15.4 or 16'' Macbook Pro Users... Are you Sticking with 16'' for Downsizing?

[Starfyre]

As a 16-inch Macbook Pro owner, I feel the machine is already on the borderline for it's weight. For those with a 15.4 or 16-inch like me who are planning to upgrade to M1X, which screen size are you planning to go to?

To me the factors are that are making me think otherwise about going to 16':
- Higher/larger power brick carved from a boulder for 16' >96W...
- Heavier than the current 16' (4.7lbs/4.8lbs for this new model compared to the 4.3lbs for the 202 16'. that is 0.4-0.5lbs heavier)
- Thicker than the 2020 16' (0.66 for this new model vs 0.64).

I know how people like to 'game' polls, so I'll be keeping a tally periodically here based on comments in this thread (that is independent of poll results) so:

Current Results

• 4 Downgrading to 14''
• 3 Going With 16''
• 3 Undecided/Ordering Both to Return 1

 

[tyreze]

I will downsize from 15.4 inch. I think the missing 1.2 Inch is not that bad and if i really need more screen estate while on the go, i will use my iPad Pro 13 inch with Universal Control. The 16 inch model just looks too huge for me to be portable.

 

[UltimateSyn]

I am still undecided. After seeing the “4.7 - 4.8 pounds” on the 16” I am now leaning towards the 14”. That’s a ton of weight. Half pound more than the outgoing 16” and a full .7-.8 pounds more than my former laptop, the 2016 15” MacBook Pro. I’m not necessarily complaining, I understand why the mini-LED panel and everything else pushed the weight up, I’m just saying that may put it outside of my portability stratosphere.

 

[UnexpectedHuman]

I have already preordered a 14" to replace my 2018 15".

I mainly use the laptop in two scenarios: travelling or at a desk with a dock and external monitor. The new 16" models are larger and quite a bit heavier than the my existing laptop, which is already marginal for travel.

The main advantage of the new M1 chips is that there is no compromise in buying the 14" model, other than screen size, battery life, and presumably some increased level of thermal throttling. I ordered the M1 Max with 32 core GPU, 64GB Ram and 4TB of SSD, which will both comfortably outpace my existing laptop for Xcode and Capture One while also being more portable.

 

[rican]

Upgrading with size. I prefer bigger items. 16 inch for me. Previously owned 15.6 2018 mbp.

 

[cycling_pete]

Going from 15 inch 2015 MBP to 16inch M1 Max. My 13inch M1 felt TINY compared to the 15 inch screen, can't imagine I'll regret going with the larger option.

 

[chongsen]

What is the difference between 14 inch and 16 inch beside obviously screen size ?

If stick with M1 PRO, Any advantage to go for 16 inch ? I am really befuddled this year.

 

[Sowelu]

I ordered both the 14" and 16" (same specs) to see which size I prefer. I couldn't make up my mind, but didn't want to waste time pondering as ship dates were slipping fast for the 16".

 

[dead flag blues]

16" all the way.

 

[colinwil]

What is the difference between 14 inch and 16 inch beside obviously screen size ?

If stick with M1 PRO, Any advantage to go for 16 inch ? I am really befuddled this year.

Advantages of the 16” are better battery life. And more internal space=better cooling=less thermal throttling - in theory anyway. Of course no one knows at the moment if throttling will be a thing with either.

The advantages of the 14” are more lighter, more portable, and the battery life is probably “good enough”.

I was going to order the 16”, but the more I think about it, the more the 14” seems the better option for me - especially as I’ll be using it in clamshell mode a lot of the time - so the bigger screen will be mostly wasted.

 

[SpotOnT]

If Apple had a $1K external monitor that supported ProMotion, I would be all over that monitor and the 14". Since such a monitor does not exist, however, I am seriously considering the 16"....

 

[Serban55]

i went for the 16"..its clear it has better thermals since it is a little bit thicker
THe 14" is thinner than the 13" Mbp
So, if you want the M1 Max with 32 gpu cores...and you cannot wait for some others to tell the story, you are more safer with the 16"

 

[Serban55]

so the top of the line 14" will come with not the same brick as the 16"...around 40W less
And i bet the display difference is not for that...so be aware of this

 

[Starfyre]

That power brick of the 16…. Way too big for a GaN.

 

[MrGunny94]

Downsizing from a 16" i9 before I got this M1 Air at launch.

13" is perfectly fine and I'm full remote these days so it doesn't make any sense for me to get the 16" since I'm no longer doing consulting or going to a client site

 

[Strangedream]

Downsizing ... to 16" from a 17" MBP

 

[Anonymous Freak]

I have the 16" Intel MacBook Pro, which should hold me for multiple years. In the past, I have always picked the 15" because there was always a "computing power gap" between large and small. But now with Apple offering the same CPU/GPU in both sizes? I'll probably go for the smallest size that has "full power". Assuming the current 14/16 stays true when I'm ready to replace, it'll be the 14. Heck, if when it's time for me to replace the MacBook Air has the same CPU/GPU as the larger models, I'll probably go for that.