Used MacBook - value sweet spot?

[OriginalFDM]

I’m looking for a used MacBook, budget up to £650 but preferably a little less. 13” - 15” screen.

Doesn’t really need to do much more than web browsing/video streaming etc, maybe some football manager but that’s only intensive if you use the 3D match engine which I don’t.

Where’s the sweet spot value wise? The Early 2015 MBP seems to go for £450-550 for a 2.7Ghz i5 / 8GB RAM / 128GB SSD (I use a Nas for any backups and photos etc so don’t need tons of local storage).

Is there anything more recent that offers good value in my price range without compromising too much on performance? I’m a bit reluctant to go any older than 2015 as it’ll likely have no seller warranty etc

[wobert]

I recently bought a s/h MacBook Air, described as “good condition” its immaculate, not a single mark on it.

Purchased from a retired guy in his 80’s.

2017, 13”, 256 GB SSD, 8GB RAM

42 battery cycles.

£450

From looking around many seem to over price the older models, I had a choice of 2015 models with less spec and more battery cycles than the one I bought.

[OriginalFDM]

I don’t know anything about the Air models. How do they stack up performance wise against the older Pros? I’m a bit out of the loop on all things tech, the 2015 MBP I had before was my last experience with a MacBook and it was solid as a rock which was why it was kind of my go to benchmark for what, say, £500ish would get me.

What you’ve posted is the same spec as my old 2015 Pro, but I’m guessing the professor is considerably less potent in the Air?

[wobert]

I wanted something the missus would use sat on the sofa.

My lad’s MBP is too heavy....

[IIIRestorerIII]

When I replaced MBP I went with a 2015 model and nothing newer because of the dodgy keyboards, which have finally been fixed in the 2019 16" MBP

Get the best 2015 model you can buy imo.

[OriginalFDM]

IIIRestorerIII said:

When I replaced MBP I went with a 2015 model and nothing newer because of the dodgy keyboards, which have finally been fixed in the 2019 16" MBP

Get the best 2015 model you can buy imo.

Yeah think I pretty much answered my own question haha. Think the 2015 is the way forward

[1878]

The early 2015 MBP is also IIRC the last model before they changed to the butterfly the keyboard design. Love mine and it's still going strong. Should hopefully get at least a couple more years before OSX won't update.

[goldieandblackie]

I have a late 2013 MacBook (brought new) with battery 200 cycles and still going strong with 91% battery life left, been a great machine and none of the faults of some newer models.

[mikeiow]

Still rocking my 2014 MBPr, i7, 512GB (plus sd slot with 400GB in): still feels that was peak Apple.
Don’t have to carry round dongles for every occasion, great keyboard etc.
I hear the new ones aren’t too bad, but why they removed all connections and expansion is beyond me.
Mine starts to whirl a bit of watching things now...but overall still does the job, battery still works for a full day (brightness down ) if needed....