In loving memory of the mid-2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro: 5/19/2015 - 7/12/2018
2.6GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 2.3GHz 8-core Intel Core i9 2.4GHz 8-core Intel Core i9. Apple - MacBook Air 13.3' Laptop with Touch ID - Intel Core i5 - 8GB Memory - 512GB Solid State Drive (Latest Model) - Space Gray Model: MVH22LL/A SKU: 6366607. Apple discontinued its 12-inch laptop in July 2019. You may be able to buy one in Apple’s Refurbished and Clearance Store, but supplies won’t last long. 13-inch models. Aug 30, 2020.
Today, Apple announced a big update to its Macbook Pro line of computers. The company really souped-up the specs of the latest Macbook Pro model, the one that debuted in 2016 with the controversial butterfly keyboard, 4 sole USB-C ports, and Touch Bar in place of the function keys.
As Apple updated its website with the newest additions to the Macbook Pro family, something just as noteworthy came to light. Apple removed the mid-2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro model from its online store, officially killing off what some consider to be the best laptop ever made.
Wait... Did Apple just announce they discontinued the 2015 15' MacBook? It's the best version they've made. I would pay money to put 32 gigs of ram in it...
— Nemoy Rau (@NRaush) July 12, 2018
My 2015 baseline MacBook Pro has honestly been killing it, definitely think the '15 models are the best on the market right now (I wouldn't work with the 16-17 dongle models...)
Exporting 1080p 60fps video, hours of photoshop maintaining 80% battery etc.
— Andrew Falchook (@falchook) November 26, 2017
On the wrong side of things, the 15’’ 2015 MacBook Pro ( @marcoarment ‘s favourite) isn’t available anymore.
— Alessandro (@alsoknownasale) July 12, 2018
In November of last year, Marco Arment, the co-founder of Tumblr and developer behind popular apps like Instapaper and Overcast, wrote a post that spread like wildfire, expressing how many Macbook Pro users felt when Apple announced the new Touch Bar model with its 2016 Macbook Pro refresh. Arment argued that the entire 2012-2015 Retina Macbook Pro model was the best laptop Apple ever created, with the mid-2015 one being its peak. The sentiments shared in his post about the 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro model – titled “The best laptop ever made” – were echoedacrossthe web.
Before Steve Jobs passed away in 2011, he was involved in the design of the Retina Macbook Pro line of Apple computers that came out 8 months later in June of 2012. This model was continuously updated and upgraded with the latest specs until May 2015 with the mid-2015 model. This Macbook Pro model was heralded for its sleek design, light weight, fast processing power, its array of ports ranging from HDMI to two Thunderbolt ports, and MagSafe power adapter among other things. Even what the Retina Macbook Pro was missing, an internal CD/DVD Superdrive for example, was a well-timed move in response to where the industry was in terms of the lifecycle of that specific technology.
Even with last year’s 2017 Touch Bar Macbook Pro roll out replacing the original 2016 Touch Bar model, Apple kept the mid-2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro in stock to satiate those who believed it to be the last great Macbook Pro model. Up until yesterday, you could purchase a brand new mid-2015 15-inch Macbook Pro, with fully maxed out specs (note that in the past year Apple removed the option to add a dedicated AMD Radeon R9 M370X GPU to the mid-2015 Macbook Pro), for just a little more than the low-end base model of the 2017 Touch Bars.
Unfortunately, with the launch of the 2018 Macbook pro model, you can no longer purchase a brand new 2015 15-inch Retina Macbook Pro from Apple. If you really want “the best laptop ever,” you’ll have to try your luck with used or refurbished models on eBay.
For those who hate the newest – and now only – Macbook Pro line, thanks to its lack of ports, annoying and flawed butterfly keyboard, and gimmicky Touch Bar; this discontinuation of the 2015 model is Apple’s way of saying too bad, this is just the way things are now.
UPDATE: July 12, 2018, 2:56 p.m. EDT: Apple appears to have moved the 2015 Macbook Pro to the Apple store clearance page. This may be your last chance to snag a brand new one, so get them while they last!
Best MacBook Pro Deals for October 2020
Apple resellers are hosting a variety of sales and specials on MacBook Pros for the month of October. From deals on new 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro models to $100s off 16-inch MacBook Pros, shoppers can take advantage of bonus savings on nearly every configuration.
Comparing prices across top retailers is easy when you visit the AppleInsiderApple Price Guides. Find exclusive coupon savings and instant cash discounts on nearly every Mac computer. Here's how to access the MacBook Pro-specific Price Guides, with some of 2020's best MacBook Pro deals going on today on both current and closeout models:
Apple resellers are also offering AppleInsider readers exclusive coupons this October, with savings of up to $450 off MacBook Pros. Check out these coupon discounts:
- Save up to $600 on MacBook Pros with coupon code APINSIDER. AppleCare is also discounted with the APINSIDER code ($209 for 13-inch models and $299 for 16-inch configs). Must use this special pricing link or the Adorama links in the AppleInsider Price Guide. Check out these step-by-step instructions for activation details to secure the best MacBook Pro deals. Also going on in October: Save an extra 5% on your purchase with the Adorama Edge Credit Card.
All Macbook Models List
- Save up to $438 on 16-inch MacBook Pros with coupon code appleinsider (case sensitive).
There are only two models of MacBook Pro to choose from, but with a few configuration differences that can make very different machines.
The 16-inch MacBook Pro was refreshed in 2019 with 9th-generation Intel processors, a bigger than ever Retina Display, and the Magic Keyboard.
The large screen, four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, discrete graphics card, and studio-grade microphones make this an amazing professional laptop. All of this comes at a cost, however, as the starting price for a base 16-inch MacBook Pro configuration is $2,399 (although deals are regularly available).
The 9th-generation Intel processors double performance in several metrics and allow users to connect up to a 6K external display.
This is the only MacBook with a discrete graphics card, and customers can configure it with the AMD Radeon Pro 5300M up to the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M.
There are options up to 64GB of RAM and 8TB of storage. A maxed out 16-inch MacBook Pro could cost up to $6,099.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro was refreshed in May 2020, with two distinct models within that design. All of them gained the new Magic Keyboard, but only the higher-end models gained new processing power.
The base 13-inch MacBook Pro has two USB-C ports and 8th-generation Intel processors. This is essentially the same machine as the 2019 model, with only the Magic Keyboard and storage options changed. The base 13-inch MacBook Pro configuration with 256GB costs $1,299.
The high-end model has four USB-C ports and 10th-generation Intel processors. Customers can configure up to 32GB of RAM and 4TB of storage, maxing out the price at $3,599.
Then there is the option of buying the older 2019 models of 13-inch MacBook Pro, but at the risk of using a Butterfly Keyboard. While you might find a bargain, you're trading for the maligned keyboard and half the internal storage.
16-inch vs 13-inch
Physical size would be the biggest difference here at first glance, but there are major tradeoffs between the two MacBook Pro models. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is the most powerful, portable Mac on the market and offers discrete GPU options and massive storage as well. You'll likely be in the market for this as a video professional or intensive app developer.
The 13-inch wins out when it comes to size and weight alone, giving users a powerful machine that can fit in most situations. The lack of a discrete GPU can be remedied with an external GPU however, due to the Thunderbolt 3 ports.
You'll be spending nearly double just to get in the door for the 16-inch model, so likely users who need this device are already prepared to pay the price. It has not been updated in 2020, therefore it doesn't have the 10th-generation Intel processors. This hardly matters though as the base configuration comes with a 6-core Intel i7 processor at 2.6GHz, and a dedicated GPU.
At a glance, you'll find differences between the two models immediately. The change from a Butterfly Keyboard to the Magic Keyboard is immediately apparent. The physical escape key and inverted arrow keys are most noticeable, the other differences will be found when you start typing. The butterfly mechanisms offer less travel and feel mushy vs the scissor-switch keys.
After the keyboard, the differences become harder to find. Apple didn't do a full processor revision, but did update the top of the line with the latest 10th-generation chipsets. The 2020 model does have double the storage for the same price across the board, which means new customers are better off getting the newer model for memory alone.
Best Model Of Macbook
Regardless of which model you select, you can save a significant amount of money when shopping for the best MacBook Pro deals this October with AppleInsider promotions.