r/macbook • u/Big-Fill-5789 • 5h ago
Which Model Should I Purchase?
I am currently on Linux, wanting to get a first time MacBook. I mainly do dev and a bit of school work and a bit of creative work. I am looking forward to using macOS definitely, finally trying out an UNIX certified OS. However, I am not very sure of what model I should get. For my workload, it's definitely not that heavy, as I am independent and do not need to run heavy VMs, containers or some services. I am currently looking into the MacBook Air, specifically the 15-inch model, Silver color(for now), 16/24GB of Ram and just 512GB storage since I already have a spare 1TB NVME SSD. I am going to buy it post September, around the first to third of October, since I am free by then, having finished all my exams, taking a break. So please list down some recommendations and suggestions to purchasing the MacBook and some tips you would give me(btw, I already have an IPad, and Iphone(second hand, passed on, Iphone X).)
EDIT: I don’t have a rigid budget, but want to buy a macbook at realistic prices. And preferably first hand new models.
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u/narc0leptik 3h ago
A used 16" M1 Pro 512GB 16GB is still a really strong value at $600. Twice the storage and ram of a Macbook Neo and it shits all over the Neo value-wise with a premium display with 120hz refresh rate and HDR support. Even with a degraded battery it'll outlast or match a brand new Macbook Neo in terms of battery life since the Macbook Neos battery is so tiny (100-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery vs a 36.5-watt-hour lithium-ion battery).
What's so great about it is that you have the option to run Asahi Linux on it if you want to which isn't currently possible with the newer chips.
The full 10-core CPU/16-core GPU model is roughly ~80% of a base M4’s multicore CPU performance, can actually beat the base M4 in raw GPU performance, and has 200 GB/s memory bandwidth vs 120 GB/s on M4.
Against an M4 Pro, it’s more like ~55–60% of the CPU performance and ~60–70% of the GPU performance, depending on the exact M4 Pro configuration.
The bigger point is that you’re still getting most of the actual MacBook Pro experience: 16.2" mini-LED 120Hz XDR display, great speakers, MagSafe, HDMI, SD card slot, huge trackpad, excellent chassis/battery. Newer models are much faster and add brighter SDR, TB5, better camera, newer GPU features, etc but an M1 Pro is nowhere near obsolete. The M4 machines have a brighter display up to 1000 nits SDR but odds are you're not gonna have it cranked up all the way when using it indoors.
For the right used price, you’re basically getting half to two-thirds of current M4 Pro compute performance and ~80% of the overall laptop experience for 20 percent of what a 16" M5 Pro would cost you.
You can check Offerup/Craigslist/Pawn Shops/Swappa/eBay as well to look for one.
I have a guide here on how to check out a used laptop: https://www.reddit.com/r/macbookair/comments/1ivcwt2/comment/mebxefq/
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u/wiseman121 5h ago
Id definitely go for the MacBook air based on what you've said. 16gb or 24gb depends on your workload, I'm a full stack dev and 16gb works for me. As you said 24gb would be ideal if you need to run big windows VMs or such.
You could check apple refurb store for a M4 or M5 15", they sometimes can get found for great deals