MacBook upgrade from 2015 MacBook Pro

Which MacBook is most suitable is subjective and dependent on how you currently use what you have and what your planned or expected use is.

Maybe these will help in your decision making:

Compare Mac Models - Apple

Start with any current Mac and specify one with storage equal to or greater than that of your current Mac.

In no case would I buy into the line with less than 512 GB of storage or less than 16 GB of unified memory (RAM).

Impossible to answer without any context or usage details.

What do you do with your current MacBook Pro?

Without any sort or details, even the entry level MAcBook Neo would run laps around your current Mac, but it's unknown whether it would enough for your tasks.

For things like email. web browsing and writing documents and spreadsheets, yes the MacBook Neo is quite adequate.

What exactly do you do with the Mac currently?

For that, the entry level Neo, or a MacBook Air is fine. Yes, the current MacBook Pro's are overkill for that kind off work.

I'd go for a MacBook Air with at least 24GB of RAM and 512GB of storage.

Screen size is up to you, though I thoroughly enjoy the 15" screen on my M4 MacBook Air.

SteveForrest wrote:

I currently have a MacBook Pro (retina, 13 inch, early 2015) with 8gb & 2.9ghz intel i5.

what would be the most suitable of the current MacBooks to replace it?

The closest direct replacement would be a 14" MacBook Pro with a plain M5 chip.

Apple currently has three notebook lines.

• The MacBook Neo is an entry-level laptop meant to compete with Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops. While it has a low price – or had one, before "RAMageddon" – you sacrifice quite a bit to get it. There isn't any support for USB4 or Thunderbolt, only one of the two USB-C ports supports USB 3.* and DisplayPort, and you can't order the machine with more than 8 GB of RAM.
• The 13" and 15" M5 MacBook Airs are capable machines, using plain M5 chips, but have a limited port selection and no cooling fans.
• The 14" and 16" M5-family MacBook Pros offer more ports, fancier screens, and a choice of several processors.

Note that even a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro based on a plain M5 chip

• Will come with at least 16 GB of RAM, and can be ordered with 24 or 32 GB of RAM
• Can drive up to two external displays
• Will run rings around the Core i5 in that old 2015 MBP

Servant of Cats wrote:

SteveForrest wrote:

I currently have a MacBook Pro (retina, 13 inch, early 2015) with 8gb & 2.9ghz intel i5.

what would be the most suitable of the current MacBooks to replace it?

•

The closest direct replacement would be a 14" MacBook Pro with a plain M5 chip.

Apple currently has three notebook lines.

The MacBook Neo is an entry-level laptop meant to compete with Chromebooks and budget Windows laptops. While it has a low price – or had one, before "RAMageddon" – you sacrifice quite a bit to get it. There isn't any support for USB4 or Thunderbolt, only one of the two USB-C ports supports USB 3.* and DisplayPort, and you can't order the machine with more than 8 GB of RAM.

I would add that the NEO has no backlit keyboard which could be a problem when used in a dimly lit room.

Also, the low end NEO with 250GB SSD has no TouchID for fingerprint recognition which could be a problem utilizing some secure services. The 500GB SSD model does have TouchID.

MacBook Neo - Tech Specs - Apple

Edit: To the OP, as others have mentioned you should get a system with at minimum the same memory & SSD as your old system. Plus "work" is still a mystery. If a person has lots of documents open or webpages, then they can chew up memory & virtual memory. I think most people will want an Air. The Neo is fine for some situations. If a Chromebook or an iPad is sufficient, then a Neo is probably an acceptable choice, otherwise I think people should start looking at the Air or possibly the Pro depending on specific needs.