It’s no secret that when new products are right around the corner, it’s a bad idea to buy its current version. Take smartphones for example. Every time one of my friends asks me whether it’s a good time to buy a new one, I have to ask what brand they’re considering because there might be an upgraded model on the horizon.
Then there are products like TVs, desktop computers, smart home appliances, and speakers that aren’t worth waiting over if you’re unsure if the manufacturer has a newer model in the works. This is typically the scenario when it comes to laptops as well. When a company releases a new laptop, there’s a good chance the device might not get upgraded for another 18 months or so, and if you need a laptop, waiting a year and half isn’t an option.
But there’s one big exception to this rule, and it involves what’s likely the most popular laptop on the planet. I’m talking about Apple’s MacBook. The company ships new ones every couple of years, and yet no one seems to notice, because if you need a new laptop, you’re gonna just buy it no matter what.
This time is different, though. We’ve been hearing a lot about upcoming MacBook models, specifically the new 16-inch Pro model that will come with a redesigned exterior and beefy specs. That device is expected to ship later this year, but I’m not telling you to wait until later this year to buy it. Besides, that laptop won’t be for everyone.
Instead, you should wait for the 2020 MacBooks, even if you need a new laptop right now.
Why?
Keyboards.
If you’ve been following Apple’s dilemma surrounding its most recent MacBooks, you know that the company’s butterfly switch has caused a variety of problems. Keys stutter, they fall off, and some boards straight-up malfunction for no apparent reason. It’s a serious mess that only piles onto the negative experience of simply typing on a MacBook thanks to its shallow travel.
According to reports, however, it looks like things are about to change. We’re hearing that the new 16-inch MacBook Pro will adopt a more traditional scissor switch over a butterfly mechanism, providing much more travel than recent MacBooks and likely improved reliability. The butterfly switch has been nothing but a headache for Apple, and it makes sense to see the company wanting to phase it out.
And phase it out it shall. Yesterday, famed Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo commented about new, upcoming MacBook models that won’t be shipping until the second quarter of 2020. In his note, Kuo mentions how these new machines will likely adopt the more comfortable and durable scissor-switch keyboard and finally leave the butterfly switch to rot away and die. As a result, the user experience associated with a MacBook will improve tremendously, or at least it should.
If you’re gonna buy a laptop, chances are you’re gonna want it to last you a few years. If you buy a MacBook today, you’re gonna get stuck with the sucky butterfly switch that may or may not cause problems in the future. If you’re worried about the longevity of your new laptop, you’re better off waiting until 2020 when the new MacBooks arrive with their redesigned keyboards.
It’s worth mentioning that we don’t know for sure whether the 2020 MacBook lineup will switch over to a scissor-style keyboard. At this point, it’s all speculation. But because there’s a mere chance of the keyboards getting better, I think it’s worth holding off from upgrading to a new model right now.
Need more proof the 2020 MacBooks will be better than what’s on the market now? Chances are the machines will get better processors, more future software updates, and even potentially better battery life. We know none of this for sure, but there’s a chance.
All in all, while’s it’s an odd reason to hold off from buying a new laptop, waiting to see whether Apple actually adds a scissor mechanism to its 2020 MacBooks is reason enough to hold off from upgrading. Plus, you’ll probably get better internals, and who doesn’t like that?
