Mine is 15", 16GB, 512G, 455 model. I'm a student and use it for programming, checking emails and browsing sites. I program in Java using Eclipse and in Python using Jupyter Notebook. I browse using Safari and keep tabs of time estimates in the Activity Monitor Energy tab.
First 2-3 days I was getting 5 hour estimates. Since then it increased to 8-10 and now has increased to 14.5 hours. I keep it unplugged for 6 hours regularly and the estimates have been consistent thus far with the 14.5. I haven't kept it unplugged more than 6-7 hours but I am not afraid of it running out of juice while I'm out and about. Suits my needs as a student.
I had one for about 10 days, and do java dev (intellij/jetbrains stuff).
I got 5-6 hours, then did the 10.12.2 update, and initially battery estimate went up a lot (15-16 hours initially) but it would ramp down sharply when real work was being done. I was seeing ~10% of the battery drain in an hour, meaning I probably could have done 9.5 hours of moderate work. Heavy duty dev (java/compiling, etc) I probably would have got at least 6 hours, maybe a bit more.... but I took mine back. Nice as it was, the price was just a bit hard to swallow relative to performance - was not really expecting 1% diff from 2015 model. I have a 2012 model, so it was faster than mine, but I'm looking at getting a 2015 and saving $1000.
I'm doing to do more intensive programming on mine in the coming days after Christmas and see what hours I get. If dissatisfied I'll return it by Jan 8th for a full refund. I need an all day programming machine for school. Thanks for your input on the 2015 model.
There were some refurb 2015 models I wanted last night for about 4 hours, but I wasn't in a position to order right at that moment (driving, in meetings, etc). Got home, and they're gone! :/ Will keep looking, and ebay/CL generally have some decent ones now and then too.
Benchmarks between 2015 and 2016 were within 1% on geekbench for most tests, and 2016 was often the slower one. Hard to justify $1000+ more for... not much more in the day to day benefit (but as you know, the 2016 is a pretty slick feeling machine, no doubt).
Oh, and 6 hours on battery for heavy use is pretty good - I currently get 2-3 now, on a 2012 battery that is 1200+ cycles in.
I may still go back to 2016 - we'll see. Good luck!
Thanks for the feedback! I hope you get a refurb 2015 soon, sounds like they are selling out rather quickly! I have a fully spec'd out 2013 MBP 15" and the battery last at most 3 hours under an intensive programming load. The cycle count is nearing 1,000. I thought about saving money altogether by replacing the battery / backing up the data on an external hard drive and resetting it to factory. I do like the sleek design on the 2016 model and how light it is. It makes it much easier to throw in my book bag along with my other notes / books.
First 2-3 days I was getting 5 hour estimates. Since then it increased to 8-10 and now has increased to 14.5 hours. I keep it unplugged for 6 hours regularly and the estimates have been consistent thus far with the 14.5. I haven't kept it unplugged more than 6-7 hours but I am not afraid of it running out of juice while I'm out and about. Suits my needs as a student.