Look, buying an older Mac is usually a smart move, but the MacBook Pro 13 2019 is a weird one. It sits right on the edge of greatness and total frustration. Honestly, it’s the middle child of the Intel era. You’ve probably seen them listed on eBay or refurbished sites for a few hundred bucks and thought, "Hey, it’s a Pro, how bad can it be?"
The answer? It depends entirely on which version you grab.
Apple released two distinct versions of the MacBook Pro 13 2019, and the gap between them is massive. If you aren't careful, you might end up with a machine that struggles to keep its fans quiet while you're just trying to watch a 4K YouTube video. But if you find the right spec, it’s still a sleek, capable machine for basic office work or student life. Just don't expect it to compete with the M1 or M2 chips. It won't.
💡 You might also like: Apple Watch Wrist Band Choices That Actually Make Sense (And The Ones That Don't)
The Butterfly Keyboard: The Elephant in the Room
We have to talk about it. The keyboard.
The MacBook Pro 13 2019 was the final stand for the third-generation butterfly mechanism. Apple added a "new material" to the switches to stop them from failing, but let’s be real: it was a band-aid on a broken leg. People hated these. They’re clicky, they have almost zero travel, and a single grain of sand can take out your spacebar.
Does it fail as often as the 2016 models? No. Is it still a risk? Absolutely.
Apple actually launched a Keyboard Service Program for these the literal day they were released. Think about that for a second. They knew it was a problem before the first unit even hit a customer's hands. If you’re buying one today, check if the keyboard has already been replaced by Apple. If it feels "mushy" or double-types letters, walk away.
Two Thunderbolt Ports vs. Four
This is where the 2019 lineup gets confusing for most buyers.
The entry-level model replaced the old "Function Key" MacBook Pro. It has two Thunderbolt 3 ports, all on the left side. It uses 15W Intel Core i5 or i7 processors. These are fine for Chrome and Word, but they get hot. Fast. Because there’s only one fan inside, the thermal management is... well, it’s not great.
Then there’s the high-end version. Four ports. Two fans. 28W processors.
If you’re doing any kind of sustained work—maybe some light photo editing in Lightroom or basic 1080p video cutting—you want the four-port model. The extra fan makes a world of difference. Without it, the CPU throttles down to a crawl to keep itself from melting. It's frustrating to pay for "Pro" power and only get it for the first three minutes of a task.
The Touch Bar and the Missing Esc Key
The MacBook Pro 13 2019 was the year Apple forced the Touch Bar on everyone. Even the base model got it.
Some people love it. Most people find it a bit of a gimmick. The real kicker for the 13-inch 2019 model is that it lacks a physical Escape key. It’s a virtual button on the OLED strip. If you’re a programmer or someone who uses shortcuts constantly, this is a genuine pain in the neck. Apple finally fixed this in the 16-inch model later that year and the 2020 13-inch, but here? You're stuck with the glass button.
On the bright side, you do get Touch ID. It’s fast, reliable, and makes logging in or paying for stuff via Apple Pay a breeze. It’s probably the best thing about the top deck of this laptop.
Performance in the Modern Day
Let's talk specs. The base 2019 model usually comes with 8GB of LPDDR3 RAM and a 128GB or 256GB SSD.
128GB is nothing. Seriously.
By the time you install macOS and a few essential apps, you’re looking at maybe 60GB of free space. Since the SSD is soldered to the logic board, you can't upgrade it later. You're stuck with dongles and external drives forever. If you’re hunting for one of these, 256GB is the absolute bare minimum, but 512GB is where you actually start to feel comfortable.
- CPU: 8th-Gen Intel Quad-Core (Core i5-8257U or i5-8279U).
- Display: 13.3-inch Retina with True Tone (500 nits brightness). It still looks better than most mid-range Windows laptops sold today.
- Graphics: Intel Iris Plus Graphics 645 or 655. Fine for 2D work, terrible for gaming.
- Battery: Originally rated for 10 hours, but a used 2019 model will likely give you 4-6 hours depending on the cycle count.
The screen is still a highlight. Apple’s P3 wide color gamut is fantastic. If you’re a photographer on a budget, the color accuracy here is better than almost anything else you'll find at the $300-$400 price point. Just don't try to edit 4K 10-bit video. The fans will sound like a jet taking off, and the preview window will lag.
The Intel Obsolescence Factor
We have to be honest: Intel Macs are on a countdown.
Apple Silicon (the M-series chips) changed everything. A base M1 MacBook Air from 2020 will absolutely destroy a maxed-out MacBook Pro 13 2019 in almost every category. It runs cooler, stays silent, and lasts twice as long on a charge.
Software support is the other concern. macOS Sequoia and future versions are increasingly focused on features that require the Neural Engine in Apple Silicon. While the 2019 Pro still gets updates for now, it's likely only got a couple of years of major OS support left. After that, you’ll be on security patches only.
Real-World Use Cases: Who Should Buy This?
I wouldn't recommend this to a "power user" anymore. The "Pro" name is a bit of a legacy title at this point.
However, it’s a great machine for a student who needs a reliable Mac for writing papers and doing research. It’s also a solid "couch laptop" for browsing and email. The build quality is still light years ahead of cheap plastic laptops. The aluminum chassis is rigid, the trackpad is still the best in the business (Force Touch is magic), and the speakers are surprisingly punchy for a 13-inch frame.
If you find one for under $350 in good condition, it’s a decent value. If someone is asking $500? No way. Save another hundred bucks and buy a used M1 MacBook Air. The jump in quality of life is massive.
Common Failures to Watch For
Beyond the keyboard, there are a few things that tend to go wrong with this specific generation.
- Flexgate: The ribbon cable connecting the screen to the controller board is known to wear out. This causes a "stage light" effect at the bottom of the screen or a total blackout when the lid is opened past a certain angle.
- Battery Swelling: These models run hot. Heat is the enemy of lithium-ion batteries. If you notice the bottom case wobbling on a flat table or the trackpad becoming hard to click, the battery is likely swelling.
- Thermal Throttling: If you notice the computer getting incredibly slow after 20 minutes of use, it’s likely choked with dust. Because the 2019 models have very thin air intakes, they clog easily. A quick blast of compressed air can sometimes help, but usually, it's just the 14nm Intel architecture struggling to stay cool in a thin chassis.
How to Check a Used MacBook Pro 13 2019
If you’re meeting someone from Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist to buy one, do these three things:
First, open a blank document and type every single key. Press them lightly. Press them hard. If a key feels "stuck" or doesn't register, walk away. Replacing that keyboard requires replacing the entire top case, which costs more than the laptop is worth.
Second, check the battery cycle count. Go to About This Mac > System Report > Power. If it’s over 800 cycles, you’ll need a replacement soon. Factor that $150-$200 cost into your offer.
Third, run a YouTube video at 4K for five minutes. If the fans start screaming and the video stutters, the thermal paste might be dried out, or the internal heatsink is clogged. It’s a sign of how the previous owner treated it.
What’s the Verdict?
The MacBook Pro 13 2019 isn't a "bad" laptop, it’s just a "transitional" one. It was the peak of the old design language before Apple finally admitted their mistakes and moved to the thicker, port-heavy designs we see today.
It’s thin. It’s beautiful. The screen is gorgeous. But it’s loud, it gets hot, and the keyboard is a gamble.
If you’re a fan of the Touch Bar and you want a Mac that looks modern without paying modern prices, this is your entry point. Just keep your expectations in check. You aren't buying a powerhouse; you’re buying a premium typewriter with a great display.
Actionable Next Steps for Potential Buyers
- Prioritize the 2.4GHz Model: Look for the version with four Thunderbolt ports. It has better cooling and a faster processor that handles modern websites much better than the 1.4GHz base model.
- Check the Keyboard Program: Verify if the specific serial number has had its keyboard replaced recently. This gives you a fresh start with the "improved" 2019 butterfly switches.
- Verify SSD Capacity: Avoid the 128GB model at all costs. Modern macOS versions and cached files will fill that up in a week. Aim for 256GB or higher.
- Compare Against M1 Air: Before pulling the trigger, look for refurbished M1 MacBook Air prices. If the price difference is less than $150, get the Air. It is a significantly better investment for longevity and performance.
- Test the Ports: Thunderbolt ports on this model can sometimes get loose or stop charging. Bring a charger and a USB drive to test every single port before handing over your money.