Buying Used 15" Macbook pro Help

dx052

Anyone advise me on a used Macbook Pro Pro 15" with a budget of £400, I am really not upto speed about the Apple eco system. Must have 16gB Ram and a SSD storage or easily able upgrade myself. I realise that I would be looking at an older model. Many Thanks

TadleyBaggie

Not sure you will get much for £400, this site:

https://macfinder.co.uk/shop-categories/page/2/?product_cat=macbook-pro&source_id=292&source_tax=product_cat&filter_screen-size=15-4-inch-retina&query_type_screen-size=or

the cheapest is £545 which is already obsolete.

[Deleted User]

I'm not a Mac expert but given it will be an early 3rd Gen 2012-2014 model for that budget then the battery is something to check at that age, if it hasn't been replaced it will be on its last legs but typical of Apple, they have glued it in to make it impossible very tricky to replace (probably need to replace touchpad / keyboard) along with some special tools to even open the case.

RAM is soldered on so no chance of upgrading that you will need to get the high-end model for 16GB.

SSD isn't as simple to upgrade as a PC based laptop, Apple use a proprietary connector so you can't just get a normal off the shelf SSD and bang it in.

Only the late 2013 models were supported in the last OS upgrade, I don't expect they will for the next version so you will be left high and dry for security updates.

Welcome to the Apple Eco system where obsolescence comes as standard, which is a real shame because they build good quality high spec products that should be lasting a long time.

What do you plan to use it for?

cymruchris

I think you'll struggle to get what you want in decent condition for that money.

TadleyBaggie

Strangely I have 2012 15" MacBook with 16GB and a 512GB SSD that is sat doing nothing, bought a 2018 model after I spilt tea into the keyboard. Subsequently I replaced the keyboard and backlight and it is now working perfectly. I had no idea it might be worth so much.

dx052

I have a fairly new Dell XPs laptop which is about a year old, has great performance for my needs, wish I bought a 15" model instead though. I always think I am missing out not having a Mac even though they are well oevr priced. Maybe I am better of selling my exsisting Dell laptop and adding the money to get 15" laptop 

TadleyBaggie

I switched Mac in 2012 and would never go back to a Windows based laptop.

zagubov

People tend to keep them for longer as they're pretty user-friendly and keep their value. Pllus as they're not game machines they tend to keep their usefuless. Not sure how you'd get what you want without knowing an educational institution or business that's getting rid of old workmachines.

coffeehound

dx052 said:

I have a fairly new Dell XPs laptop which is about a year old, has great performance for my needs, wish I bought a 15" model instead though. I always think I am missing out not having a Mac even though they are well oevr priced. Maybe I am better of selling my exsisting Dell laptop and adding the money to get 15" laptop 

Mac's aren't overpriced IMO.  I bought an XPS from Dell Outlet a couple of years ago, apparently priced at over £1600 on release.  It was literally the worst laptop I ever owned and sold it on at a loss after a couple of months.  Bought a much cheaper Macbook Air instead and it has been flawless for two+ years.  After 30-odd years of using PCs since MS-DOS, I would never go back now.  Macs are in a different league, both in terms of hardware refinement and software integration.

zagubov

They had a much better attitude to planned obsolescence; I'd like to be more sure that still holds.
They did a solid job of being intuitive user-friendly communications and home office machines for people that ween't game-obsessed.

[Deleted User]

I bought a 2015 MacBook Air from amazon for 450 quid. A lot of money for a six year old machine but it still feels fresh as it has updated to the latest iOS Big Sur. I could buy a brand new windows laptop for this money but it would not be anywhere near as nice to use. I could keep this for a couple of years and still get 300 quid for it.