Worth it to wait for 2019 Macbook Pro at work???

Buie · May 5, 2019

Hey everyone!

First post on the forums here (but long time lurker) - wanted to get some non bias opinions/suggestions on my work laptop upgrade before I pull the trigger.

Backstory/Usage:

I am an integrated technology architect for a healthcare IT company and primarily deal with the implementation and troubleshooting of an enterprise VoIP/Alerting/Texting solution. I deal with all levels of the stack from the OEL server config, cloud infrastructure & security settings, SIP/CDR logs for telephony, and then the MDM & Wi-Fi strategy for the facility/devices. Sounds like a lot lol but it's more of just connecting all the pieces/devices and making sure everything is working rather than writing/developing the code itself - majority of my time is spent in the log files themselves. So day2day I primarily use multiple RDP/SSH sessions via RoyalTS/iTerm2, Citrix Remote Applications, and heavy multi browser usage (Splunk/ELK logs, AirWatch MDM, Social Media) along with the standard MS Office Apps. I travel maybe once a month to client sites so portability isn't a factor nor is SSD capacity - care more about performance/functionality. I do use this device for some personal use (like iMessage/iPhoto) when I don't sit at my home desk and get spoiled by my Ryzen 2600/GTX1080 build ;).

Current Laptop: Macbook Pro (Retina, 13-inch, Early 2015)

Intel Core i5 with 2 cores
8GB RAM / 256 SSD
Intel Iris Graphics 6100
No significant performance issues right now, love the keyboard (last good design by Apple), battery health is solid.
I have a LG 27UK650-W 4K Monitor at home so would enjoy being able to support that without struggling like it does even with lid closed.
Notice it struggles at the start when I have more than 2-3 apps open

Options

Macbook Pro 2018 - 13" (available in 4-8 weeks)
- Intel Core i5 with 4 cores
- 16GB RAM / 256GB SSD
- Intel Iris Plus Graphics 655
- There is a cost of like $40 across 4 paychecks associated with choosing this 'premium' device - not a big deal but still a factor
Macbook Pro 2018 - 15" (available in 4-8 weeks)
- Intel Core i7 with 6 cores
- 32GB RAM / 512GB SSD
- Graphics: Radeon Pro 555X
- There is a cost of like $200 across 4 paychecks associated with choosing this 'premium' device - not a big deal but still a factor
Macbook Pro 2019?
- Is it worth it to wait for the new 2019 models to get announced at WWDC? Can submit a ticket for either of the first two today...
- Our corporate upgrade cycle for devices is every 36 months/3-years. Typically, it takes about 4 months for corporate to 'certify' new devices in the market and make them available to end users
  - So I wouldn't ideally get it until Q4 like Sept/Oct at the earliest.
- Screen size isn't make or break, the 13" I have today is great - prior device was 15".
- I've read enough tech news to know there is probably a 16" MBP on the way and baseline refresh to the 13"