Where Money is a Bit of an Issue: 16" M1 MBP vs. Intel

[peter108]

My wife currently has an aging 17-inch Windows laptop which she uses almost exclusively for browsing (sometimes with ~50 tabs open) and consuming video content, and nearly always plugged in. I would love to get her a 16-inch MBP, but think $2500 for an M1 for her use case is massive overkill. I'm considering a used or refurb'd Intel version, but worry about all the comments I've read about them slowing down and overheating when pushed. As I implied above, battery life is a small issue. I think a 2019-2020 Intel would be a vast improvement over her current rig. Any reason not to go that route? (Especially since, I suspect, we're on the verge of a great buyer's market for used Intel MBP's). Thanks.

 

[jz0309]

I have replaced my 2019 15 MBP with a M1 MBA and couldn't be happier ...
for what you're describing as her use case, a M1 would be sufficient, except for the screen size ...

 

[peter108]

except for the screen size ...

No wiggle room there, unfortunately. It has to be a 16. Otherwise, absolutely, an M1 MBA all the way.

 

[Darth.Titan]

If she's using it almost exclusively for browsing and consuming video content I don't think that "pushing" a refurbed or used Intel version will be an issue.

I've never experienced slowdowns on my 2019 MBP at any rate and I push it regularly.

 

[DakotaGuy]

I wouldn't go for an Intel at this point just because support will end soon after the last models are switched over.

 

[macintoshmac]

@peter108 You can comfortably pick an MBP 16. Avoid Intel - even for the most mundane of uses - only when buying new. Buying used, as you want to, now that is another matter.

For web browsing, even with ~50 tabs (I am guilty of 67 max) my trusty old chugger MBA 2017 with 1.8 Core i5 and the massive amount of 8 GB RAM works just fine. I, though, do much more than just browse on this one. I run my entire business from it.

With this background, I can safely suggest you can pick a used Intel 16" and be happy with the computer for much more than just web browsing for several years.