MBP 13" v.s. MBP 15"

[xGaladon]

Hello!

I just have a quick question. Why is the MBP 15" so much more expensive than the MBP 13"?
I would have gotten the MBP 15" if I could afford it, because it runs games better. (I use my laptop mostly for school, and some light gaming) Also, Is there a way to get the MBP 15" for the same price as the 13"? Like, will the price every decrease?

Thanks!

 

[NEmpire95]

The macbook pro 13 has an i5, 8gb of ram, and a smaller screen. The macbook pro 15 has 16gb of ram, an i7, and a 15 inch screen (you can also get a dedicated gpu version). That's the price difference between the base models, you can customize either I believe through apple.

 

[Solandri]

The MBP 13 uses dual core processors. The MBP 15 uses quad cores. In the past both used to come with an option for a dedicated GPU, but now you can only get the MBP15 with a dedicated GPU. The base model uses Intel Iris graphics so it's not as bad as the regular integrated graphics. But the speedup is only about 1.5x-2x, compared to 4x or more for a dGPU.

Not that the dGPU makes a big difference - Apple has been extremely slow to update the MBP15's dGPU, while not dropping its price. Just last year they were still selling the MBP15 with nvidia 750m at a $300 price premium over the MBP15 with Iris graphics. This when you could get a PC laptop with 850m at 1/3rd the price, an 860m or 870m at 1/2 the price.

Also, the dGPU Apple uses is not very powerful. If you want a gaming laptop, you are much better off with PC. Even the modest 950m showing up on many mid-tier PC laptops outclasses the R9 M390x the 2015 MBP 15 uses. The 960m, 970m and 980m found on real gaming laptops completely destroys the MBP.

http/www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphics-Cards.13849.0.html?type=&sort=&deskornote=0&or=0&search=&month=&benchmark_values=&gpubenchmarks=0&professional=0&archive=1&dx=0&multiplegpus=0&showClassDescription=0&itemselect_5964=5964&itemselect_5965=5965&itemselect_6157=6157&itemselect_6158=6158&itemselect_6289=6289&itemselect_4158=4158&itemselect_4457=4457&itemselect_5945=5945&itemselect_5941=5941&condensed=0&showCount=0&showBars=0&showPercent=0&gameselect%5B%5D=373&gameselect%5B%5D=371&gameselect%5B%5D=368&gameselect%5B%5D=366&gameselect%5B%5D=361&gameselect%5B%5D=359&gameselect%5B%5D=355&gameselect%5B%5D=353&gameselect%5B%5D=351&gameselect%5B%5D=346&gameselect%5B%5D=344&gameselect%5B%5D=342&gameselect%5B%5D=336&gameselect%5B%5D=332&gameselect%5B%5D=334&gameselect%5B%5D=329&gameselect%5B%5D=316&gameselect%5B%5D=308&gameselect%5B%5D=297&gameselect%5B%5D=293&gameselect%5B%5D=263&gameselect%5B%5D=249&gameselect%5B%5D=217&gameselect%5B%5D=214&gameselect%5B%5D=204&gpu_fullname=1&codename=0&architecture=0&pixelshaders=0&vertexshaders=0&corespeed=0&shaderspeed=0&boostspeed=0&memoryspeed=0&memorybus=0&memorytype=0&directx=0&opengl=0&technology=0&daysold=0

Get the MBP 15 only if you need quad core processing on the road. Otherwise you are probably better off with the MBP 13 and using the money you save on a dedicated gaming desktop. If you need a dedicated GPU on the road, you really should consider a PC gaming laptop. You can see the exact specs for the MBPs here:

http/www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/index-macbookpro.html

 

[xGaladon]

The MBP 13 uses dual core processors. The MBP 15 uses quad cores. In the past both used to come with an option for a dedicated GPU, but now you can only get the MBP15 with a dedicated GPU. The base model uses Intel Iris graphics so it's not as bad as the regular integrated graphics. But the speedup is only about 1.5x-2x, compared to 4x or more for a dGPU.

Not that the dGPU makes a big difference - Apple has been extremely slow to update the MBP15's dGPU, while not dropping its price. Just last year they were still selling the MBP15 with nvidia 750m at a $300 price premium over the MBP15 with Iris graphics. This when you could get a PC laptop with 850m at 1/3rd the price, an 860m or 870m at 1/2 the price.

Also, the dGPU Apple uses is not very powerful. If you want a gaming laptop, you are much better off with PC. Even the modest 950m showing up on many mid-tier PC laptops outclasses the R9 M390x the 2015 MBP 15 uses. The 960m, 970m and 980m found on real gaming laptops completely destroys the MBP.

http/www.notebookcheck.net/Computer-Games-on-Laptop-Graphics-Cards.13849.0.html?type=&sort=&deskornote=0&or=0&search=&month=&benchmark_values=&gpubenchmarks=0&professional=0&archive=1&dx=0&multiplegpus=0&showClassDescription=0&itemselect_5964=5964&itemselect_5965=5965&itemselect_6157=6157&itemselect_6158=6158&itemselect_6289=6289&itemselect_4158=4158&itemselect_4457=4457&itemselect_5945=5945&itemselect_5941=5941&condensed=0&showCount=0&showBars=0&showPercent=0&gameselect%5B%5D=373&gameselect%5B%5D=371&gameselect%5B%5D=368&gameselect%5B%5D=366&gameselect%5B%5D=361&gameselect%5B%5D=359&gameselect%5B%5D=355&gameselect%5B%5D=353&gameselect%5B%5D=351&gameselect%5B%5D=346&gameselect%5B%5D=344&gameselect%5B%5D=342&gameselect%5B%5D=336&gameselect%5B%5D=332&gameselect%5B%5D=334&gameselect%5B%5D=329&gameselect%5B%5D=316&gameselect%5B%5D=308&gameselect%5B%5D=297&gameselect%5B%5D=293&gameselect%5B%5D=263&gameselect%5B%5D=249&gameselect%5B%5D=217&gameselect%5B%5D=214&gameselect%5B%5D=204&gpu_fullname=1&codename=0&architecture=0&pixelshaders=0&vertexshaders=0&corespeed=0&shaderspeed=0&boostspeed=0&memoryspeed=0&memorybus=0&memorytype=0&directx=0&opengl=0&technology=0&daysold=0

Get the MBP 15 only if you need quad core processing on the road. Otherwise you are probably better off with the MBP 13 and using the money you save on a dedicated gaming desktop. If you need a dedicated GPU on the road, you really should consider a PC gaming laptop. You can see the exact specs for the MBPs here:

http/www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/index-macbookpro.html

Thanks!
However, gaming will not be my priority. (Minecraft and TF2 occasionally). I will mainly be using the MBP for school. Do you think it's a good choice?

 

[Solandri]

For school, a MBP 13 is fine. Only place for a MBP 15 at school is if you're doing a lot of 3D graphics work, and/or a lot of video editing. The quad core really helps with those. Oh, programming too. If you're a CS major the quad core helps reduce compile times. Course you have to be working on some really big programs for compile times to be that much of a nuisance.

But do you really need the Pro? You're paying a huge premium to get the 100% sRGB IPS screen on the Pro vs the approx 60% sRGB TN screen on the Air (assuming you have your heart set on a Macbook). If you're doing art, photo, or video work I can see a compelling argument for a MBP. For students outside those fields, I suggest thinking carefully if the extra cost is worth it.