my other is my desktop with i7, 128gb of ram, 2tb ssd for OS/programs, 2x1tb ssd for scratch and project drives for video editing, and a 8tb spinny drive for finished project storage until offloaded to my NAS.
The Macbook would be just to try macOS again and see how it all works. Then, if I like it I would move to a M series system or two.
I just sold this exact machine for $300 to an acquaintance. I would strongly recommend that you look at an M1 MacBook Air as well, which will be a few hundred more expensive but is a better machine in every way. In particular, the 2019 MacBook Pro has the butterfly keyboard which is prone to failure. The Touchbar is cool, but the M1 is better overall tech. I understand that you are dipping your toes, but if you decide you want to go further, that model was not exactly Apple’s crowning glory. On the other hand, if you are willing to go $300 just as a “do I like it experiment”, I think that would be a fair price.
Fishrrman's rules for used MacBook buying:
DO NOT BUY:
MacBook Pro 13" -- 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
MacBook Pro 15" -- 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
ALL of these have the disastrous "butterfly keyboards" that are highly-prone to failure. Although Apple has a free replacement program running for 4 years "from new", when that time expires YOU will pay for the repair.
And it's NOT CHEAP -- $750 for even a single key gone bad.
That's because the entire top case has to be replaced... even for a single key failure!
(looks like only some of the 2019's are still covered by Apple's extended warranty -- that means for 2016-2018, YOU will pay)
DO BUY:
MacBook Pro 13" -- 2020
MacBook Pro 16" -- 2019 and later.
These have the new "magic" (scissors) keyboards, as did the 2015 and earlier MBPs. These keyboards have been very reliable.
Also:
MacBook Pro 14" or 16" -- 2021
DO NOT BUY:
MacBook Pro 13" -- 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
MacBook Pro 15" -- 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
ALL of these have the disastrous "butterfly keyboards" that are highly-prone to failure. Although Apple has a free replacement program running for 4 years "from new", when that time expires YOU will pay for the repair.
And it's NOT CHEAP -- $750 for even a single key gone bad.
That's because the entire top case has to be replaced... even for a single key failure!
(looks like only some of the 2019's are still covered by Apple's extended warranty -- that means for 2016-2018, YOU will pay)
DO BUY:
MacBook Pro 13" -- 2020
MacBook Pro 16" -- 2019 and later.
These have the new "magic" (scissors) keyboards, as did the 2015 and earlier MBPs. These keyboards have been very reliable.
Also:
MacBook Pro 14" or 16" -- 2021
I appreciate the information. I understand about the keyboards as well. This system was only used for one semester of coding and then he put it in the box. I think it's in like brand new condtion. If I can get it for 500 bucks CDN, then I will buy it and try it. Even if the keyboard fails, I will plug a keyboard into it that way. I only want something cheaper to try macOS on. If I feel I am going to be using it full time, then I will buy a brand new MBP 14" and max out the specs. I don't mind spending money, but I don't want to shell out alot to try something I may not like.
sounds like you are ok with a potential dead weight, if thats the case yeah go for it. i hop between my i7 64gb ram pc rig and my mac, for work productivity the mac has been my go to.
Ignoring all the keyboard alarmist, overly dramatic, this model sells for about 450-550USD depending on condition. That is the used market for them. They did come with i7 option and 16gb of ram.
regardless of what else you CAN buy, this is the pricing.
regardless of what else you CAN buy, this is the pricing.
if thats the pricing i would suggest OP skip that deal and get a base m1 mba for 600usd. thats the used market for that.
there are price points for everyone and many will NOT go over it. I just sold a 2017 Touch Bar model for 450, but it had an issue with one key so I took it back and upgraded the buyer to an M1 air for 650. Much better machine, but many people want to stick to a budget. Some it’s 200, some it’s 300, some 400 etc.. there is a good used Mac for every budget. The M1 air is a great machine, but still more than many want to spend.
As much as people talk bad about the touch bar, I get people all the time only looking for touch bar models!
to save 50-100 bucks just so apple WILL charge you 750 for the repair bill in the not so distance future? sure.
butterfly keyboard - its not a matter of IF, its a matter of WHEN.