This dirt cheap Mac is fantastic
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- Опубліковано 19 жов 2024
- Used Macs have never been better! In previous years, searching for a cheap used Mac on eBay or other used/refurbished Mac sites meant settling for unibody MacBooks with mechanical hard drives. But now, thanks to Apple Silicon Macs, you can buy very solid retina MacBook Pros for as little as $300. So, a cheap 300 dollar used Mac: how good can it be? Is a cheap Mac like this usable? Is a cheap Mac suitable for college students, artists, etc? Today I bought a cheap mid 2014 13 inch Retina MacBook Pro for just $285 and we're going to find out!
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I was actually helping a friend find a MacBook for college, and found an early 2015 13 inch pro. It had a 256 gig SSD, Core i7, 16 gigs of ram, and was in excellent condition with no signs of delamination, all for $395. I felt like it was a pretty good bargain. Thanks Luke for all of the great videos!
Definitely a huge bargain. Good RAM and processor.
Great deal! Those typically go for closer to US$500 or so AFAIK. In 2021 what your friend paid typically will get you a 2015 MBP 13" in great shape with i5, 8 GB RAM, and 128 GB SSD (although it could be as low as US$300 if you're willing to accept some dents and scrapes and/or delamination).
Ewh 256 gig ssd. I could do 500 gig or 512 .
@@whatisup3632 256 GB is fine for a lot of people. I've been using a 256 in my 2017 MacBook no problem, and it's still over half empty. However, the added benefit of the 2015 MacBook Pro is that the SSD is upgradable. All you need is a $5 adapter.
Maybe you got the one that I traded in for a newer M1
It's amazing how well they've held their value (not in terms of price). They're literally almost 8 years old.
Do not call the phone number below, it is a scam
@@meow_meow_J it got deleted
I have a 2015 top end cpu mid range laptop IDK if big sur runs well
@@NTGuides it does if you have an SSD (which you should in a 2015 mbp)
I´m still on a Mac Pro 3.1 . A couple years ago I bought another Mac Pro 3.1 octocore 2.8 ghz (refurbished, radeon 4870, ssd, 32 gb ram 2 years warranty ) for 300 bucks. It´s just flawless. My wife uses a MacBook Air i5 1.8 13" (Mid-2012) on daily basis and it is phenomenal. And yes, I know they are old but they work!!!
I got my MacBook Air M1 a week ago, and I've been really enjoying your content ever since. It's so interesting learning about an entire different side of computing after using Windows all my life.
same i got a mid 2014 mcbp 15" and really liking the experience, used windows most of my life and Linux for 5 years now. i rate the macos experience somewhere in-between the two
Windows is pretty pathetic. Not that Apple is flawless. Apple is only recently picking things up again and even then the quality is nowhere near the hype. Basically comparatively the recent macbooks are better than anything else out there. I got the m1 air too btw.
I recently bought an M1 Air myself, my first Mac ever. While I still prefer using Windows (entirely due to decades of familiarity), the M1 Air is the best all-around computer that I have ever owned and I have to think great value.
Hey and if mac os isnt for you you can install windows nativaly on your macbook
@@supremeasura3358 I bought my first Mac in 2006 when Apple first rolled out Intel processors and introduced Bootcamp! At the time the blue screen of death was still blue and a daily occurrence and way of life. The learning curve for MacOS or OSX as we called it back then was much steeper. No driver issues, less system crashes due to better overall system stability won me over and I never looked back. Plus the ability to run windows still so I didn’t need to repurchase all my software on Mac and run PC only software was the death nail that got me to switch. But these days 16 years later windows has caught up and is putting out a much better product. Lack of fully compatible windows virtualization options is concerning on Apple’s part BUT as long as every time there’s a windows update and it changes my default browser back to edge I’ll refuse to use windows as my primary operating system.
I was given a 2014 MacBook Pro with intel i7 and 16gb of ram for free because my math teacher thought it was in repairable, just needed to plug it in and reset the mac without logging in and it was all mine, came with box, polishing cloth and in near perfect condition, best deal ever!
It's really nice to see that a Tec UA-camr can be so happy NOT to recommend the latest and most expensive device, but to understand that sustainable does not mean disadvantageous.
I came across this video because yesterday I bought a 2014 MBP for 300 euros. I mainly want to use Lightroom with it and edit my photos. I am very happy after this video.
@@benfromatlantis That's awesome! I'm also looking for a 2014-2015 MBP and the idea of buying one kept facing resistance whenever I tried to see if other people wanted to get one of those in 2023. I mean, makes sense. You could get an M1 Macbook for only 200 Euros more for example, but given how well these older machines still run and the fact that they still hold their value: I'd honestly be happy to save those 200-300+ Euros for a future upgrade after 3+ years when I start feeling that a 2014-2015 model is truly 'old'. At least you allowed the machine to live out its life, and at least it served you well, etc...
Plus I'm pretty sure a lot of us are people who would've seen having a MBP around that time as a 'luxury' and are wanting to jump at an opportunity to purchase them when they're still functional but super cheap because of their age.
I have an old non-retina 2010 Pro with an SSD and its amazing. The only downside is that NATIVELY
it's locked to High Sierra. However for its age, its an amazing machine. Im only upgrading because I need a bit more performance graphics wise, otherwise its a great machine.
Same here!
I could take that for traveling, has SD reader, fast for viewing pictures, reasonable priced big SSD possible and no need to worry too much if it gets stolen, drops etc.
That’s why I bought a 3rd gen iPad for $40.
Luke's channel is by far the best place for background and info on older Macs plus whether or not they're still worth investigating. It's great to see reviews of the new hardware but dozens of places to see those on UA-cam. Very few have content like this.
Back in the day I bought the pre Retina mid 2012 MBP 1298 for $500 fully upgraded and its still running strong. I didn’t care to do the upgrade myself so it was worth paying for it to have all done for me and it came with MacOS Catalina installed. They’re still a solid value because for what most people do on them still more than adequate to everyday tasks.
I have one too ,they’re excellent
Still using my 13’ late 2013 MBP retina ever since it’s been released. It’s usable, but kind of slow. Recommend a M1 Air if you’re going to buy a laptop now.
I have the same one, and yes it is slow but usable, going to be upgrading in the next year or so.
@@thegamecube870 worth knowing I was gutted my mid-2012 didnt get big sur now you said that I am glad it didnt lol
Do not call the phone number below, it is a scam
Your 1398 late 2013 MBP originally came with MacOS Sierra; I upgraded mine to MacOS Catalina but it can natively run Big Sur.
@@thegamecube870 I'm running Monterey on my Mid 2012 Macbook Pro every day without issue.
So happy that you are going back to your roots- reviewing and upgrading older Macs. This is your sweet spot and the reason why I subscribed. Much better than the constant cheerleading on ARM Mac’s. Those are boring, too many sheep doing the same thing. Thank you! Happy Holidays!
Actually you can upgrade the storage up to the 2017 model. You just need to get a replacement propitiatory drive. You can find adapters too tho.
Do NOT call the WhatsApp number it’s a scam!
@@xskullbrain5608 wh at
@@HelixAdamOxford No worries. It was deleted
My dirt cheap Mac is an 11in MacBook Air from 2015. I’ve been scoring 11in models for under $300 for prolly 5-6 years now and I and my kids love them. My kids love the size and weight going to and from school and sitting on smaller desks in a classroom. It’s smaller and lighter in clamshell than a 12.9in iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard case and my current one is a maxed out 2015 with the 2.2GHz i7 and 512gb ssd. I paid $300 for it in 2020 and the i7 is fast as that MacBook Pro he was using from the same time frame. The SSD is upgradable as well! The computer is as small as the 12in MacBook that replaced it from 2015 to 2017 but it’s much faster because it doesn’t thermal throttle due to a lack of a fan. The fan is quiet most of the time. No butterfly keyboard! It has Thunderbolt 2 so with a Thunderbolt 3 to 2 adapter and a Caldigit dock you can still use dual monitors with mouse and keyboard on a desk. Something else the 12in can’t do. I even bought a 2017 12in and went back to the 11. The biggest thing holding it back is a lack of a Retina display. But the bigger metal bezels give it a cushion that protect the display when you drop it on a corner and if you did break the computer parts are EVERYWHERE for it and cheap! And if you can’t repair it get a whole new one under $300! Like Luke said it’s honestly not my primary computer but a TOUGH on the go machine! I feel better hauling that laptop around without a warranty than I do a new one with a warranty!.
Still have a 2013 13" I use from time to time, and it works just fine. The things that matter most (screen, keyboard, fast storage, IO, etc.) are great, and quite frankly, the speed is fine if you only use it for messaging, web browsing, or even light photo editing.
Did you upgrade to ssd and the ram?
@@ghost-user559 Nope. The only thing I did was replace the battery. It's not my main machine so I don't store much on it
When I upgraded to a 13” M1 MacBook Pro last year it was from a 2013 13” retina MacBook Pro… Which was still a really solid computer as long you didn’t need it to do too much heavy lifting. I was able to find my old retina Mac a new home by giving it to a young student who is the daughter of one of my mom’s friends… and so I occasionally get updates. It seems like the 2013 MacBook is a way better option than a chrome book and has been getting a ton of use. I think at under $300 bucks it’s a great computer!
Definitely agree about the point on an older 2010's Macbook being much better than a Chromebook. I guess it depends on which country and their availability on used markets, but at this point these older Macbooks are now equal in price to a new Chromebook yet they run an older but full-fledged OS (or through OpenCore Legacy Pathcer, can run a more recent OS), which to a lot of people is miles beyond what Chrome OS is.
I recently bought an Early 2015 Retina for $339 with shipping and taxes and it runs wonderfully on MacOS Monterey. And even before that I was still using an older Mid 2012 Unibody. Apple really builds their products to last.
Wow. I'm impressed
These are amazing, I'm still using my mid-2014 model every day, after buying it refurbished in 2015. Upgraded to a M1 Mac Mini for music production, but the MacBook Pro remains a great laptop.
I will say, that after using mine for years, the battery was basically shot. And replacing it was absolute hell. The battery is super glued onto the frame, and is really easy to puncture if you aren't careful. I'd say it's worth it, to extend the life of your laptop, but do be careful and prepared.
Just installed Raspberry Pi OS on an old MacBook Pro. Runs fast and great for learning Linux. You should try in on one of your old Macs just for the experience. Keep up the good work.
Thanks to your video’s I bought a 13” 2015 Retina MBP i5 8gb 128 SSD last week.
This is my first Apple PC and I’m kind of in love with it atm. It looks brand new came with the box and original microfiber & apple stickers. Everything still sealed (besides laptop and charger) It had its screen replaced last year!
The battery is showing a little bit of age though it needs a refuel half way the day. I would love to actually change it with a new one and upgrade the storage.
You should make an updated guide for us Retina users on how to bring them back to life
with better storage and a brand new battery.
For those wondering:
€310-, (had to drive 50 KM to pick it up)
I use it for school, and light video / photo editing (I can’t tell you guys how good it is yet) besides school I haven’t given it heavy tasks yet.
This came in place of my Chromebook witch was just not strong enough to handle my multitasking during lectures.
I’m curious on how long it will last me.
I think I almost watched all of you’re retina and unibody videos 🤣, 2 weeks ago I didn’t even know the MacBook lineup. Now I’m bothering my friends for old MacBooks so I can have something to upgrade.
UPDATE:
Restored my first Unibody! this was so much fun and I met so manny cool people in the process whilst seeking help!
It is like new and I like it better then my Retina for some reason.
Update:
I bought another unibody.
I found a late 2013 Retina for 220.00 at Good Will. Like new with 256 SSD and original OS from that year. I couldn't believe my eyes. This was late last year too. I installed Big Sir. Only thing wrong with it was a cracked Apple logo. Employee said they just put it out that morning. Lucky me :)
i bought 2012 macbook pro(13inch) for $250 and install linux system on it last month. And It runs very smoothly. Love this macbook. i wont be changing it for another 5 years
My daily is a fully configured 2013 15” Retina MacBook pro, since I bought it new in 2013 and it still works perfectly fine.
Still happy owner of MBP 2012 Unibody (SSD), and use it exactly as you have mentioned : emails, web, Google doc/excel, ... :)
I upgraded from my old 11" MacBook Air this April on a really low budget of $400. And I found a 2013 15" MacBook Pro 16/512 dual graphics in really nice condition (albeit with slight delamination) for $429. Still happily using it as my main machine today. Thanks for the videos, Luke!
I purchased my MacBook Pro MID 2012 right before the retina display and let me tell you..one of the best purchases I've ever done! She still runs great! is getting a little bit slow for my architectural shop drawings. After purchasing the Mac Pro, she is retiring to my moms daily activities (mail web browsing and shopping) in FL.lol What an amazing computer. It has a DVD player and Micro SD car, USB's, all the ports that we all need. These old laptops you can swap the hard drive and upgrade the memory up to 16GB. I don't even want to let her go!!
I recently picked up an early 2013 Retina 13" as a spare Mac to my main one and it works like a champ. Used OpenCore and Monterey works perfectly on a machine that Apple says only supports up to Catalina. As you said there Luke mine landed at around the 300 euro mark so quite similar price wise to your one. Great content as always - keep up the great work.
You are the goru of used macs and I enjoy your style.
The Unibodys are fantastic. I recently picked up a 13inch 2012 MacBook pro and my god, with a SSD and some more ram. I got mine for 95$ and its in fantastic condition.
I’m an electronic musician who has used computers in music all the way back to 1988. I’m still using my 2013 MBP for heavy live processing with Ableton Live with 8gb of RAM. It does everything I need it to do. The only thing that has changed is the fans turn on more now when I’m playing live.
I happen to own the Late 2013 version of this with 16GB ram, honestly on Catalina and Big Sur it was extremely slow, Mojave is usable but it still struggles now, I wouldn’t recommend anything older than a 2015 15” now to be honest. Keyboard Trackpad and Display are still nice at least.
Just installed High Sierra on it and it feels pretty ok now.
Do you have an SSD installed?
@@ghost-user559 yup the original 256GB SSD, it’s strange, it is fine having a 4K display hooked up but struggles with opening things and is pretty slow. Haswell-U has well and truly had its day by this point.
@@KitsuneKiera idk, I have the year before you and it still flies with 16 gb ram and ssd. I think it’s the 4K that’s doing it honestly. The machine is brand new performance wise on 1080p hdpi settings.
I think the graphics are the bottleneck there, because it’s butter smooth on applications and multitasking/million tabs open. It could be the bus is overloaded or the gpu just can’t handle 4K.
There’s something unique going on there, because you shouldn’t be having any of that slowdown with normal usage.
I use Virtual Machines and my desktop on Catalina, and I have some fans going off during heavy loads, but perfect performance.
You might want to use it with a higher definition but lower resolution monitor to see if that’s pulling to much from the processor.
@@KitsuneKiera It could be you need to replace the ssd if possible. It actually sounds fragmented or corrupted. Try running it off an external ssd sometime to test that theory. If it’s smoother than the one installed that is probably the issue.
I have a 2013 MacBook Air with 8gb ram and 256gb ssd and I’m just now upgrading because I want dedicated graphics but on office tasks it flys on Big Sur. So I don’t know what’s wrong w u?
These older retinas are great, but only 16gb version has some future ahead.
8GB is very decent today for office use, 4GB can be enough especially for macOS.
If you need more than 8GB, I doubt you don't need more than what CPUs these devices have!
@@Zebra_Paw this. this is a perspective that actually uses intelligence to think about what you actually need and not just "hurrr more ram more good for future"
My 8GB/1TB 2015 Retina still feels like a beast, upgraded from an OWC SSD to a WD NVME SSD and it's given it a new lease of life, it can run logic, final cut and my other music software without any issues or the fan going crazy. The fan starts to turn on when I've got five/six+ apps open, but I'll also be changing the thermal paste on the CPU soon as it's never been changed. As long as you're taking care of your mac and we'll maintaining, it it's still perfect for students/music creators, that's why I got it. Had it since August 2020 and I've no desire to upgrade yet at all.
@Gaming York oh then I think 4 cores with no hyper threading is a mistake as well!
@@AlexHurleyMusic good! Surprised for logic because it struggles on my i5 7400
I've upgraded to the 14" Pro from my 2014 13" Pro and I could've honestly done everything so far on my old MacBook too. Besides battery and better performance, it's the same experience.
Watching this on my 2015 13" MBP which I picked up from eBay for just $199. Sweet deal, these machines def provide great value. This video is still relevant even in 2023.
That's a pretty good deal. I'm still running my 2014 MBP 13". I used Opencore Legacy Patcher and installed macOS Ventura on it. It was an easy upgrade to perform. Ventura even functions faster than Big Sur on my MacBook. Nothing is missing either. Everything functions as it should. Until I need more horsepower to text, email, and browse, I'm with you. No need to buy a new MacBook Pro yet.
Still using my early 2013 MacBook Pro for front-end development and it’s still great. One of the best computers I’ve every owned - and I bought it refurbished!
I'd love to see another show on the dirt cheap unibodies. The 2012s are sometimes in the $150 range and so easy to upgrade. And totally usable for the majority of people. I'd also love to hear more about the delaminating screens of the retinas. Thanks!
fast forward two years: I recently got a 2015 13" Macbook Pro for 120€ locally here in Germany. Has a delaminated screen though which I am going to fix with some baby wipes :D
I use a late 2012 13" macbook retina with 8Gb ram 128Gb SSD running Monteray without a problem.Paid £100 for it on ebay,battery is in good condition,slight dint on one corner,to hear the fans spin up I've got to hold it next to my ear!For social media,surfing,youtube all work without any problems at all.First thing I did when I got it,take the bottom off and hoovered out the fans.It has hardly been used by its previous and only owner and I am made up with it.I dont particularly like laptops as I'm much more comfortable with me M1 mack mini or one of my tablets.The only time it heats up is when updating it via opencore patcher or trying to run lightroom or gimp,but even then you cant hear the fans,amazing really.
Really love your videos about old macs with really good function
Some of your watchers may be familiar with the fact that earlier Mac LCD displays had terrible problems with coloremetery. Colors would float, deintensify in a non-linear manner. When I was at THX we measured the Apple displays at the time and they were among the worst, over time.
That seems to have changed. At some point after 2012 the macbook pro displays, at least, improved and seem to hold their color values a bit better.
Late to the party, I was using a 2015 X1 Carbon, decent enough but terrible battery life then got a text from my dad last week asking if I wanted a 2015 13” w/ 256 SSD and 16 gb RAM. No cost. A guy from his company is finished with it, he had this and a now unsupported Mac Pro destined for the recycling bin (per company policy). My dad wiped the drives, installed Monterey and I’ll have it tomorrow. My first MacBook and I’m stoked.
I have a base model 2014 Macbook Pro and I use it to edit in iMovie works perfectly it has 3 day battery life a amazing display and I don't even need to say how good the keyboard is
you know, one of the reasons I love watching your videos is that music during the intro.... that is soo soothing everytime I hear it!!
I am still using an i7 /16GB 2012 15" MBP. I can still juggle illustrator, youtube, docs, a VM, and 15 Chrome tabs. The fans are really loud, and the battery is SHOT, but I'm really impressed with how it's held up.
I just recently bought an M1 machine, but I'll probably keep this 10 year old MBP as a desktop.
Forget eBay. I just purchased my third MacBook from backmarket. I just returned a MBA because I found an early 2015 Retina MBP 13 inch i5 2.7ghz 16gb ram 128 ssd for $265. My dad just retired and got himself a $170 MBA and he put Windows 10 on it, he says it's faster than a $2600 HP ultrabook he got to use for his job. Thing is if you return a device you have to pay for shipping, which was 26$ for Cali to New York. But so worth it. The usability is by far better than any Windows PC or laptop I've owned. I've never been a fan of Apple. Plus, I'm a gamer. Allbeit I was hoping the experience would drastically change from the 2014 MBA I returned. Not much. But I just came across GeForce Now, and upgraded from the free version. Boy oh boy, I play all my favorite games at max graphics, max resolution, 400 fps now. Not even using ethernet cable. 50ms league of legends games. RTX games at 1080p 60fps, no freaking issue. A decent rig that would become outdated in 5 years would cost you over $1,000. I get GFN for $100 a year, while using the RTX 2080 chip through a virtual machine, and 1080TI for non RTX games. Free version uses 1050gtx or something. Highly recommend GFN if you don't have a 3070 already or something.
I have the Mid 2012 Macbook Pro, just before the Retina version came out.
It is my main machine. 😀
And I'm running Monterey on it.
How can you run Monterey on it?
@@robertw477 look up Mr Macintosh. Brilliant UA-camr that takes you through everything required. 😁
Sold my MacBook Pro 15” retina two years ago for £1100 on a local listings site. I just picked up a retina 2015 13” for £285 in as new condition. And then I got an Unibody 15” with 500hdd and 4gb RAM for £200 but I’ve since upgraded to 1tb SSD and 16GB RAM. For a further £95 all in. Bargains. I’m not a power user but I get everything I need from these two .
Hey, Luke. This was another great video. I am still getting very good use out of my early 2015 MBP 13" with Pro Retina display. I've upgraded the storage and the battery, and it runs MAC-OS Monterrey like a champ.
How much did you pay for the battery, do you have a link? thanks!!!
@@oscarmorales-cn3hz I used the Mac Store of OWC (Other World Computing). I got the battery for about $150.
@@darrene.mathews5566 Thanks so much!!!
runs Monterrey?
I’m still rocking my 2012 13-inch MacBook Air. One battery replacement in late 2019. I have an SSD upgrade kit but haven’t installed it yet. Office 365, web browsing, photo editing (no video), Skype etc, online trading, emails.
I still have my 2015 13.3 MBP and it works great for most things I do. I am going to upgrade this coming year because I am going to start more video editing and need a second device
This past summer I bought a 2015 15" MacBook Pro 16/256 for a web development course I was taking since my 2013 MacBook Air 4/128 would simply croak trying to run the React Native emulator. I chose the 2015 model due to price AND the fact it had USB-A ports, an HDMI port, a MagSafe charger, and no butterfly keyboard. I chose well. It's been working like a champ and I'm incredibly happy with my investment. I'm hoping to keep working on this baby until the 2021 MacBook Pro 16" flutter down from the stratosphere later this decade.
I’m still using daily my mid-2014 I bought new with 8gb Ram. Now I’m inspired to give it to my kid who wants a Mac laptop for schoolwork. Thank you for the info! I will keep the newer M1 Air for myself!
I've picked up five MacBook Pros of the 2011/12 vintage for around $800. Last model year for full access to everything. I run two of them on 10.6 (Snow Leopard) for legacy apps.
The other three run 10.13 (High Sierra) with 1 Tb SSD and 16 Gb of RAM.
They are speed demons, battery life expectancy decent for my needs, does what I need it for.
Shoot my traveling units are a 2007 and 2009 running 10.6 and with maxed out RAM and they don't disappoint!
I have something funny to tell you. One day I was working on a paper for school on my little HP pc. It totally bit the dust while working on my paper and I was like that's it I'm getting a MacBook so I totally did. I went with a 2021 MacBook Pro 13 inch M1 chip the max and pro got announced in October after I got my new MacBook. Well long story short I have been a PC user so I looked up videos about MacBooks and sure enough your channel popped up. I have always really been fascinated by Apple computers and I absolutely love your channel. I dont know if its the lofi music in the background or your personality, I am so glad I found your channel. I have been down a huge worm hole of watching everything and its been so fun learning about Apple stuff. I hope you are doing well. I love your podcast too!!
I had one of these, it was a fantastic machine (after two laminate replacements) sold on eBay for a USB-C MacBook Air. I regret selling it. I used an SD slot expander too for extra storage. What a machine these things are.
I'm using an early 2015 MacBook Pro with a 1 TB SSD to watch this. Great computer...got it a few years ago for around $800. Got Bootcamp on it and I do a TON of CAD work on the Windows side. Do a lot of audio recording on the Mac side. It's plenty fast for everything. REALLY useful, rugged, reliable computer....
Same. Dropped a 1TB in mine too. All I need for photoshop and daily stuff
I purchased the Retina MacBook 15” when it came out in 2012. It is still going strong. My kid uses it to edit iMovie videos and play Minecraft. I changed the battery 3 years ago and had to replace one of the fan which started to make loud noises. Otherwise , completely still functional.
I have a mid-2012 13'' Macbook pro, upgraded RAM to 16gb and added a 500gb SSD. It's a beast.
I sold my 2012 MBP a little over a year ago. Even with an SSD upgrade it was feeling its age.
I have and purchased 6 mos ago a 2015 mbp 16gb 256 ssd 13 inch 3.1 i7 because of your video purchased for $300 all in. You're definitely right I argue and swear up and down all day on recommending a 2012-2015 mbp ! and always continue to make a case on Reddit or anyone that if you're on a budget go for a 2015 all day skip the 2016-2020 intel macs unless big unless you can get it for an insanely good deal!
Thanks Luke. I was eyeing these up today and felt at a loss of where to start, this is helpful and timely.
Great video! Thank you for awesome content!
My daily driver is still 13" 2015 (i7,16,1tb) in mint condition, excellent laptop, deals with Light room and photoshop just fine editing photos from Sony iii a7. The issue with those Retina models, as soon as something happens to the screen, that's it! New screen on ebay cost more then the whole laptop:) It is too bad, its an excellent laptop (retina versions 13" and 15"). I wish those screens were not as expansive:)
Best design ever. Sooooo sturdy. Very nice keyboard and touchpad. Still love it.
That MacBook is good enough for most users, but we live in a world where we want the latest hardware.
I'm daily driving one of these retina models (an Early 2015) and even though it isn't powerful enough for anything that I do (namely music production, as I tend to bounce demanding tracks to audio regularly to alleviate the burden on the CPU; and graphic deisgn), it's still a perfectly usable machine and since I currently have no incentive to upgrade (being a broke college student), I'd use it until it eventually becomes e-waste lol.
I’m still using my late 2013 MacBook Pro 13’, I purchased it brand new and it’s still working.
I only just upgraded NOW to a M1 MacBook Pro from my 16 inch Retina 2014 with Intel Iris Pro graphics. The fact I only just upgraded now says all you need to know about its value!
Do some budget apple ecosystem videos
So i purchased my late 2015 (loaded) 13 inch used in January 2017. I avoided the 2016 model like the plague, and I'm glad I did! Mine is still in great shape. I am able to edit 1080p video on it (with a fast external SSD) no problem. I'm waiting to upgrade to a more powerful mac mini (fingers crossed) because I have found I'm more of a desk/external display worker. But I'm keeping my awesome 2015 to use for exactly what you use it for, email, streaming, etc. A nice couch computer! Love your content Luke!
Heres some tips!!!
1: save documents separate from a backup! (Also backup your mac) dont restore from the backup as that can bring issues back.. unless you have to
1.5: 😂… Do a diagnostic test with it plugged in
2: using disk utility clean your disk and reformat it to the default settings.
3: do first aid, I think from the smallest volume to the largest… maybe double check that
4: re install the software using recovery mode
5: sign in and set up the mac
6: Do a nvram, pram, and smc reset
7: use reduce motion in accessibility, and adjust basic battery/performance to reduce usage (it is still older)
8: dont over stuff yo hard drive ! Keep decent bit of storage
9 enjoy your newly tuned mac!
where did you get it for $299?
I got a 2015 MacBook Pro for my Sister-In-Law two years ago after she had issues with her iMac. Still going strong and works well for them. I just didn't want to get something fully new priced when I was hearing the rumblings about the new Apple Silicon coming out. Glad I got them the 2015, and I'm sure eventually they will bump up to something newer in a few years.
hey buddy, after looking through your topic/ videos I actually bought a late 2013 13" MacBook Pro with 8/256 GB. I'm really happy with it. earlier this week I was considering to buy a new Chromebook and I don't regret to buy this oooold mac instead :) I wish you amazing holidays and stay healthy. best regards
Yesterday I sold my 13" 2015 MacBook Pro for $560 (here those are more expensive) 256 GB, 8 GB RAM, no delamination, 540 battery cicles, I think that was a great deal, I love that Mac, I'll really gonna miss it :(
I just started college and I got a 2015 MacBook Pro 13 inch for $120 this is my second week with it, and I just upgraded its ssd to 1TB. Can’t complain for the price
I installed Monterey on my 2014 MBP using OCLP and it runs perfectly fine
I picked up a Macbook pro late 2011 i7 13inch. With a new 256ssd and the CD drive was replaced with a 5TB HDD 16gb ram. awesome shape. Got it for 200 bucks.
i have a 13" i5 8GB ram 2015 macbook pro as my daly driver, and works fine for me, all i have doen is a SSD upgrade from 256 to 1 TB and a battery replacement. even works fine with the thunderbolt display. even running mac os 12.1
Hey Luke, you should do a video comparing a 2015 15 inch MacBook Pro that’s maxed out with the dedicated graphics vs a m1 MacBook Air since they are kind of close in price and would definitely be an interesting video
i bought a mid 2015 15" Macbook pro for 500AUD. Pristine condition, i7, 16GB Ram, 256GB SSD. Plenty of ports, i use a couple of external 1TB SSD if needed at a fraction of the price needed to install one in the computer. I use it for web development and does everything really well. In Australia the newer Macbooks are around 4000AUD!!! crazy expensive to spend on a new laptop when such bargains are available on Ebay. However, I only dare to purchase from a reputable tech store that refurbishes it professionally. Mine came with 1 year warranty.
This was a great video I have a 2015 MacBook pro 15 inch dual graphics and it's perfect! Big fan! Keep up the videos!
I recently got a 2015 1TB 15" Macbook Pro on eBay, these are still quite expensive in Europe with Grade B and above reaching 1,000 euros. In November there was a company in the US selling a couple of them and i was lucky to get one for $410, there were additional import fees at the checkout which was fine because it was still vastly cheaper than the nearest options i had found. I have found it to be a very fast laptop, I was starting to have video editing issues on my windows laptop and the issues don't exist on the macbook, the big data videos render in about 5 minutes compared to the hours it was taking on my windows laptop. Also, I had no idea that the macbooks material was the same as the iPhones back, it feels so premium.
I just picked one of these up for $160. The battery is the only thing that needs replacing but even that still gives me comparable usage against a newer Dell or HP.
The main issue that gives me pause when considering buying a cheap, 10+ year old Mac is the battery. At the end of the day a laptop is only as good as its battery. Otherwise is is just a desktop computer. Would you dedicate (if you haven't already) an episode on all things battery. What models allow you to replace them, is it difficult, where do you get the replacements, etc. Thanks. I enjoy your show.
Battery replacement is easy up til 2013 model where they started gluing the battery to the case.. On 2012 and older very easy...
Here we are more than half way through 2022… what is the best value MacBook Air and MacBook Pro today?
I maxed out the RAM and switched to a SSD on my 13' mid-2012 Macbook Pro and it's all the laptop I need.
I’m still running a pc I built in 2012. I imagine switching to Mac via a 2012 Mac wouldn’t be a problem.
I’ve bought a 15inch macbook pro early 2013 with i7, nvidia 650m, 250gb ssd, and 8gb of ram, for 350€, and it runs very good, it fast and totally usable, and nowadays that retina display is very very good
Super honest review showing us that we do not need to take out a mortgage to buy a Mac.
I bought a 2010 MacBook Pro off eBay for 150 Pounds (UK), in mint condition. Put a new battery in, increased RAM from 4gb to 8gb and put a 500gb SSD in it, and with regards to email, web browsing, word processing, watching Apple TV+ and watching DVD's it does the job perfectly.
What a bargain!
We need a 13" 2015 Macbook Pro video editing test!
I have the 2014 MacBook Pro and it’s still handing everything great for me.
I got a 13 inch 2014 retina 2 days ago with 256gb ssd and 16gb ram for 275€ and it’s great.
I’m actually on my 3rd MacBook
Pro. My first one was the Unibody, then I briefly had a 2015 Retina but the battery was so swollen it was bending the chassis (it was sent to me that way). My current one is also a Retina, but it’s a late 2012. The retina’s were fairly cheap as I do get them refurbished, around 300 dollars, but my mid 2012 unibody was around 400 I believe, maybe 450. They are all 13.3 inch as well. I don’t have an issue with my current MacBook Pro (such as the staining), but I do love my MacBook Pro.
I use an early '15 MBP 13". I love it. It does everything I want at a decent speed. I've got a 300GB NVME drive in there so it's pretty fast. I actually upgraded it last year by buying a 16GB i7 one and selling my old 8GB i5, moved the SSD over and voila! Will stick with it for several more years before I finally go Apple Silicon.
Just picked up my second used 2015 MBP for the same price as a new crappy chromebook. Retina display still is awesome even compared to brand new machines. Decent speed and performance out of a 7 year old laptop for most everyday uses. Thanks to you, I feel confident in ssd, memory and other tech repair!
It is not something I would recommend anyone to buy, especially second hand hardware. But if you are 18 years old, never owned a laptop and your only possession is an iPhone SE and $500 from your parents as your university funds, I would recommend getting either a second hand M1 macbook air if you are lucky, or this.
I was trying to get Macbook Air M1 with broken displays as my use case is I don't necessarily bring my laptop around.. so i just connect a monitor and keyboard. I have been looking for a while to fit my $300 budget.. but seems like even broken MB AIR M1's go for almost $400. Good thing I landed on your channel and saw this.
I am watching this on my 2013 macbook pro. I have an M1 air, but this ol' workhorse does everything I need and is the perfect backup unit!!
Still running a mid-2012 with 16gb and SDD MacBook pro. Daily tasking MS Office, web, etc fine. Photoshop works ok. but does get a bit hot if you use it for a high length of time. Still not justify an update at this point though not getting bigsur was a bit annoying.
I have a similar model. Still running El Capitan on it though. Replaced the battery due to need. At the same time I purchased a new 2021 MBP. Conclusion-I really need to speed up my process of migrating my files etc off the old unit. Upgrade definitely worth it. Once you try Apple Silicon and its speed and battery life, you will not want to go back. And I was one who was admittedly saying that Apple was gambling on this move. That is only true to a point…and if you depend on Windows X86 software, you will definitely need to find a path to address that. For me, that means two machines.
Just bought a 2012 Retina 15inch w/ 8GB RAM for 150 bucks on FBM, also just bought a 2014 Retina 15inch w/ 16GB RAM and integrated graphics for 275 bucks on FBM, both had screen delamination but all together in good condition, although the cheapest one required cleaning out a clogged fan and will require new speakers due to them tearing, it was also an early production, one of the first Retina MBPs ever built and had the LG display with screen persistance issues, but other than that laundry list of issues, it's really nice, using it now to type this ; ) .
In regards to delamination I'm totally use to it now and don't even care really, and if it ever behooves me I can just remove the remaining coating off with one of the many different methods for doing so. I think the 150 bucks for a the 2012 15in Retina was kinda the floor, I can't imagine them going any lower than that and that was likely only because the seller did not know how to fix the minor issues or market it very well.
Great deals abound, lots of people replacing these 15in MBPs with M1 Macbook Airs! I have an M1 Air for work but it sits on desk connected to external monitors, but its tiny screen (for me) is not just any fun to use away from the tethered desk experience.
I love 15in Retinas, fast enough, quiet (when fans and ducts are cleaned) and if you spring for a 16GB RAM model, just a really nice experience all in all. One thing I recently noticed is that starting in 2014 all 15in MBPs came standard with 16GB RAM, so if you find a good deal on a 2014/2015 Macbook Pro Retina 15in on FBM or eBay and the seller failed to mention how much RAM it has, you don't have to ask, just know they ONLY came with 16GB RAM, so you can purchase and beat out others that might be asking the seller questions about RAM and snag a good deal faster than others that don't know this!