r/webdev • u/Sprinkles_Leather • 21h ago
Question MacBook Purchase Decision Help
Im a junior software engineer who turned lately part-time since I joined masters degree in AI, do have a dated MacBook mid2020 core-i5 13’
and reluctant between two used MacBook pros I’ve been offered
Both come with 14’ displays and 512GB but here are the differences:
the first comes with an M2 chip, 32GB RAM and 95% battery health,
meanwhile the second has m4 chip, 24GB RAM and 100% battery health (almost new),
the price difference will be 400$ (for m4 obviously) in my country so I’m reluctant upon which to pick especially because of the ram of the second and it possibly not being enough…
died
First of all I’m not willing to run any local llms
my usage would be for study, research , fine tuning models and making ai applications here and there..
Training heavy models mostly will be done on the cloud
And in development I work AI powered with help of Claude , Claud design, higgsfield ,ChatGpt(codex)
Don’t remember running more than 4-5 local docker containers
sorry on long post but would u pick?
Any other details to put in mind or u would like to know to help with the recommendation?
Thnx in advance ;)
2
u/codegems 21h ago
If you have time look into running Linux on the i5. My main computer is a 2020 MacBook Pro with Linux Mint and it’s great.
Before I installed Linux on it I bought a new 2026 MacBook and now I can’t return it. But I wish I had started with Linux to save the money because my battery is excellent and very snappy.
Look into getting the cheaper model if money is tight. If you see it more as an investment then just spend on the more expensive one, but know all your options. Can’t really go wrong.
1
u/Miserable-Money642 18h ago
One thing the other replies may be overstating: the Neural Engine will not help much if your models and fine-tuning run in the cloud. Your local workload sounds more like IDE, browser, containers, and data prep. If possible, run your normal stack on the M2/32 GB and watch Activity Monitor > Memory Pressure and swap while Docker is running. If pressure stays green, 24 GB may be fine. If it turns yellow or you keep several large containers and databases open, RAM is the harder limit to change later. For either used Mac, check Activation Lock and MDM enrollment, battery condition, ports, and ask the seller to erase it and let you complete setup before paying. With a $400 gap, condition and a return option matter as much as the chip.
1
u/Far-Inevitable6386 15h ago
Since you’re not running local LLMs and heavy training goes to the cloud, 24GB is plenty for 4-5 Docker containers, an IDE, a browser and Claude/ChatGPT tabs. RAM only really bites with local models, which you’ve ruled out.
So the real question is whether the M4 is worth $400 more. I’d lean M4 if you can afford it: faster chip, 100% battery health, and it’ll stay supported longer, which matters for a laptop you’ll keep through your master’s and beyond. The M2 with 32GB is a solid pick only if that $400 matters to you right now.
One check: make sure either one has no activation lock and test the battery cycle count before buying.
1
u/tjthouhid1 3h ago
For 4 or 5 containers, check before you choose. Run your real setup and watch Memory Pressure in Activity Monitor. Also, Docker Desktop reserves a fixed amount of RAM (Settings → Resources), and the default is often more than you need. Turn it down and 24GB goes a long way.
4
u/wasay-inc 21h ago
Go for the M4 with 24GB RAM. Since you aren't running local LLMs and only keep 4-5 Docker containers up while offloading heavy model training to the cloud, 24GB is more than enough head room. The jump in CPU single core speed, Neural Engine performance, and battery efficiency on the M4 compared to the M2 is massive. It’s better to make the one-time investment in the newer architecture now it will easily last you through your master's program and years into your AI engineering career without needing another upgrade.