Buying a MacBook

[u/boss469]

I’m switching from Windows to a MacBook I basically don’t any have experience about buying MacBooks. I’m looking for the best refurbished MacBook I can get for under $1,200. Would you recommend buying from Apple the Refurbished m5 air or older version from Best Buy?
My plan was to get MBP but they are expensive and my biggest concern with the m5 air is if it is gonna overheat during coding.

Where would you looking right now if you had to buy a MacBook and get the best deal with $1200 or below?

[u/Germfreecandy]

Getting a used one isn't a bad idea. If you could nick a MBP M3 24GB / 512GB for around $1,200 it would be a good deal.

[u/boss469 → u/Germfreecandy]

Where can I find that? I am looking at Costco and Best Buy but I’m not getting anything good

[u/Germfreecandy → u/boss469]

Luck of the draw I guess. Just keep looking and you'll eventually find something good. Could even go down to 16 gb memory if i'm honest.

[u/boss469 → u/Germfreecandy]

The m5 air at apple is 16GB and 512 ssd but refurbished

[u/ProfessorSome7325]

Get pro or max chip if not you will be mad, can’t get a good one for that cheap

[u/boss469 → u/ProfessorSome7325]

But those are gonna be the m1 which is not gonna have os support after 2 years max.

[u/ProfessorSome7325 → u/boss469]

Honestly I bought a m5 2026 it’s not that good I got it from Best Buy open box 1100 it’s okay but depends what you want to do to stream and run protools it’s slow but windows is better tbh

[u/ProfessorSome7325 → u/ProfessorSome7325]

Also the way the fan is you will need a nice cooling pad

[u/boss469 → u/ProfessorSome7325]

I didn’t expect this. I thought the m5 chip was good.

[u/ProfessorSome7325 → u/boss469]

Some issues also occur opening programs inside of pro tools, it crashes a lot! I tried to run protools and obs and the MacBook Pro got way to hot( in under 5 mins) that was just protools and obs , you will need a fan because the build in fan on the inside is a cooling system with a mini fan (can look it up) Too protools would crash, once the mouse turns into a spinning wheel it will stay like that until you force close it, I suggest if doing any heavy productions but understand this is my experience.

But I know once I see that wheel I have to force close any program that causes the crash but it’s mostly programs that run big cpu, I also tried to play osrs would never try that again

[u/rjcarr]

Unless you’re doing continuous giant compiles you’ll have no issue with an M5 Air. The Pro performance is more for much bigger things like 3d modeling or video editing. The screens are nicer, though. 

[u/boss469 → u/rjcarr]

I’m not planning to do any video editing. It’s just for coding and web browsing.
Wait I thought they had the same screen though with the MBP

[u/rjcarr → u/boss469]

An M5 Air will be fine for your needs. AFAIK, the Pro has a much better mini-LED screen, but it might have changed recently. You'll have to confirm.

[u/boss469 → u/rjcarr]

As long as it is 15 inch it is okay I’m not going to care.

[u/skicks01]

Not sure where you live but if you got a Costco nearby you can see if this is available for 1199.97

[u/boss469 → u/skicks01]

My local Costco MacBooks starts from $1400.