are 2015 macsbook pros better than current ones?

[jpm]

I got a mac that is a few years old. When I go to the "about this mac" overview tab it says.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)
3.1 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB 1867 MHz DDR3

This is a faster processor than any of the new models listed on the apple site.

What gives?

 

[MacInWin]

Welcome to the forum and congratulations on the new MBP. While the clock in your system is faster at 3.1, that I7 chip has two cores, as opposed to 6 or 8 for the new 16" MBP. And the newest 13" model has a quad-core chip. I don't know the benchmarks on the processors, but more cores makes for a faster machine because you can multi-thread across all of those cores.

All that said, that is a nice machine you have, enjoy it!

 

[RavingMac]

To echo what MacInWin said, the Geekbench performance compares as follows

2015 3.1 GHz i7: 3673 Single Core; 6924 Multi

2019 1.4 GHz i5: 4650 Single Core; 16712 Multi

So a fairly substantial performance gain even for the slowest processor in the new model

 

[badshoehabit]

The 2015 models were, I think, the last to have all the ports which make it easy to use a notebook and, in my view, make it a 'better' machine:. two usb ports, an SD card reader, two lightning, HDMI and headphone ports on mine.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015)

 

[Slydude]

"Better" is a relative term and heavily dependent upon your perspective and how you use the machine. If you routinely use programs that are processor intensive the scores that moderator RavingMac provided suggest th newer machines are better. If you aren't usually doing processor intensive tasks but collect a number of devices then your machine is better for that because it has ports for those devices rather than having ro use adapters/hubs.

 

[MBAmtloin]

Anytime one can upgrade, switch, fix and interchange one's SSD, RAM and other hardware, that MacBook hails supreme over those that cannot due to being these part embedded into the logic board.
Enjoy your MacBook and back up those files!

 

[ferrarr]

Anytime one can upgrade, switch, fix and interchange one's SSD, RAM and other hardware, that MacBook hails supreme over those that cannot due to being these part embedded into the logic board.
Enjoy your MacBook and back up those files!

That is only your opinion, based on those few parts. The processors in newer machines will last longer, than the older processors in the older machines. They will get more work done faster also.

 

[MBAmtloin]

If I had a choice I would get the 2015 with a i7 chip because we can go under the hood and upgrade or repair that MacBook Pro.


Sent from my iPhone using Mac-Forums

 

[JimBushWhack]

I tend to agree with MBAmtloin. I purchased a Mid 2015 15" MBP last year on eBay (2.2 GHz QC i7, 16GB and 512GB SSD). I bought used because I refused to buy a new one that just has USB-C ports. I understand that USB-C is the wave of the future, but it is just not convenient right now since you have to have an adapter to hook up external disks, DVD drives and thumb drives. I suppose that you can buy USB-C thumb drives now, but they are certainly not common and I am sure they are pricy as well. I also just bought a new iMac which has both USB-3 as well as USB-C. I would have thought that Apple would have offered something like that in the transitional MacBook Pros as well.

 

[MacInWin]

On the other hand, in a few years USB3 devices will be harder to find as USB-C replaces it and you will have to have an adapter to convert the USB-C device to your older interface. And those converters are not inexpensive (think Firewire, for example). It's a case of pay-me-now-or-pay-me-later. Given that I'm going to have to pay, I'll take the performance improvement now.

 

[pigoo3]

I tend to agree with MBAmtloin. I purchased a Mid 2015 15" MBP last year on eBay (2.2 GHz QC i7, 16GB and 512GB SSD). I bought used because I refused to buy a new one that just has USB-C ports. I understand that USB-C is the wave of the future, but it is just not convenient right now since you have to have an adapter to hook up external disks, DVD drives and thumb drives. I suppose that you can buy USB-C thumb drives now, but they are certainly not common and I am sure they are pricy as well. I also just bought a new iMac which has both USB-3 as well as USB-C. I would have thought that Apple would have offered something like that in the transitional MacBook Pros as well.

Problem is what member MBAmtloin mentioned is not fully true. The upgradeability of 2015 MacBook Pro's and brand new current models is not that different.

And everything you mentioned was related to external things & USB-c ports...not really related to the upgradabiltiy statement member MBAmtloin mentioned. Just sayin.

I totally understand why a 2015 MacBook Pro works for you (has the ports you want). Also...USB-c ports are not the future when it comes to Apple portable computers...USB-c ports have been standard on MacBook Pro's since 2016...it's now 2020...which will make this the 5th year of USB-c ports on MacBook Pro's. 5 years in computer years is alonnng time! Lol

It's also possible that after 4-5 years of USB-c ports on MacBook Pro's...Apple could be working on something else/new to replace USB-c ports.

- Nick

 

[SWLinPHX]

Don't forget the fact that 2015 MacBook Pro's were the last to have the preferred original scissor keyboard (before the controversial and problematic "butterfly" keyboard) that Apple is now returning to.

 

[MacInWin]

Don't forget the fact that 2015 MacBook Pro's were the last to have the preferred original keyboard (before the controversial and problematic "butterfly" keyboard).

Not "last" at all. The newest 16" MBP has the scissors keyboard back in it.

- - - Updated - - -

Don't forget the fact that 2015 MacBook Pro's were the last to have the preferred original keyboard (before the controversial and problematic "butterfly" keyboard).

Not "last" at all. The newest 16" MBP has the scissors keyboard back in it.

FOR THE MODS: This is the second time the board has duplicated a post immediately. I left this one so that if there is any forensics available in it you might be able to find out why.

 

[SWLinPHX]

Yes, I was going to mention that it was the last to feature the original scissor keyboard which Apple is now returning to. That is assuming he wants to pay for and upgrade to only the very latest MB Pro model. If he isn't looking for brand new or wants to save some money then that would be his last option with that keyboard. The point is there are a lot of MB Pro models 2016 thru most of 2019 out there that do have the butterfly keyboard so it is easy to end up with one of those if you aren't aware. Thanks.

 

[MacInWin]

The good news about the foray into butterfly keyboards is that Apple now knows what NOT to do if they decide to go back to butterfly. But for new the new scissors model has what they wanted in terms of thinness so maybe they'll just stick with it.