Apple MacBook Pro Apple MacBook Pro Laptop Core i5 2.7GHz 8GB RAM Review
An old Intel MacBook Pro for $205 sounds like a steal, but its slow CPU and tiny 8GB of RAM make it a tough sell in 2024.
Overview
This is an older MacBook Pro, and it shows. It's got an Intel Core i5 from a few generations back, 8GB of RAM, and a 256GB SSD. That's the kind of spec sheet you'd expect from a budget machine today, not a Pro laptop.
But it's still a MacBook Pro. The build quality is solid, it runs macOS, and it's incredibly reliable. That 96th percentile reliability score is no joke. This thing was built to last.
Performance
Performance is where this MacBook shows its age. The CPU lands in the 23rd percentile, so it's going to feel slow for anything demanding. The integrated graphics are even weaker, sitting in the 18th percentile. It's fine for web browsing and basic office work, but don't even think about gaming or video editing. The 8GB of RAM and small 256GB storage are also major bottlenecks in 2024.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Legendary Apple build quality and reliability. 95th
- Excellent macOS experience. 86th
- Compact and portable 13.3-inch design.
- Great for basic, everyday computing tasks.
Cons
- The Intel i5 CPU is slow by modern standards. 8th
- Only 8GB of RAM is a severe limitation. 16th
- The 256GB SSD fills up incredibly fast. 19th
- Integrated graphics are useless for any kind of gaming. 19th
Specifications
Full Specifications
Processor
| CPU | Intel Core i5 |
Memory & Storage
| RAM | 8 GB |
| Storage | 256 GB |
Display
| Size | 13.3" |
Connectivity
| Bluetooth | Yes |
Physical
| OS | macOS |
Value & Pricing
At $205, the value proposition is weird. It's cheap for a MacBook Pro, but you're getting very old, limited hardware. You could spend a bit more on a used M1 MacBook Air and get a machine that's lightyears faster, with better battery life and a better screen. This only makes sense if your budget is absolutely capped and you need macOS.
Price History
vs Competition
Compared to a used M1 MacBook Air, this Intel MacBook Pro loses badly. The M1 is faster, more efficient, and has a better screen. Against a modern Windows ultrabook like the ASUS Zenbook Duo, you're trading macOS for vastly more powerful and versatile hardware. Even a business laptop like the Lenovo ThinkPad P14s offers better specs for productivity. This MacBook's main advantage is its rock-bottom price for the Apple ecosystem.
| Spec | Apple MacBook Pro Apple MacBook Pro Laptop Core i5 2.7GHz 8GB RAM | ASUS ROG Flow ASUS ROG Flow - AMD Ryzen AI MAX+ 395 AMD Radeon | Apple MacBook Pro Apple 14" MacBook Pro (M5, Silver) | Lenovo ThinkPad Lenovo ThinkPad P1 Gen 7 16" UHD+ OLED Touchscreen | MSI Creator MSI Creator M14 A13V A13VF-081US 14" 2.8K Laptop, | HP ZBook HP 14" ZBook Ultra G1a Multi-Touch Mobile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Intel Core i5 | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ 395 | Apple M5 | Intel Core Ultra 7 165H | Intel Core i7 13620H | AMD Ryzen AI Max+ Pro 395 |
| RAM (GB) | 8 | 128 | 32 | 64 | 32 | 128 |
| Storage (GB) | 256 | 1024 | 4096 | 2048 | 2048 | 2048 |
| Screen | 13.3" | 13.4" 2560x1600 | 14.2" 3024x1964 | 16" 3840x2160 | 14" 2880x1800 | 14" 2880x1800 |
| GPU | - | AMD Radeon 8060 | Apple (10-Core) | NVIDIA RTX 2000 Ada Generation | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 | AMD Radeon |
| OS | macOS | Windows 11 Pro | macOS | Windows 11 Pro, English | Windows 11 Home (MSI recommends Windows 11 Pro for business) | Windows 11 Pro |
| Weight (kg) | - | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 2.5 |
| Battery (Wh) | - | 70 | 72 | 90 | - | 74 |
| Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare | Compare |
Verdict
Only buy this if you're on an extreme budget and absolutely need a Mac for the simplest tasks. It's a decent web browsing and email machine, but that's about it. Students or business users who need to run more than a few browser tabs should look elsewhere. For everyone else, saving up for an M-series Mac or a modern Windows laptop is a much smarter investment.