2019 MBP 16inch or wait for the 2020 MBP 14inch?

[unusualpanda]

Hi there! I am hoping for some guidance as I find myself in a bit of a tough spot. I am in the market for a new laptop and am having a hard time deciding between the current 16inch iteration and the one that is rumored to be coming out in a few months.

At first I was pretty set on getting the 16inch base model but then I started seeing information about the new 14inch that is coming out and the possible mini LED screen etc. and I was hoping for more informed opinions about whether you all think the 2020 MBP 14/16inch will be a pretty huge upgrade screen wise or in any other capacity.

Is it worth getting the 16inch MBP now or waiting for the 14? If the 2020 MBP 16 won't come out until the end of this year I definitely can't wait as I need the lap top at least by July and while I can wait for the 14, it would be slightly pushing it but if it is worth it because the upgrades would be so advanced I will muddle through. (16inches vs. 14inches is a non-issue for me, I would be fine with either)

I would love some feedback since I know most of you here do quite a bit of research and are very up to date on all things Mac-related.

 

[AustinIllini]

Honestly, only you can answer that. We can't really speculate on the future of products especially in this environment.

Based on what little (we think) we know, I would make a decision: Do you want a 16" more than you want a 13" or 14" (could be either)?

If the answer is yes, buy the 16" now (maybe even from the refurb store). If the answer is no, hold off until a 13" or 14" successor is released.

 

[Scorcher]

It all depends on the size of laptop you prefer. if you wan a 16 inch you should get it now. Performance increase from one generation to another is never substantial (not anymore at least). If you want a smaller laptop Than you should definitely wait. The current 13 MacBook Pro still has the butterfly keyboard and that’s a bad keyboard, so don’t get that. I think you should wait a couple of months and see if they update the 13 inch MacBook. If not and you have to get a computer than get the 16 inch, or possible the MacBook Air.

 

[drxcm]

In the same boat- all the threads about the 16 kernal panics, restarts, GPU switching lag, etc have put me off. I’m on a late 2016 13” which just had a keyboard replacement / screen replacement under warranty a few months ago (basically they just kept the internals, and I got an entirely new body). I can wait and will either get the next iteration of the 16” or the rumoured 14” - whichever comes first. 13” has been good, but even 14” would be a big step up.

 

[mikethebigo]

In the same boat- all the threads about the 16 kernal panics, restarts, GPU switching lag, etc have put me off. I’m on a late 2016 13” which just had a keyboard replacement / screen replacement under warranty a few months ago (basically they just kept the internals, and I got an entirely new body). I can wait and will either get the next iteration of the 16” or the rumoured 14” - whichever comes first. 13” has been good, but even 14” would be a big step up.

If you think the 14", or the next gen 16", won't come with their own sets of threads about catastrophic problems, then you haven't been around here very long 😉

 

[drxcm]

If you think the 14", or the next gen 16", won't come with their own sets of threads about catastrophic problems, then you haven't been around here very long 😉

Sure - happy to wait and see though. I certainly don’t want a computer that crashes a lot. My current one seems useable for now, until the butterfly keyboard fails again!

Also keen to see newer generation processors, Wifi 6.

Whatever comes, I’m looking to upgrade this year.

 

[throAU]

1. there is always something around the corner, so ignore what is coming in the future for the most part
2. will you be better served by something that is primarily focused on being moved from desk to desk, or will you make use of something actually on your lap or in confined spaces? i.e., ask yourself whether the 16 will be too physically large or not
3. Do you actually regularly do work that pushes for a discrete GPU and 6 cores?

I'd say pick the machine that meets your needs today. Intel have nothing coming that will be appreciably different in performance to the current 13 or 16 inch pro machines. Maybe the 13-14 will get a better integrated GPU but it won't make up the difference (nowhere near) to the 16 in performance.

If it's a performance question then the answer is clear: get the 16 if you need that level of performance.

If its a size question... only you can answer that.


Personally, I prefer the 13 inch form factor for laptops (I've had several of both, and other sizes). But I use them as laptops, not desktop replacements. YMMV.

 

[recoil80]

Had a similar doubt and went for the 16''. There are good deals, and you can find it on the refurbished store as well.
I'll tell you my reasoning.
First: I'm working from home right now, the sooner I get the laptop, the better. The 14'' maybe will be launched this summer, maybe during the fall, who knows?
Second: there isn't a huge difference in weight. Maybe the Air is lighter, but in my experience it doesn't make a huge difference. An iPad is a much lighter device while on the go, if you can be productive with iOS. Otherwise for some more weight you get a bigger display, that helps a lot while working.
Third: the 16 base model has good specs, just like the 15. It starts with 16GB of RAM and 512 of storage. We don't know about the 14 yet, but the 13 only starts with 8GB of RAM and once you spec it up you spend pretty much like the 16 anyway.

 

[robbiemc]

For what its worth, I've just taken delivery of a brand new 16" base model and it exhibits none of the issues discussed on this forum.
I have mine connected to an external 4k monitor and it's running very nicely indeed.
Remember, people come to forums to ask for help with issues, not to post 'My new product is working perfectly'. Hope this helps!

 

[drxcm]

For what its worth, I've just taken delivery of a brand new 16" base model and it exhibits none of the issues discussed on this forum.

This makes me even more concerned it's not a software issue

 

[joelhinch]

This makes me even more concerned it's not a software issue

Yep. Because there are issues, issues that are very black and white easy to reproduce such as exhorbant dGPU usage when connect to external monitor and kernel panics during sleep.

 

[throAU]

Second: there isn't a huge difference in weight. Maybe the Air is lighter, but in my experience it doesn't make a huge difference.

It's not the weight.

Both aren't that heavy, but 13" machines fit on aircraft economy tray tables (and other small places). 15" plus machine do not. They're physically too large to be able to open the lid properly to a usable angle given the available space to the seat in front (for example).

 

[recoil80]

It's not the weight.

Both aren't that heavy, but 13" machines fit on aircraft economy tray tables (and other small places). 15" plus machine do not. They're physically too large to be able to open the lid properly to a usable angle given the available space to the seat in front (for example).

I only seldom take a plane and would use an iPad during a flight, I've tried to work on a train with the 15'' and it is possible, but it depends on the train I guess.
I'd say if you fly frequently or need to work during the daily commute on the train maybe the 13" is a better choice if you really need macOS, otherwise I think the iPad is a better choice, much lighter and smaller if you pick the 11''.

 

[Techwatcher]

If you were considering the MBP 2019 16" then you might as well wait for the MBP 2020 16" which is going to be Mini-LED.

 

[melman101]

I was in a similar boat, but a little different. My 13" 2016 Touchbar just died completely. So I had to buy one as it's my work machine. So I went for the 16" base model.

 

[PeterJP]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you are. The 16" looks great but an upgraded 13-14" sounds better because of the lack of dGPU. For me that's an advantage because, even with my very eclectic ever-changing workloads over the last 6 years, I never really needed a powerful GPU on this MBP. Less components = less heat (so less that can fail) and less power consumption (so better battery).

I'm going to wait and see if there'll be a May announcement. If not, WWDC is not too far off after that. Then I'll make up my mind.

In the meantime, though, there are some great refurb deals to be had on the 16"

 

[mcpix]

If the new MacBook is indeed 14", I think that will be the perfect size for me. I have a 2015 15.4" MacBook Pro and a 2017 13" MacBook Pro. I much prefer the size and handling of the 13" MBP, but when editing photos, the larger screen size is sometimes nice.

 

[decisions]

If you were considering the MBP 2019 16" then you might as well wait for the MBP 2020 16" which is going to be Mini-LED.

Yeah, at the very least there should be some kind of 16-inch refresh this summer. However the current 16" seems like a fantastic machine and there are some good deals running for it right now. So it's a matter of whether or not you need a laptop right now I think.

 

[Techwatcher]

Yeah, at the very least there should be some kind of 16-inch refresh this summer. However the current 16" seems like a fantastic machine and there are some good deals running for it right now. So it's a matter of whether or not you need a laptop right now I think.

If you need it right now then yes the current 16" is arguably the best MacBook ever created so you won't regret anything.

 

[Christopher Kim]

Third: the 16 base model has good specs, just like the 15. It starts with 16GB of RAM and 512 of storage. We don't know about the 14 yet, but the 13 only starts with 8GB of RAM and once you spec it up you spend pretty much like the 16 anyway.

I agree with this aspect as well. The 13" today feels oddly priced to me - if you upgrade a 13" to 16gb ram / 512gb storage which the base 16" comes with (which I feel is the right balance / almost a minimum to have a machine last a number of years if bought today), it's basically just $100 cheaper than the base 16". But with the base 16", you get a 6-core processor (and at least currently, 9th gen vs 8th gen Intel), a dGPU, and the bigger form factor / screen / better keyboard / speakers, etc.

I do wonder whether a new 14" MBP will increase the base config, as I just feel it's outdated right now in comparison. Unless I really needed / preferred the 13" (which some people do I understand), I would go 16" today almost certainly.

 

[cambookpro]

I agree with this aspect as well. The 13" today feels oddly priced to me - if you upgrade a 13" to 16gb ram / 512gb storage which the base 16" comes with (which I feel is the right balance / almost a minimum to have a machine last a number of years if bought today), it's basically just $100 cheaper than the base 16". But with the base 16", you get a 6-core processor (and at least currently, 9th gen vs 8th gen Intel), a dGPU, and the bigger form factor / screen / better keyboard / speakers, etc.

I do wonder whether a new 14" MBP will increase the base config, as I just feel it's outdated right now in comparison. Unless I really needed / preferred the 13" (which some people do I understand), I would go 16" today almost certainly.

Yeah I imagine the 14”/updated 13” will go to 256/16 or 512/8 as the standard config as it’s getting squeezed not only from the top by the base 16”, but also by the bottom from the new 13” quad-core Air.

 

[BenConlin44]

This is my take on what the £1799 model will offer in terms of features, specs and value

 

[Milgauss]

I really hope thats the case. Day 1 purchase from me if its priced like that

This is my take on what the £1799 model will offer in terms of features, specs and value

 

[deeddawg]

My advice for buying a computer:

Buy when you need to buy, not before.

If you can wait for an upcoming model, then you don't need to buy now.


All that said - it's futile to try to compare an existing model to something you have only rumors and speculation regarding.

Not to mention, the MBP16 vs MBP13-class is a rather different use case in terms of size, weight, screen, and cost.

 

[BenConlin44]

I really hope thats the case. Day 1 purchase from me if its priced like that

From my research I’m pretty sure it’ll have the 512GB I’m still unsure about the 14” screen and the RAM but I think it’s time. It’s been 6 full years since the 15” got 16 as standard also the 14” screen really should be coming. With that being said it is just speculation with some research behind it but I’m hopeful for the coming fortnight that we’ll get something good.