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All other factors being equal, which size would you prefer?

  • 14" MacBook Pro

    Votes: 190 46.7%
  • 16" MacBook Pro

    Votes: 165 40.5%
  • Undecided

    Votes: 52 12.8%

  • Total voters
    407
It really depends on your use cases and need for mobility. I travel very light, and even the 14" is pushing the limits in size and weight for me after using a 11" Air.
 
My problem is that i want to get the 16 just so my M1PRO purchase would make more sense than 14vs13 (because 16 is in another league ,while 13 and 14 resemble each other )...
I would say that most of the base 14 buyers are just casual users - 90% of them could be good with base Air.
Don't think twice about your choice, i would have gladly went with 16.
The beauty of 14 inch is the savings. If you know why you want it, then it is a gem in a clamshell mode.
For me $500 is well worth the difference to pick a 16 inch for its' screen, 2x less fan rpm, 10 core base, battery(when 14 is 0 then 16 sits at 30%).
Especially, getting 15 incher Mac was my dream when i was a kid.
 
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I would say that most of the base 14 buyers are just casual users - 90% of them could be good with base Air.
Don't think twice about your choice, i would have gladly went with 16.
The beauty of 14 inch is the savings. If you know why you want it, then it is a gem in a clamshell mode.
For me $500 is well worth the difference to pick a 16 inch for its' screen, 2x less fan rpm, 10 core base, battery(when 14 is 0 then 16 sits at 30%).
Especially, getting 15 incher Mac was my dream when i was a kid.
"i would have gladly went with 16" u mean that I should go for a 16? and ye the savings are quite sth
 
I would say that most of the base 14 buyers are just casual users - 90% of them could be good with base Air.
Don't think twice about your choice, i would have gladly went with 16.
The beauty of 14 inch is the savings. If you know why you want it, then it is a gem in a clamshell mode.
For me $500 is well worth the difference to pick a 16 inch for its' screen, 2x less fan rpm, 10 core base, battery(when 14 is 0 then 16 sits at 30%).
Especially, getting 15 incher Mac was my dream when i was a kid.
That generalization doesn't apply to those I know. Curious how you arrived at that statistic?

The 14" is a great form factor for developers. I'm a software engineer and chose the 14" over the 16", and I only know one other developer personally who prefers the larger one. The 16" version of my configuration was only $200 more, but I still chose to get the 14". I will mostly use it at my home desk connected to two external monitors, keyboard and mouse, but when I need to travel with it for meetings, presentations, etc. it will be nice to have something a bit more compact to haul around. I have a 15" MBP now and think that's too big for mobile/remote use.
 
I would say that most of the base 14 buyers are just casual users - 90% of them could be good with base Air.
Don't think twice about your choice, i would have gladly went with 16.
The beauty of 14 inch is the savings. If you know why you want it, then it is a gem in a clamshell mode.
For me $500 is well worth the difference to pick a 16 inch for its' screen, 2x less fan rpm, 10 core base, battery(when 14 is 0 then 16 sits at 30%).
Especially, getting 15 incher Mac was my dream when i was a kid.

That's not factual at all - the 16" for many professionals is just flat out too big. I remember my 2011 15" MacBook Pro very well - it was a great laptop. But one thing that always bothered me was - the footprint was just too great. It was annoying to travel with.

The 14" is a great size and has 95% of the power of the 16" for $200 less. That's a pretty good deal.
 
I will mostly use it at my home desk connected to two external monitors, keyboard and mouse, but when I need to travel with it for meetings, presentations, etc.
That is why i already touched on that matter saying:
The beauty of 14 inch is the savings. If you know why you want it, then it is a gem in a clamshell mode.
Obviously you might never see that screen, so the 16 inch could be wasted and takes more space. Others who use laptop as a laptop would definitely benefit from bigger screen.
"i would have gladly went with 16" u mean that I should go for a 16? and ye the savings are quite sth
I mean if you don't have 2 4k 27 displays in mind, then go for 16 if you going to use its' native screen for more than 2 hrs a day.
 
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That is why i already touched on that matter saying:

Obviously you might never see that screen, so the 16 inch could be wasted and takes more space. Others who use laptop as a laptop would definitely benefit from bigger screen.

No, I said I chose the 14" over the 16" for those occasions where I do need it as just a laptop (i.e. not in clamshell mode), because it's more compact and less to haul around. In clamshell mode it doesn't matter to me at all whether it's 14" or 16", and since my company is buying it I could have asked them to spend the extra $200 for 16" no problem. I specifically chose 14" for when I do use it as a laptop. The 16" is just unnecessarily big and cumbersome, IMO.

I took my current MY '18 MBP with me to the Apple store and set it down between their 14" M1 and 16" M1. It was an easy decision to pick the 14". And, FWIW, I use it almost exclusively for professional use as an engineer, and rarely for casual use. For the latter I have a M1 iPP 12.9.
 
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That is why i already touched on that matter saying:

Obviously you might never see that screen, so the 16 inch could be wasted and takes more space. Others who use laptop as a laptop would definitely benefit from bigger screen.

I mean if you don't have 2 4k 27 displays in mind, then go for 16 if you going to use its' native screen for more than 2 hrs a day.
why 2 4k dipslays tho..i have one 4k 27 and its so pretty damn refreshing when i use it after using my 14 for over an hour

i agree the 16 may make this difference smaller but im not sure about the 400 euros difference tbh ,idk
 
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I would say that most of the base 14 buyers are just casual users - 90% of them could be good with base Air.
Don't think twice about your choice, i would have gladly went with 16.
The beauty of 14 inch is the savings. If you know why you want it, then it is a gem in a clamshell mode.
For me $500 is well worth the difference to pick a 16 inch for its' screen, 2x less fan rpm, 10 core base, battery(when 14 is 0 then 16 sits at 30%).
Especially, getting 15 incher Mac was my dream when i was a kid.

Jokes on you I got a 15" MBP as a 13 year old, and now as a professional marketing/graphic design professional use a 14" lol.

Also $500 is not "savings" when looking at the total costs and the difference between 14" and 16".
 
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i agree the 16 may make this difference smaller but im not sure about the 400 euros difference tbh ,idk
Well yeah, back in the day, you overpaid more for 15 inch, because that was the only laptop with Retina, while 13 inch got updated only year later.
Right now, extra 400-500 may not be worth it, given that 8 core in 14" is not worse than 10 core in 16", otherwise similar ram/ssd. So this appeal stays only if you don't upgrade to 10 core in 14", otherwise the gap is only $200.
Which is great, that some people can have $2500 tech of 16" packed into $2000 14 incher. At this point, $500 can buy you either extra ram, extra ssd or a nice 4K 27" display if you didn't have one.
 
Well yeah, back in the day, you overpaid more for 15 inch, because that was the only laptop with Retina, while 13 inch got updated only year later.
Right now, extra 400-500 may not be worth it, given that 8 core in 14" is not worse than 10 core in 16", otherwise similar ram/ssd. So this appeal stays only if you don't upgrade to 10 core in 14", otherwise the gap is only $200.
Which is great, that some people can have $2500 tech of 16" packed into $2000 14 incher. At this point, $500 can buy you either extra ram, extra ssd or a nice 4K 27" display if you didn't have one.
ye that's what interesting because for once the 14 isn't rly mcuh worse than the 16 If at all..yet many people willing to grab a 14 ended up with a 16 as if makes more sense.i presume that's because the small 14 is ,want it or not,crossing the 2k bar...

dumb view but : technically the 10c is about 25% more powerful than the 8,while the 8c is also 25-30% more powerful than the m1 ....so im not too sure when u say it doesn't make a difference

I suppose I only want the 16,good when using internal display only and watching movies (I watch movie on internal anyway as it's much better than my 4k ips monitor ) .in terms of ergonomics it might be worse as keyboard is further away ,and also harder to use on the couch ,laying down in the bed ,on the sofa I suppose ?

that battery also feels good tbh, especially since it's not only 25% more power but also 30% more battery which sound ridiculous lol

as for the better speakers,well,the 14 is already super good so not sure I will truly notice a difference

the good deal is that while the 14 increased compared to the 13 ...the 16 saw no price hike in my country,at all! same price as before
 
ye that's what interesting because for once the 14 isn't rly mcuh worse than the 16 If at all..yet many people willing to grab a 14 ended up with a 16 as if makes more sense.i presume that's because the small 14 is ,want it or not,crossing the 2k bar...
Yeah, 16 inch is a top tier like mercedes S class. While 14 inch is more like a E class. In the eyes of Apple, 16 is for people with more money. Money and product hierarchy aside, I am already staring at 13 inch M1 Air for 1 year 8 hours a day. 16 inch would greatly make my life better if my habits stays the same, then i want my main computer to be bigger than 13/14" but not cumbersome like 17" Win gaming laptops.
dumb view but : technically the 10c is about 25% more powerful than the 8,while the 8c is also 25-30% more powerful than the m1 ....so im not too sure when u say it doesn't make a difference
This video shows that 8 core with 32GB RAM is far more capable device in terms of power than 10 core base with 16GB. 14" base with 32GB = $2400, while base 16 with 16gb is = $2500. All else equal, if you wish to stay with 16GB, then CPU is the last thing that will be a bottleneck in your 14 incher down the road, unless you do utilize those extra cores.
If you do use extra cores consistently, then you already know it and buy accordingly.
There are only few things that will stress all your CPU cores at once all the time. In fact to use that 9th and 10th core effectively, you have to max out all the previous 8 cores, otherwise the difference is not as large like in Benchmarks.
I suppose I only want the 16,good when using internal display only and watching movies (I watch movie on internal anyway as it's much better than my 4k ips monitor ) .in terms of ergonomics it might be worse as keyboard is further away ,and also harder to use on the couch ,laying down in the bed ,on the sofa I suppose ?
Yeah, the beauty of mini led hdr screen is greatly enhanced with 16 inch. For movies, definitely 16 inch. The only question if it is worth 400-500 to you? I know people can drink $1500 bottle of wine and not blink once, so it is all relative to your budget.
the good deal is that while the 14 increased compared to the 13 ...the 16 saw no price hike in my country,at all! same price as before
in my country, 14 is priced $500 more than US, while 16 is +$700 to US prices, which will definitely shift the preference of some people.
 
Yeah, 16 inch is a top tier like mercedes S class. While 14 inch is more like a E class. In the eyes of Apple, 16 is for people with more money. Money and product hierarchy aside, I am already staring at 13 inch M1 Air for 1 year 8 hours a day. 16 inch would greatly make my life better if my habits stays the same, then i want my main computer to be bigger than 13/14" but not cumbersome like 17" Win gaming laptops.

This video shows that 8 core with 32GB RAM is far more capable device in terms of power than 10 core base with 16GB. 14" base with 32GB = $2400, while base 16 with 16gb is = $2500. All else equal, if you wish to stay with 16GB, then CPU is the last thing that will be a bottleneck in your 14 incher down the road, unless you do utilize those extra cores.
If you do use extra cores consistently, then you already know it and buy accordingly.
There are only few things that will stress all your CPU cores at once all the time. In fact to use that 9th and 10th core effectively, you have to max out all the previous 8 cores, otherwise the difference is not as large like in Benchmarks.

Yeah, the beauty of mini led hdr screen is greatly enhanced with 16 inch. For movies, definitely 16 inch. The only question if it is worth 400-500 to you? I know people can drink $1500 bottle of wine and not blink once, so it is all relative to your budget.

in my country, 14 is priced $500 more than US, while 16 is +$700 to US prices, which will definitely shift the preference of some people.
as dor prices you're accounting taxes aren't you ?

well for my country ,the 14 is priced 545$ higher than the US (2545$,while the 16 is 611$ higher than US (3111)

but ,using student pricing which I have ,the 14 becomes "only" 311$ pricier than us (2311$) while the 16 becomes 299$ more (2799$)


what do u say lol
 
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Yeah, 16 inch is a top tier like mercedes S class. While 14 inch is more like a E class.
Nah fam that analogy makes 0 sense. An S Class and an E Class have completely different internals/tech/power. You cannot spec an E Class to be a more compact S Class.

A better comparison would be the 16" being an S Class and the 14" being an S Class Coupe. Same tech and internals, but one is for people who need extra space, and the other is for people who don't.
 
Alright everyone, the release of the new MacBook Pros is imminent. Assuming that all other factors are equal (storage, RAM, GPU, etc), which size would you prefer and why?
I'm looking at buying, though the SD card slot problems have given me pause. But my issue is use in the car (not when driving! That's what cats are for) and when flying and the scum in the seat ahead (inevitably) reclines 110%. In those circumstances, I want the smaller form factor. Thankfully, Apple made the 14" in nearly the same overall outer size as the intel 13", so my travel photography bag slot will still hold a new 14" MBP and I can easily use it at work.

In terms of battery life, high power mode etc etc, the 16" makes more sense. For a desktop replacement, the 16" would easily be my choice. But I have iMacs at home and work and my MBP is my often-used mobile device so 14" makes much more sense - for me.
 
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I'm looking at buying, though the SD card slot problems have given me pause. But my issue is use in the car (not when driving! That's what cats are for) and when flying and the scum in the seat ahead (inevitably) reclines 110%. In those circumstances, I want the smaller form factor. Thankfully, Apple made the 14" in nearly the same overall outer size as the intel 13", so my travel photography bag slot will still hold a new 14" MBP and I can easily use it at work.

In terms of battery life, high power mode etc etc, the 16" makes more sense. For a desktop replacement, the 16" would easily be my choice. But I have iMacs at home and work and my MBP is my often-used mobile device so 14" makes much more sense - for me.

I would agree - if I would not expect to travel and I worked at home without a remote monitor, the 16" would be the way to go.
 
16" would be my choice if it is both my work and personal computer.

Since I have a separate work laptop, I opted for the 14"
 
Tried 14“ and 16“ and for me everything is too small. I know that I can change resolution within settings. But then I get blurry text.

Don’t know why they went they high. But I’m my opinion it’s too much ppi.
 
Tried 14“ and 16“ and for me everything is too small. I know that I can change resolution within settings. But then I get blurry text.

Don’t know why they went they high. But I’m my opinion it’s too much ppi.
have u ever used MacBooks before ?

I mean have you ever used MacBook pro ,be it Intel or AS ? used MBA M1 maybe ?

because afaik none of the previous macs ever had 2* retina scaling.what does this mean? it means that the blurriness you're talking about when using different scaling should be just as noticeable with the default scaling of any MacBook BUT 2021's pros
 
Using a 2013 15” retina MBP and a 2020 13” MBP M1.

Both have better (bigger fonts) when doubling the pixels.

To compare the 2021 they’re smaller as they’re going higher in ppi.
 
but those bigger fonts aren't 2* scaling are they?
M1 2020 13" MBP:
- Native: 2560 x 1600
- I go for 1280 x 800 > so 2* yes

2013 15" MBP Retina:
- Native: 2880×1800
- I go for 1440 x 900 > so 2* yes

The old MBP and the 2020 models did have other PPIs so you could get better native 2* resolution instead of something between with the new 2021 models.

If you select a resolution close to the old models you don't get that sharp details, as it's not 2*
 
I've been using a 14" for the last five days after having a 16" for the last couple of months. Some random thoughts which someone might find useful. All are just my subjective opinions obviously....

  • 14" screen is a nice size increase from the 13" ones we're all used-to.
  • If you want multiple windows open from different apps on the same screen/space, the 16" is WAY better. Even just two windows from an app side-by-side works so much better on the 16".
  • 14" screen scaled for smaller text doesn't really give much more usable space.
  • I've said it many times before, but its the footprint of the 16" which I find most restrictive if I'm working on the move or in a cramped place. I don't find weight an issue unless I'm trying to carry it one-handed with the screen open for some reason - going from room to room while not wanting to put it to sleep for example.
  • I find typing on both very comfortable but the relative location of the keyboard due to the size of the casing makes them both different. If you try a different size to what you're used-to using while in the store, I can totally see why you might think its uncomfortable or the case is hurting your wrists or whatever.
  • Both can be comfortably used on my lap if I'm not at my desk or I'm sitting on the sofa. Both can be balanced on the arm of a sofa quite happily although your mileage may vary depending on the size of your sofa arms ?. The 14 is obviously much smaller & lighter so easier to move around.
  • Speakers on the 14" are great, but they're even better on a 16".
  • I've done a lot of video calls on both laptops using the internal mics and have had positive comments on my audio quality on each model which I thought was interesting as I'd normally use headphones.
  • One of the reasons I wanted a 16" machine was because I wanted the option to work on it for extended periods of time without needing an external monitor. It fulfils this role very well and I'd often find myself just using it without a monitor in different locations. Let's face it, there's no downside to having a larger screen on a laptop when you're sitting in front of it.
 
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I've been using a 14" for the last five days after having a 16" for the last couple of months. Some random thoughts which someone might find useful. All are just my subjective opinions obviously....

  • 14" screen is a nice size increase from the 13" ones we're all used-to.
  • If you want multiple windows open from different apps on the same screen/space, the 16" is WAY better. Even just two windows from an app side-by-side works so much better on the 16".
  • 14" screen scaled for smaller text doesn't really give much more usable space.
  • I've said it many times before, but its the footprint of the 16" which I find most restrictive if I'm working on the move or in a cramped place. I don't find weight an issue unless I'm trying to carry it one-handed with the screen open for some reason - going from room to room while not wanting to put it to sleep for example.
  • I find typing on both very comfortable but the relative location of the keyboard due to the size of the casing makes them both different. If you try a different size to what you're used-to using while in the store, I can totally see why you might think its uncomfortable or the case is hurting your wrists or whatever.
  • Both can be comfortably used on my lap if I'm not at my desk or I'm sitting on the sofa. Both can be balanced on the arm of a sofa quite happily although your mileage may vary depending on the size of your sofa arms 😀. The 14 is obviously much smaller & lighter so easier to move around.
  • Speakers on the 14" are great, but they're even better on a 16".
  • I've done a lot of video calls on both laptops using the internal mics and have had positive comments on my audio quality on each model which I thought was interesting as I'd normally use headphones.
boy,what a comment !

amazing thank u
 
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