Just an upgrade from my earlier post. Sold my 13", got a 16" and OMG I luuuurve this machine. So much more screen space. Keyboard is miles better. 8 cores makes things very fast indeed. I can even play games if need be. But then if I need battery, longevity, quiet etc I simply run Turbo Boost Switcher Pro to disable turbo boost and I can't even make the fans come and the battery lasts ages yet stuff still run quick as there are many cores to make light work...
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Do you regret going from 13” to 15” or 16”
- Thread starter drober30
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My first Mac was a 13” MacBook Pro, kept it for a year. Then the Retina screens came out. Sold the 13” and bought a mid-2012 MacBook Pro 15” Retina. Best decision. Worth the upgrade price. I travel a couple of times a year, but it was the screen. It was bigger, brighter, much better and the 15” was a much faster performer. I still use the 15” and now with the new 16” and new keyboard, I’m getting the itch to get the new one. But it may be another year as the mid-2012 is still working flawlessly and meets my needs. I use my iPad when I want to read on the couch or in bed. I will never buy a 13” for personal use. My eyes have gotten older and need the bigger screen.
I’ve gone from an 11.6” laptop, to a 2014 MBP 13”, to the MBP 16”. Zero regrets.
I travel frequently (30+ flights/yr), but have learned that I can't get any work done on flights, even on a small laptop. So it's much more important for me to optimize for working at a desk, rather than working on the plane. The extra screen space makes the 16" SO much easier to work on -- and with my 12.9 iPad and sidecar, I've now got a phenomenal portable setup. I've also found the extra weight to be only marginally noticeable, when carrying the MBP in my bag with a whole bunch of other stuff.
One other unexpected benefit is that I find I'm now using the MBP 16" at home (on the couch, etc) far more than was the case with my MBP 13". I'm now much less likely to walk over to the iMac vs. pulling out the MBP 16.
I travel frequently (30+ flights/yr), but have learned that I can't get any work done on flights, even on a small laptop. So it's much more important for me to optimize for working at a desk, rather than working on the plane. The extra screen space makes the 16" SO much easier to work on -- and with my 12.9 iPad and sidecar, I've now got a phenomenal portable setup. I've also found the extra weight to be only marginally noticeable, when carrying the MBP in my bag with a whole bunch of other stuff.
One other unexpected benefit is that I find I'm now using the MBP 16" at home (on the couch, etc) far more than was the case with my MBP 13". I'm now much less likely to walk over to the iMac vs. pulling out the MBP 16.
I found this as well! Much more comfortable on the lap and plenty of support for the wrists. The 13” gave me RSI so I never used it like that.
I replaced my 13" Air with a 16" and my first thought was "this thing is insanely huge" almost to the point I didn't want to keep it but I have more than gotten used to it.
Now I love it.
Now I love it.
And you will likely continue to love it until you try to travel with it, and use it on a plane
As mentioned above, 13 vs. 15/16 depends on your needs and how often you need to use it on the go (as opposed to only unpacking it and setting it up on a desk when you get from point a to point b).
I use my iPad for the planeAnd you will likely continue to love it until you try to travel with it, and use it on a plane
As mentioned above, 13 vs. 15/16 depends on your needs and how often you need to use it on the go (as opposed to only unpacking it and setting it up on a desk when you get from point a to point b).
I'm a writer and always looking for the best platform on which to perform my craft. I lingered with 13" MacBooks for a while, and they were just fine, no problem. I thought I'd be even more likely to grab and go with a laptop if I had the 12", so I bought one. Found it wouldn't sit in my lap without leaning left or right or slipping down too far. I needed it to stay flat. If it were on a table top it behaved, but I'm sometimes in a chair, lounging back, with the laptop in my lap. The 13" worked for that, the 12" didn't. The 12" battery lasted about as long as a Netflix main feature and then died. Not good.
Then I went to a 2014 15" model and it was the best laptop for writing I had ever used. Come 2018 and I had worn it out and bought a new 15" for home plus a 13" for writing out of the house. The 13" was great until I had to write papers with a lot of research involved. Having two or three windows open and working back and forth on a 13" was a PITA. When the 16" came out I sold the 15" and 13" and bought it and use it at home and abroad and so far it has been more beneficial than not. Having the ability to work in a word processor with a Safari window open beside it is a boon to my productivity.
Then I went to a 2014 15" model and it was the best laptop for writing I had ever used. Come 2018 and I had worn it out and bought a new 15" for home plus a 13" for writing out of the house. The 13" was great until I had to write papers with a lot of research involved. Having two or three windows open and working back and forth on a 13" was a PITA. When the 16" came out I sold the 15" and 13" and bought it and use it at home and abroad and so far it has been more beneficial than not. Having the ability to work in a word processor with a Safari window open beside it is a boon to my productivity.
Not sure what field of work you're in or what you're looking to get out of a MacBook but the latest 12.9 iPad Pro basically killed off my 13" MBP. I love that thing. Even with the Smart Keyboard Folio it is so portable and light. I picked up a 16" MBP and the combination with sidecar to me is the perfect set up.
For me the (2015) 13” is the perfect mix of portability and performance. The newer versions being quad core are obviously absurdly capable. I’m not interested in an 8 core system, but a 15” quad core would be great. Even with iGPU. Based on current tech, that would be the same size as my currrent 13” anyway.
