Refurbished MBP M1 14" vs MBP M2 vs MBA M2?

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Feb 12th, 2023 1:22 pm

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Poll: What should I buy?

Total votes: 7. You have voted on this poll.

Refurbished MBP M1 NOW: 4; 57%

New MBP M2 during B2S+7x Aeroplan promo: 1; 14%

New MBA M2 during B2S+7x Aeroplan promo: 1; 14%

Wait for the MBP M3: 0; 0%

Wait for the MBA M3: 1; 14%

Other, please elaborate: 0; 0%

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Feb 9th, 2023 7:07 pm

pprider [OP]: Deal Addict; Sep 18, 2021; 1458 posts; 607 upvotes

Feb 9th, 2023 7:07 pm

Refurbished MBP M1 14" vs MBP M2 vs MBA M2?

I'm looking to buy a Macbook Air or a Macbook Pro 14" during the back to school and 7x Aeroplan miles promotion in a couple of months. At that time, it'll probably be a M2 as I doubt the M3 will be released.

I can buy it anytime as I don't really need a computer and I would like to buy after an update as it'll further futureproof myself in terms of technology and price. I would hate to see it drastically drop in price if the M3 is released in half a year. Rumours say that they'll shrink the die which will increase speed and efficiency. It'll be the second generation of MBA therefore more bugs will be ironed out.

I plan on replacing all my computers with this and I could foresee myself travelling with it or taking it from place to place. I don't really "lap" with it as I work from a table and also have Ipads. I don't like added weight but I'm worried that I'll need to use a dock or dongle if I don't get the Pro. I have the Anker 8 in 2 hub but I find it a hassle having to carry it or to plug it in.

I'm looking to get at least 16 GB of ram and 256 GB of hd although it's a bit weird for me to get less than 512 GB even though I don't even use 256 GB. I also don't like the idea of connecting an external drive to it unless it's just to backup. I plan on editing movies (cutting and sewing together clips from the Gopro) in the future.

Given the available information in regards to the HD speed and the timeline and my needs, would it make sense to buy a refurbished Macbook Pro 14" now or wait until the MBP M2 or MBA M2 goes on sale? Or should I wait longer for the M3?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and I welcome any advice that you have!

9 replies

Feb 9th, 2023 9:24 pm

Nikhilvoid: Deal Fanatic; May 16, 2011; 5295 posts; 7845 upvotes; Burnaby, BC

Feb 9th, 2023 9:24 pm

M3 macbook is probably far away. What is your final price all in for a Macbook Air or a Macbook Pro 14" during the back to school and 7x Aeroplan miles promotion?

I got an open box M2 base macbook last week for $900, but the $1929 M1 Pro is a bit tempting because 8GB RAM is kinda low.

Feb 10th, 2023 3:31 am

pprider [OP]: Deal Addict; Sep 18, 2021; 1458 posts; 607 upvotes

Feb 10th, 2023 3:31 am

Nikhilvoid wrote: ↑ M3 macbook is probably far away. What is your final price all in for a Macbook Air or a Macbook Pro 14" during the back to school and 7x Aeroplan miles promotion?

I got an open box M2 base macbook last week for $900, but the $1929 M1 Pro is a bit tempting because 8GB RAM is kinda low.

Before the M2, Macbooks were usually updated every year or less. If we get lucky, the M3 will be release near the end of the B2S promos because all the fabs would be rushing to produce the new 3nm die.

I'm not sure if it's going to happen but I'm waiting for the M1 Pro to fall more in price considering Costco had a 25% off sale half a year ago!

Where did you get the open box M2 base?

Feb 10th, 2023 11:26 am

Nikhilvoid: Deal Fanatic; May 16, 2011; 5295 posts; 7845 upvotes; Burnaby, BC

Feb 10th, 2023 11:26 am

pprider wrote: ↑ Where did you get the open box M2 base?

https://forums.redflagdeals.com/macbook ... x-2597091/

It might go back on sale, but was sold out v quickly last time.

Feb 10th, 2023 3:06 pm

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4863 posts; 4404 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 10th, 2023 3:06 pm

Given the 20% performance bump, I'd spend the extra $ and get an M2 based machine, be it the Air or Pro.

I have the M1 Pro full fat 14" MBP and love it. Naturally I wouldn't think of upgrading to the M2 Pro, but if I was buying now I'd spend the extra on the M2 Pro vs. a Refurb M1 Pro model. You'll get the money back down the road if you sell and if you keep it for 10 years the extra money now hardly matters much.

I'd be surprised if they continue with 20% bumps year over year, unless they're adopting a strategy of driving obsolescence faster by doubling performance every few years. That doesn't seem a sustainable model however.

Long story short if you have the bucks and take care of your gear, there's nothing wrong with buying the latest version of whichever model fits your needs.

If you break/lose the machine then you've lost your investment. This is why I use 2-3 generation old iPhones as I'm likely to destroy or lose them, and the incremental performance/user experience is relatively unchanged from the XS Max all the way to the 13 Pro Max. I just upgraded from my XS Max to a 12 Pro Max and frankly there's no difference.

+1

Feb 10th, 2023 4:42 pm

pprider [OP]: Deal Addict; Sep 18, 2021; 1458 posts; 607 upvotes

Feb 10th, 2023 4:42 pm

torontotim wrote: ↑ Given the 20% performance bump, I'd spend the extra $ and get an M2 based machine, be it the Air or Pro.

I have the M1 Pro full fat 14" MBP and love it. Naturally I wouldn't think of upgrading to the M2 Pro, but if I was buying now I'd spend the extra on the M2 Pro vs. a Refurb M1 Pro model. You'll get the money back down the road if you sell and if you keep it for 10 years the extra money now hardly matters much.

I'd be surprised if they continue with 20% bumps year over year, unless they're adopting a strategy of driving obsolescence faster by doubling performance every few years. That doesn't seem a sustainable model however.

Long story short if you have the bucks and take care of your gear, there's nothing wrong with buying the latest version of whichever model fits your needs.

If you break/lose the machine then you've lost your investment. This is why I use 2-3 generation old iPhones as I'm likely to destroy or lose them, and the incremental performance/user experience is relatively unchanged from the XS Max all the way to the 13 Pro Max. I just upgraded from my XS Max to a 12 Pro Max and frankly there's no difference.

That's a great point! However, I'm most likely going to buy the base model on the Pro and maybe upgrade the Air. I've read reviews that the speakers aren't as good on the M2 for both machines and then there's the sd debacle. It seems like you have to upgrade the M2 Pro to the 1 TB just to get to the same speed as the M1 Pro. What are your thoughts on that?

PS, don't forget to vote.

Feb 10th, 2023 7:27 pm

pprider [OP]: Deal Addict; Sep 18, 2021; 1458 posts; 607 upvotes

Feb 10th, 2023 7:27 pm

I'm leaning towards the M2 Pro since the base model hd isn't as slow as the MBA.

New MBA M2 16 GB 512 GB is $1849
Refurbished MBP M1 16 GB 512 GB is $1929
New MBP M2 16GB 512 GB is $2399

The difference between the New MBP M2 and the Refurbished MBP M1 is $470 or $260 during B2S.

Now I just have to wait another 5 months.

Feb 10th, 2023 8:27 pm

Nikhilvoid: Deal Fanatic; May 16, 2011; 5295 posts; 7845 upvotes; Burnaby, BC

Feb 10th, 2023 8:27 pm

pprider wrote: ↑I'm leaning towards the M2 Pro since the base model hd isn't as slow as the MBA.

New MBA M2 16 GB 512 GB is $1849
Refurbished MBP M1 16 GB 512 GB is $1929
New MBP M2 16GB 512 GB is $2399

The difference between the New MBP M2 and the Refurbished MBP M1 is $470 or $260 during B2S.

Now I just have to wait another 5 months.

How much would the new Mba m2 be after 5 months?

Feb 12th, 2023 3:07 am

pprider [OP]: Deal Addict; Sep 18, 2021; 1458 posts; 607 upvotes

Feb 12th, 2023 3:07 am

Nikhilvoid wrote: ↑ How much would the new Mba m2 be after 5 months?

I don't know if Apple discounts their products before a new one comes out. If anything, there may be a slight discount during B2S or BF. Last summer it was a $210 gift card.

Feb 12th, 2023 1:22 pm

torontotim: Deal Addict; Nov 17, 2012; 4863 posts; 4404 upvotes; Toronto

Feb 12th, 2023 1:22 pm

pprider wrote: ↑ That's a great point! However, I'm most likely going to buy the base model on the Pro and maybe upgrade the Air. I've read reviews that the speakers aren't as good on the M2 for both machines and then there's the sd debacle. It seems like you have to upgrade the M2 Pro to the 1 TB just to get to the same speed as the M1 Pro. What are your thoughts on that?

PS, don't forget to vote.

The base M2 Pro is about equivalent to the 'full fat' M1 Pro with 10/16 core SOC if I've read my reviews correctly. Bang for the buck the M1 Pro 10/16 with 16GB RAM and 1TB storage (which is the config I have) would likely be ideal.

When I bought my M1 Pro 10/16 I also bought my daughter the base M1 Pro 14" and she's found it more than adequate for all her Professional Communications work with the Adobe suite and others.

Bottom line is there are a tiny handful of people out there who would notice a difference in performance from config to the other. I know I'm not in that group - I have the 10/16 core M1 Pro because I wanted the 16GB RAM and mostly 1TB of storage and my corporation was paying for it. So I decided to splurge on the higher end config for myself.

Deciding between the Air and Pro is easy - the 14" mini LED 120hz display is a significant upgrade from the M1 or even M2 Air and if you spec the M2 Air up even a bit to 16GB/1TB storage I think you may as well just get the Pro. Nothing wrong with the 13" displays on those devices, and the M2 Air is probably really quite good, but I do like my 14" display and use it all day along side my 27" 4K Dell USB C monitor and of course while travelling.

+1

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