Advice - switch from MBP 16 2019 to new MBP 14?

[interbear]

Hi all - I‘ve had my MBP16 for almost 2 years now. Need to run it in clamshell mode due to the well know heat and fan noise issues when connected to an external monitor. Apple refused to consider this as anything other than “normal behaviour”. I don’t and want to change it. But I’ve been waiting for these new MBPs with the M1 chip before considering swapping it out, given the better performance and heat/noise issues reported with the Apple chips.

Here is the spec of my current MBP 16:

• PROCESSOR - 2.3GHz 8-core Intel Core i9
• GRAPHICS - Radeon Pro 5500M with 4GB GDDR
• MEMORY - 32GB 2666MHz DDR4 memory
• SOLID STATE DRIVE - 1TB SSD

My usage is for work (marketing) and personal. MS Teams calls for much of the day. Heavy use of MS Office apps. Have to use Google Chrome browser for certain workflows not supported on Safari. I do use Safari for personal browsing so usually have multiple tabs open on both browsers. Also use Apple Music while working. Apple Photos used and the SSD is the main storage for family photos (backed up via Time machine and iCloud). No gaming needs. No coding. No video editing. Connected and powered via a USB-C Philips ultra widescreen 34 inch monitor.

I‘m thinking of changing to a new MBP 14 inch because:

• Better heat / noise performance Apple chip v Intel chip.
• Ability to use with MBP screen open when connected to the external monitor to benefit from the flexibility of both screens.
• Integrated 1080 webcam so I can lose the Logitech external webcam.
• More portable, I find the MBP 16 a bit big when on the move.

I‘m looking at the specs and pretty sure that the entry level MBP 14 with 8-core CPU and 14-core GPU with 16 GB of RAM will be fine for my usage. Either with 16 or 32 GB of RAM and either a 1TB or 2TB SSD.

Thoughts? Would the entry level MBP14 be any better or worse than my current MBP16?

 

[marmiteturkey]

I have the same laptop and I thought Apple fixed the external monitor issue with a firmware update? I certainly don't experience any issues running my 5k Ultrafine with the laptop open.

That said, I've ordered a 14in 1tb model because:
I love the miniLED promotion screen on my iPad Pro and want the same
my laptop needs have changed since I bought this pre pandemic
much, much faster
never had great battery on the 16in (I got about 4 hours yesterday)
I use the webcam constantly when out and about (of course)
trade in was good, and I have until dec to use an education discount, so this is the best time for me to buy.

YMMV of course

 

[interbear]

I have the same laptop and I thought Apple fixed the external monitor issue with a firmware update? I certainly don't experience any issues running my 5k Ultrafine with the laptop open.

That said, I've ordered a 14in 1tb model because:
I love the miniLED promotion screen on my iPad Pro and want the same
my laptop needs have changed since I bought this pre pandemic
much, much faster
never had great battery on the 16in (I got about 4 hours yesterday)
I use the webcam constantly when out and about (of course)
trade in was good, and I have until dec to use an education discount, so this is the best time for me to buy.

YMMV of course

Well done on your new MBP

With the screen up and not in clamshell mode my MBP16 still sounds like an aircraft taking off when things start getting busy. Or randomly, in fact, when connected to the external monitor. Fine when not connected to a monitor, other than battery life as you note.

So which spec did you go for?

 

[dallegre]

I have a 2019 16" i7, no heat issues, and I'm tempted. If I had the heat issues that you're experiencing I think I'd definitely jump. I also do really like the 14" size (use a 14" Dell for my day job)...I think it's ideal for portability when you have an external monitor for work/home. Kind of best of both words.

That said, I'm interested to see benchmarks for the different configs and RAM levels. If you're going from 36GB total system RAM to 16GB Unified, I might be a little hesitant to make that move, but the throughput might make up for it?

 

[interbear]

I have a 2019 16" i7, no heat issues, and I'm tempted. If I had the heat issues that you're experiencing I think I'd definitely jump. I also do really like the 14" size (use a 14" Dell for my day job)...I think it's ideal for portability when you have an external monitor for work/home. Kind of best of both words.

That said, I'm interested to see benchmarks for the different configs and RAM levels. You'd be going from 36GB total system RAM to 16GB Unified. I might be a little hesitant to make that move, but the throughput might make up for it?

Same reason why I am considering the new MBP 14 inch. I'm also tempted to splurge on the 32GB RAM option actually as that's what I have on the MBP 16 and it would reassure me that I wasn't going backwards It's not cheap but if I spent on a new MBP 14 and felt it even slightly slower than my current machine, I'd be a tad frustrated!

 

[marmiteturkey]

Well done on your new MBP

With the screen up and not in clamshell mode my MBP16 still sounds like an aircraft taking off when things start getting busy. Or randomly, in fact, when connected to the external monitor. Fine when not connected to a monitor, other than battery life as you note.

So which spec did you go for?

You're right, I do get the whirring fans sometimes and I won't miss them - usually when on a Teams call and slide sharing plus note-taking etc. But it's not that common, and it's within the bounds of acceptability for a laptop working hard.

I went for 14in 1tb 16gb 10 core Pro - only real question is whether to have gone for 32gb RAM, but I think it's not worth the £400 for me tbh. The only reason to go up would be to try to get more years' service out of it - and if I do that I start being tempted by the 2tb SSD, and then we're pushing £3k and I'll want to upgrade in 4-5 yrs in any case... so am resisting!

Looking forward to going back to a slightly more portable laptop - when I bought the 16 it was a companion to my iMac, but since lockdown it's been my daily driver with an external monitor, and it's just a bit larger and heavier than I like to carry around. I always have my iPad Pro with me too, and using that as a second monitor is great, so the 12.9 plus the 14in is going to be a really powerful, flexible office.