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+--- Thread: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? (/showthread.php?tid=294476)
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Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - lost in space - 02-23-2025
I need to replace my 2015 MBP because of swelling, weak batteries. I've lost my touch on repairs and there's no one local who will do it. Also shipping will be an obstacle
hops I talked to wouldn't take the job because of shipping hazardous materials. As a cheap replacement I'm looking at a 2018 MBP that will suit me just fine. How is that machine? I don't need the touch bar, but the one I'm looking at seems like a good deal. Is the touch bar - or anything else - a deal breaker?
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - hal - 02-23-2025
2016-2019 laptops suffered horribly from keyboard issues.
Those issues were corrected in 2020 https://www.theverge.com/2020/5/4/21245940/macbook-pro-13-inch-apple-new-magic-keyboard-price-release-date
I've never own one of those MBP (the 2016 MB was a nightmare), but reports are pretty consistent.
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - sekker - 02-23-2025
1) It's not TOO hard to replace those batteries - the swelling of the modules actually can make it quite easy to do. iFixit and OWC tutorials make it straightforward. If you've replaced an internal optical drive or similar type of repair in the past, it would be like riding a bicycle.
2) If you want to replace your Mac, the 2016-2019 machines are not too bad. The 2018 models use the second gen butterfly keyboards. To keep those working longer, get a keyboard cover.
The main reason I would not recommend the 2018 machine is that a base model, 8/512GB M1 MBA would run circles around any 2018 machine. So I cannot recommend spending a lot of $$ on that 2018 model.
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - vision63 - 02-23-2025
sekker wrote:
1) It's not TOO hard to replace those batteries - the swelling of the modules actually can make it quite easy to do. iFixit and OWC tutorials make it straightforward. If you've replaced an internal optical drive or similar type of repair in the past, it would be like riding a bicycle.
2) If you want to replace your Mac, the 2016-2019 machines are not too bad. The 2018 models use the second gen butterfly keyboards. To keep those working longer, get a keyboard cover.
The main reason I would not recommend the 2018 machine is that a base model, 8/512GB M1 MBA would run circles around any 2018 machine. So I cannot recommend spending a lot of $$ on that 2018 model.
I have a 2017 MacBook Pro and the batteries are all swelled up. I can rock it like a rocking chair. I figure it's going to blow up at some point, but it still works. It's harder to type on too. It suffered the same thing a few years ago and Apple replaced whatever was necessary to fix it, but it's doing it again.
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - hal - 02-23-2025
vision - check this out: https://www.ebay.com/itm/197039583250?_skw=macbook+pro+15%22+2017+battery&epid=20058055595
it's a whole topcase - including keyboard and battery NEW for $125
never bought from this seller...
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - vision63 - 02-23-2025
hal wrote:
vision - check this out: https://www.ebay.com/itm/197039583250?_skw=macbook+pro+15%22+2017+battery&epid=20058055595
it's a whole topcase - including keyboard and battery NEW for $125
never bought from this seller...
That's "very" promising! I'm going to take it to Apple one more time. I have a feeling they don't want this situation to exist. If they don't help, then I'm going this route.
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - Robert M - 02-23-2025
Lost,
I'd be very leery of any Macbook Pro from 2016 through 2019. They all have the crappytacular problem prone keyboard. My wife has a 2018 MBOPr touchbar 15". She doesn't use it much and the keyboard has held up. I do my utmost to never use her computer and am extra careful with the keys since I've no doubt my machine-gun style of hunt and pecking would destroy it.
I would seriously consider replacing the battery in your 2015 MBPr. It's not as difficult as you might think as long as you are careful, patient, have good instructions and the correct tools. Read about my experience replacing the battery in as Late 2013 MBPr:
It has a glued in battery like the 2015 models. My write up of the experience might set your mind at ease a bit about giving it a try.
Robert
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - datbeme - 02-24-2025
Lost and Vision, I highly encourage each of you to make a genius appointment at an Apple Store before you make any decisions. At least find out what they say of what they quote you.
Here is my experience (which I copied from an earlier thread):
I had the same machine (2013 15" MBPr) with a swelling battery many years out of warranty. I watched the videos of how to do it and planned to do it myself, but I took it in to the Genius Bar for a quote first.
This may be the only out of warranty coverage Apple has come through on for me, but they viewed the swollen battery as a hazard and replaced the battery and the entire top case (keyboard and trackpad) at no charge. I was probably just lucky (and this was almost 4 years ago), but I wanted to throw that out there.
This was awhile ago now—probably right before Covid—so I don't remember for sure if it was totally free or if they ended up charging me something. But even if they did, it was a very small amount because having them do it was a no brainer. I highly recommend trying this before you do anything else.
--
As for the 2018, unless it's really, really cheap, I just think it's a bad idea. Even the M1/M2 Airs are going to be better in just about every way. No knock on the Touch Bar. I always was kind of intrigued by it and had higher hopes for it than most people. But our family had two 2018 MBPs. Somehow we dodged any keyboard issues, but both machines developed screen issues that rendered them practically unusable. After disconnecting the internal display, one is usable only when connected to an external display. The other one is a paperweight.
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - Diana - 02-24-2025
I have a 2015 MBP that suffered from a swelled battery. It would rock if it were sitting on a flat surface and I tried typing; it wasn’t bad until the keyboard began having issues, and the trackpad began to be less responsive.
I got my parts and tools from iFixIt (it’s been a while so I could be mistaken here) and did the deed while at work on a day I had very little to do and since work had an empty space I could work in. If I remember correctly, the hardest part was remembering to use the directions provided by iFixIt to change the battery out—I’m not the most patient person—followed by getting the battery unstuck (a laminated card worked well, as long as I gave it enough time and used the provided solvent). Did I mention that I’m impatient?
It really wasn’t difficult, just a bit fiddly. A magnifying light would have been nice as the space I had was not that well lit, and contributed to the difficulty level.
I don’t use it now, and could be talked out of it. I must warn that it has the international/Taiwanese keyboard…
Re: Do we like the 2018 MBP with Touch Bar? - AllGold - 02-24-2025
No, we do not. :wink:
Because of the afore-mentioned keyboard problems which are epic and legendary. If/when the keyboard goes, it is not a cheap or easy repair.
If it's dirt cheap enough that you consider it to be disposable, I suppose you could go for it.
Otherwise, look for a MBP or Air with an Mx CPU. Even an M1 will blow the Intel CPU of the 2018 out of the water.