Experiences of people downgrading sizes successfully? (16/15 to 13)

[Qedty]

I picked up a refurb 16 inch for a good deal i7 , 1TB , 5500M graphics for $2289 Which would be roughly $2469 with education discount.

The Best Buy 13 inch is now $1599 which is pretty enticing, being $200 off of a brand new release.

I've always wanted to try and do a 13 inch but every time I use them for short amount of time I think the screen is too small and just nix the idea immediately. But the idea of more portability is great (being an adult student / working) when it comes to lugging my 15 inch all last year to campus after work. So my dilemma is obviously the mental procrastination of comparing, rather than my needs.

So, Questions (for those that have gone smaller):

Were you able to adapt to smaller size or did you go back bigger?
Do you use the 13 as your primary computer?
Is the 13 as functional for work and school just as much as higher sizes?

And any general experiences appreciated!

 

[Dhock_Holiday]

I went from the base 16 inch MBP to the base 13 inch MBP. I'm not a content creator by any means so I don't have any need for a portable laptop with a dedicated GPU nor do I need the additional cores. I also find the 13 inch much more portable and easy to carry than the 16 inch, but keep in mind I have a powerful workstation at home for virtualization and gaming.

But if I was you and this is going to be your primary computer you should probably just stick with the more powerful 16 inch MBP

 

[adrianlondon]

Went from the 15" to the 13". I was planning to buy a usb-c monitor but so far haven't bothered and don't think I will in the future either. I'm running at 1680x1050.

 

[UBS28]

Keep the 16", that is a pretty good price. Especially if it is your only computer.

I got the 13" to replace my 12.9 iPad Pro basically. I still have the 15" 2018 MBP but it is not used so much due to being less portable. But neither are my primary computers.

 

[iRun26.2]

If you're used to a 16", I think it would be hard to downgrade to the 13.3".

 

[maflynn]

I went from 15 to a 13 gotten factor and I pretty much regretted that decision almost immediately. I really missed the extra screen real estate

 

[unoporfavor]

If you're used to a 16", I think it would be hard to downgrade to the 13.3".

I have reduced laptop size. I don't think I'll go back to the larger screen. It's less portable and no substitute for any external monitor.

 

[benredacted]

For a while I had a 15" MBP at work and a 13" at home, although now I just have a 13". When I had both, every time I picked up the 13" I was amazed at how light it was. I often carried around my 15" in a backpack, but whenever I swapped with the 13", the backpack felt impossibly light. The weight difference is only a pound, so you wouldn't think it'd be so noticeable, especially with all the other stuff in my backpack, but it really was.

I think the real question is whether you value the dedicated GPU and larger screen. If you go with the 13", you could use the money you save to buy a large monitor for home. However, if you need a large screen while on-the-go, then obviously you should stick with the 16". Same goes for the dGPU. When doing basic email/note-taking/web browsing on the 13", the smaller screen is fine and I've never missed the 15", but it's really about your workflow and what you need while away from home (if we're ever allowed to leave home again ).

 

[unoporfavor]

I went from 15 to a 13 gotten factor and I pretty much regretted that decision almost immediately. I really missed the extra screen real estate

Have you considered an external monitor? Life changing. You'll soon realise how small the 15/16" is, and is much less portable.

 

[jgorman]

For a primary computer, I would not go from a 16 to a 13.

If you are used to a 16, I think you will be disappointed with the 13's smaller screen, thermals and performance.

 

[maflynn]

Have you considered an external monitor? Life changing. You'll soon realise how small the 15/16" is, and is much less portable.

Yes, I use an external monitor when I'm home but the small factor was limiting when I'm mobile.

I find commuting or traveling worth my 15" laptop to be fine

 

[unoporfavor]

Yes, I use an external monitor when I'm home but the small factor was limiting when I'm mobile.

I find commuting or traveling worth my 15" laptop to be fine

Fair enough. I hate the 15" on the road. Too awkward to cycle with, can't use on a plane or train, or even on your lap comfortably.
At clients I usually have access to a monitor though so that minimises the screen real estate loss
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For a primary computer, I would not go from a 16 to a 13.

If you are used to a 16, I think you will be disappointed with the 13's smaller screen, thermals and performance.

Depends on what you are doing with it. I have not found any of the above an issue.

 

[russell_314]

There is no rule to my knowledge against having both a 13" and 16" MacBook Pro. Carry the 13" when you don't feel like lugging the larger one around. All files will sync between both if you have it setup correctly

 

[unoporfavor]

There is no rule to my knowledge against having both a 13" and 16" MacBook Pro. Carry the 13" when you don't feel like lugging the larger one around. All files will sync between both if you have it setup correctly

That's expensive way to do it and still a massive compromise compared to an external monitor.

 

[iRun26.2]

Have you considered an external monitor? Life changing. You'll soon realise how small the 15/16" is, and is much less portable.

If I didn’t have a 32” 4K monitor I think the choice for me would be much harder. The better screen won’t be as hard to miss.

I don’t care about the iGPU. The only thing pushes me to the 16” is the extra processing power. I think I can live with the trade off of less power for portability.

I’m coming from a 12” MacBook (with only a dual-core) so the fast quad core should be a significant improvement as it is. It won’t be as fast for computationally involved tasks but I won’t be pushing it hard all of the time.
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That's expensive way to do it and still a massive compromise compared to an external monitor.

Agreed! My 4K monitor is SO nice! How did I get by without it?

 

[jerryk]

I had/have a 13" and a 16". I just sent my base 13 back to get the Besy Buy $1599 version.

The difference is pretty obvious. The 13" screen does look much smaller. By comparison the 16" screen looks huge and feels like a lot more room. But, then there is weight and size of the 16" The 16 feels huge in comparison. The difference is very noticeable it you move from place to place.

 

[pshufd]

I keep a 15 and 13 in the living room with one on the charger. The 13 is work-issue and the 15 is personal but I can use either for work. Sometimes one needs to be charged so I then just grab the one that's charged and put the other on the charger. I use EasyRes and I use both laptops at resolutions from 1680x1050 to 2560x1600. I could live with the 13 as the only model though it wouldn't be as comfortable at 2560x1600.

My office setup is another MBP 15 hooked up to 4K and QHD monitors in the basement and a Windows Desktop hooked up to another 4K monitor.
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If I didn’t have a 32” 4K monitor I think the choice for me would be much harder. The better screen won’t be as hard to miss.

I don’t care about the iGPU. The only thing pushes me to the 16” is the extra processing power. I think I can live with the trade off of less power for portability.

I’m coming from a 12” MacBook (with only a dual-core) so the fast quad core should be a significant improvement as it is. It won’t be as fast for computationally involved tasks but I won’t be pushing it hard all of the time.
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Agreed! My 4K monitor is SO nice! How did I get by without it?

One current downside is the cost of monitors right now. I bought a Dell 28 inch 4k last year for $330. Same model is $630 at the moment. I guess everyone is buying monitors for their home offices.