Help Deciding between 13" and 15"

[Cashmonee]

I have read a few threads on this but have not come across anything that helps with my situation.

I bought a 13" i7/16/1TB model a week ago today, and so far I like it. However, I spent $2709 on it before taxes and AppleCare+ and realize that I can get a 15" i7/16/512 for $2599 before taxes and AppleCare+. With difference in AppleCare+ pricing, the 15" would be slightly cheaper. So I am questioning keeping the 13" or going with the 15".

Here is my specific situation.

I currently have a 2017 13" MacBook Pro issued by work that I could use for personal things if I wanted to, but I do not like to. I also have a 2013 13" MacBook Pro (this is what is being replaced, and is being handed down to my wife) and a 10.5" iPad Pro. The MacBook Pro I am purchasing would spend most of its time docked to a 27" 1440p monitor through a HengeDocks Stone and undocked on my lap on a couch or chair. On rare occasions, I may take the laptop out of the house, but it is not common, and will be less so when I complete my master's degree in a few months. When I work, I tend to prefer to do it in my home office.

I am thinking the 15" may be the way to go since it is more powerful and portability outside of the house seems less important. Do you 15" owners find it lappable? Does the 2.6 i7 get any hotter in the 15" making lap use less desirable?

 

[Ploki]

I think (or hope) that the i7 upgrade on the 13" is not worth it (hence i didn't buy it) and in that case the 13" vs 15" spec/for/spec makes much more sense.
(Your post in another thread made me question whether that's true, regarding i5 vs i7. )

If you have a work laptop, why not a desktop?

15" will use discrete graphics on external display, and it will *not* be as quiet, and in my experience it's not as lappable as the 13".

I went from 2012 15" to 2018 i9 (fully upgraded except 2TB drive) to Mini+13" and the 15" was not nearly as comfy in lap as the 13" is.

I also think that the 2018 models, 13" turned out a bit better than the 15".

Question is, whether you need the additional two cores (and dGPU) of the 15"?

When i ditched the CPU I got a Mini for the CPU heavy lifting so the macbook can have less power.

 

[Cashmonee]

I had a 2018 mini as well. Ultimately, the decision to not get a desktop comes down to being able to be mobile within my home. I will choose a macOS device over iOS whenever I can, so the iPad Pro has not filled that home portability niche for me. When I had the mini, I felt confined to my desk because if given the choice between the mini or the 2013 MBP, I would want to choose the machine that I just got and was faster, more fun to use. That is why I exchanged the mini for this 2018 13".

As for power needs, suffice it to say the 13" is probably overpowered for my needs. I got it because the stores carry it. I do not really need a dGPU. I have a Windows 10 machine with an RX580, a PS4 Pro, and a Nintendo Switch. So for gaming, I am set. My computer needs are web, word processing, excel, and Lightroom. So a dGPU wouldn't really help there.

This is more about value I think for me. If the 15" matches my limited portability requirements, wouldn't it be better to get the more powerful machine and save $20ish?

 

[Ploki]

This is more about value I think for me. If the 15" matches my limited portability requirements, wouldn't it be better to get the more powerful machine and save $20ish?

You will also have less SSD, so stat per stat price difference isn't as huge.
And stationed 15" will get loud because of the discrete graphics, more so than the 13", and 13" seems to run cooler.

Based on your needs (and if you're willing to settle for 512GB SSD as it seems) going with the same config as I have (13" i5/16/512) would save you 700$. And i love using it on the couch. much more than the 15".

 

[dapa0s]

What do you do on your macbook? Do you need a dedicated gpu?

I would definitely recommend the 13 inch considering your situation. Sometimes bigger is better, but since you use an external screen all the time, I would definitely go with the 13.

15 is better if you ditch the screen, and just use the screen on the macbook all the time.

 

[Cashmonee]

You will also have less SSD, so stat per stat price difference isn't as huge.
And stationed 15" will get loud because of the discrete graphics, more so than the 13", and 13" seems to run cooler.

Based on your needs (and if you're willing to settle for 512GB SSD as it seems) going with the same config as I have (13" i5/16/512) would save you 700$. And i love using it on the couch. much more than the 15".

I am ok with the cost for the i7. I know it is totally unnecessary, but I have no plans on returning the 13" for a different configuration. The decision is between the 13" i7/16/1 and 15" 2.6 i7/16/512

What do you do on your macbook? Do you need a dedicated gpu?

I would definitely recommend the 13 inch considering your situation. Sometimes bigger is better, but since you use an external screen all the time, I would definitely go with the 13.

15 is better if you ditch the screen, and just use the screen on the macbook all the time.

Web browsing (obviously), word processing, excel, and Lightroom. I do not really need as much power as my 13" has and the 15" would be even more overkill.

The question really is, can the 15" be used in the lap as comfortably as the 13"? If so, then I think it is a no-brainer to go 15". However, if the 15" gets significantly hotter and is louder on the desk and uncomfortable on the lap, then I am happy to keep the 13".

 

[Ploki]

Based on my (albeit limited) experience with the i9/560X, the 15" is hotter and clunkier to use in a lap. it's also 0.5kg/1lbs heavier. It doesn't seem much, but lifting and moving it with one hand is much more comfortable, because you don't feel like its gonna bend in your hand if nothing else

 

[jerryk]

A 13" with an i5 would work for you. I almost never recommend the i7 for the 13" Not much performance gain for too much money and heat.

If you are really going to use your computer on your lap, then the 15" is not for you. Just the size makes it ungainly for lap use. Same for use in an airplane.

 

[leman]

Do you 15" owners find it lappable?

The 15" is still a very compact laptop. I've been using 15" as my only machine for years and I never had a problem with its portability.

Does the 2.6 i7 get any hotter in the 15" making lap use less desirable?

There should not be any noteworthy differences. All Mac portables will get hot when they are doing something intensive. Doesn't matter whether the 13" or 15" or which CPU is inside. I wouldn't keep them on my lap if I need to push the laptop (this includes playing games), but for text work/reading/browsing, its perfectly fine.

 

[MacNut]

I've only used 15" laptops and have never had a problem using them on my lap.

 

[Ploki]

There should not be any noteworthy differences. All Mac portables will get hot when they are doing something intensive. Doesn't matter whether the 13" or 15" or which CPU is inside. I wouldn't keep them on my lap if I need to push the laptop (this includes playing games), but for text work/reading/browsing, its perfectly fine.

I... disagree. sorry.
Having used both, 13" is insanely cooler.
The fact that it turns off it's fans and runs at same temperature as the 15" at 2200RPM should be a dead giveaway.
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I've only used 15" laptops and have never had a problem using them on my lap.

it's not a problem; but 13" is just so much better.

 

[Cashmonee]

I've only used 15" laptops and have never had a problem using them on my lap.

Do you have a 2016+ 15"? Do you find the underside to get uncomfortably hot?

 

[MacNut]

Do you have a 2016+ 15"? Do you find the underside to get uncomfortably hot?

The 2010 got warm under heavy use but nothing unbearable. The 2018 has never gotten hot.

 

[dapa0s]

Web browsing (obviously), word processing, excel, and Lightroom. I do not really need as much power as my 13" has and the 15" would be even more overkill.

The question really is, can the 15" be used in the lap as comfortably as the 13"? If so, then I think it is a no-brainer to go 15". However, if the 15" gets significantly hotter and is louder on the desk and uncomfortable on the lap, then I am happy to keep the 13".

I definitely recommend the i5 13 inch considering your needs. It's also by far the coolest out of the new ones from 2018, its fan will barely spin for most of the time you will use it. I'm a big guy, so the 13 inch was even too small for my lap sometimes, and if you have the money to spend, go with the 15 inch, even do it will run considerately hotter and louder and would be an overkill for you.

So if you don't mind the smaller screen size, or consider that a bonus, the 13 inch would be the best device for you.

 

[leman]

I... disagree. sorry.
Having used both, 13" is insanely cooler.
The fact that it turns off it's fans and runs at same temperature as the 15" at 2200RPM should be a dead giveaway.

Runs at the same temperature - that’s the point. Sure, 15” more power hungry components will produce more heat. But there shouldn’t be a large difference in temperatures during similar modes of operation, which is the thing that matters here.

 

[Ploki]

Runs at the same temperature - that’s the point. Sure, 15” more power hungry components will produce more heat. But there shouldn’t be a large difference in temperatures during similar modes of operation, which is the thing that matters here.

It needs 2200rpm for the chip to be the same temperature; and all that additional heat has to go somewhere, either through the back vent or the case (or both)

 

[Cashmonee]

I definitely recommend the i5 13 inch considering your needs. It's also by far the coolest out of the new ones from 2018, its fan will barely spin for most of the time you will use it. I'm a big guy, so the 13 inch was even too small for my lap sometimes, and if you have the money to spend, go with the 15 inch, even do it will run considerately hotter and louder and would be an overkill for you.

So if you don't mind the smaller screen size, or consider that a bonus, the 13 inch would be the best device for you.

Well, believe it or not, my wife will not let me return my i7 13" for the i5. The upgrade cost to the i7 for me was $230, which is still too much, but she is adamant that if I stay with the 13", I am keeping what I have (i7/16/1). I do like having a 1 TB drive, so ideally I would get the i5/16/1.

I am purposely using my 13" on my lap today to get a feeling for whether I would want something larger or not, and I have to say, I think the 15" may end up too large for my lap. I am not a big guy at 5'7" 160lbs. The 13" generally fits my lap in most all seating positions and I think if I went with the larger machine it wouldn't.

 

[dapa0s]

Well, believe it or not, my wife will not let me return my i7 13" for the i5. The upgrade cost to the i7 for me was $230, which is still too much, but she is adamant that if I stay with the 13", I am keeping what I have (i7/16/1). I do like having a 1 TB drive, so ideally I would get the i5/16/1.

I am purposely using my 13" on my lap today to get a feeling for whether I would want something larger or not, and I have to say, I think the 15" may end up too large for my lap. I am not a big guy at 5'7" 160lbs. The 13" generally fits my lap in most all seating positions and I think if I went with the larger machine it wouldn't.

Great, then the 13'' sounds like a great option for you. My girlfriend is 5'6'' and she loved using the 13'', especially since it's much lighter, so it's easier to carry around and hold on your lap. Definitely try going for the i5, it is a very strong CPU - check out the benchmarks, is it really worth the $230 for such an incremental performance boost, considering what you will use it for? And remember, it will still run somewhat hotter and louder, while with the i5 you can basically never hear the fans on normal use.

Good luck with convincing your wife though

 

[Cashmonee]

Great, then the 13'' sounds like a great option for you. My girlfriend is 5'6'' and she loved using the 13'', especially since it's much lighter, so it's easier to carry around and hold on your lap. Definitely try going for the i5, it is a very strong CPU - check out the benchmarks, is it really worth the $230 for such an incremental performance boost, considering what you will use it for? And remember, it will still run somewhat hotter and louder, while with the i5 you can basically never hear the fans on normal use.

Good luck with convincing your wife though

Other than cost, is there any real downside to keeping the i7?

 

[Ploki]

Other than cost, is there any real downside to keeping the i7?

I don't think so.
it's an extremely similar chip, i5 i suspect would run a little cooler (as cooler as it's slower) and due to more constraint turbo doesn't heat up as fast, but aside Cache and some GHz the two chips are identical.