Help me decide between 13 and 15 inch models.

[semistandard]

I know this question has been asked more than once, I am still asking it again.
It is my first time getting a mac - I want to get one to be able to build iOS apps including games.

My requirements.
1. Should be able to run Unity and Unreal Engine 4 smoothly for iOS related stuff - which means working inside the engine should not lag, compile times should be sane and I need to be able to test the game play of the stuff I build on the laptop itself. These are the most graphically intensive things I plan to do at the moment with the machine.
2. Portability. I know it sounds stupid... but I spend a lot of time in buses (sometimes up to 2 hours a day) so I need the laptop to be light enough and not overheat when working on my lap (coding and editing latex documents). My computer usually rests on the desk at home or at my office - however having the ability to work in the bus would be really nice.
3. Surface temperatures must not get too hot when doing the things I've described to the point they are not comfortable to work with.

I want to pick either 13 inch with 512 SSD and 16 Ram (i5 model) or 15 base model with SSD upgrade to 512 ( I don't plan to upgrade anything else because of budget limitations - 15 model is already very expensive).
I already have powerful laptop with Geforce 1060 which I plan to keep that can handle pretty much anything I throw at it. so getting a dGPU inside mac is not critical - portability and sane temps are more important. I can and plan to use my current machine for the stuff that really requires dGPU.

If I've got it right - iGPU should handle the Unity editor fine. However I'd like to hear whether it can handle UE4 for (iOS only - I have my other machine for other platforms).

So if 13 inch can handle UE4 for iOS without me willing to pull my hair off, I will probably pick the 13 model.
On the other hand the 15 model is light enough to be usable on the lap and doesn't overheat when doing basic stuff - coding, editing documents, watching videos (listening to music mostly - however it requires me to open Youtube...) I might consider it too.

 

[sosumi99]

I can't comment on the specific performance and heat aspects, but I can say that having worked on both older 13 inch and 15 inch versions for iOS development that using Xcode/IB on the 13 inch was not the most pleasant of experiences. I absolutely needed every inch of screen real estate I could get. As for using it on the lap on a bus, the 15-inch is bigger but not significantly more awkward to handle.

 

[semistandard]

Well, the "using on the lap part" is not critical, but as I've said it would be nice to have.
However, I'd be like to hear more about heat management.
I really hate my machine overheating. How's the thermal management on the new macs?
I've heard temps hitting 100c under load? Is this typical behavior for both 15 and 13 models? Or 13 inch models are better in this sense?
Can the temps made descent by tweaking the fans / undervolting? And how do the temps affect the normal user? Is the laptop still comfortable to use under load? (I think compiling can be considered as "load" and it takes several minutes sometimes...). Some people said that 13 inch model is barely heating, while 15 inch model is hot to touch even when idling.

 

[maflynn]

Should be able to run Unity and Unreal Engine 4 smoothly

I would think a dGPU would be the best fit for that requirement, but the content of your post seems like you already made up your mind for the 13" model.

Some people said that 13 inch model is barely heating, while 15 inch model is hot to touch even when idling.

I've seen the opposite, both models increased the number of cores, by 2, but in the 13" case, you have a smaller enclosure. My 2.2GHz MBP is currently running at 45c in clamshell mode, driving a 24" monitor. I'm not doing much other then posting here at MR, running excel and connecting to my work computer remotely.

I prefer the 15" given the larger display size, more powerful CPU, and the inclusion of GPU. Since you already have laptop with a 1060, and the content of your OP is posting how you like the mobility the 13" offers, I think you're already leaning towards that model anyways.

 

[semistandard]

I would think a dGPU would be the best fit for that requirement, but the content of your post seems like you already made up your mind for the 13" model.

Actually not, that's why I am asking In general I like my nanorobots to be big
There are few possibilities: One is that both of them can handle it, second is that 15 inch can handle it because of dGPU and 13 can't and the third one is that both of them can't because let's admit it - the dGPU on 15 inch model is pretty crap.
In third case I'll probably need to get eGPU at some point or just use the Mac to compile and it makes the part 1 irrelevant.

I've seen the opposite, both models increased the number of cores, by 2, but in the 13" case, you have a smaller enclosure. My 2.2GHz MBP is currently running at 45c in clamshell mode, driving a 24" monitor. I'm not doing much other then posting here at MR, running excel and connecting to my work computer remotely.

I prefer the 15" given the larger display size, more powerful CPU, and the inclusion of GPU. Since you already have laptop with a 1060, and the content of your OP is posting how you like the mobility the 13" offers, I think you're already leaning towards that model anyways.

About the portability part - 1.8kg should be portable enough, my current machine is about 1kg heavier... It's not that carrying it around or working at the places that are not my office or home is fun, but doable when needed. I guess 15 inch MBP would be much more portable than that. If someone can confirm that 15 inch model doesn't heat up (under load) to the point it is uncomfortable to work with, I think I will probably get it actually.
If its temperatures are can be lowered with fan control and undervolting - even better.

 

[maflynn]

In general I like my nanorobots to be big

Nanorobots??

If someone can confirm that 15 inch model doesn't heat up (under load) to the point it is uncomfortable to work with

If you're pushing the 15" to the point where the temps are hitting the 80s and 90s, which isn't that difficult, the bottom of the laptop is going to be comfortable. I don't believe you'll be able to use it on your lap. If it's on a desk, then that's fine.

 

[semistandard]

Nanorobots??

Stupid joke - never mind.

If you're pushing the 15" to the point where the temps are hitting the 80s and 90s, which isn't that difficult, the bottom of the laptop is going to be comfortable. I don't believe you'll be able to use it on your lap. If it's on a desk, then that's fine.

As I've said - lap issue is not critical. And I hope that editing latex documents / reading research papers (work related stuff that I'd be like to be able to do on a bus) doesn't cause it to hit 80s and 90s... Otherwise its POS machine (sorry to say that aloud).
I've heard however, some people complaining that the keyboard gets hot when it is stressed. I don't know, may be they've got faulty ones... May be it's an actual issue. I'd like to hear more opinions / personal experiences on that.

 

[automan98]

I went with the 13 inch because I use an external monitor 95% of the time and didn't want the extra weight of the 15 when I was remote.

 

[semistandard]

I've ordered 13 inch model and now having second thoughts...
Perhaps be I should cancel the order and get 15 inch instead?
If there is not much difference in heat / noise between the models, 15 inch model seems like better bang for the buck, being faster, having slightly better battery and larger screen and all, while still being smaller than your average 15 inch laptop.

Suggestions?

 

[macintoshmac]

I've ordered 13 inch model and now having second thoughts...
Perhaps be I should cancel the order and get 15 inch instead?
If there is not much difference in heat / noise between the models, 15 inch model seems like better bang for the buck, being faster, having slightly better battery and larger screen and all, while still being smaller than your average 15 inch laptop.

Suggestions?

Since already ordered, try it for the 14 days' window and if you feel like it, return and get the 15.

 

[semistandard]

Unfortunately I am not sure that it is even an option for me.
I am not buying it directly from Apple - however I get nice discount + 3 years old warranty this way.
On the other hand, I am not sure whether I am allowed to return it, and even if I can, there's lot of bureaucracy / paperwork involved. From the moment I order until I get one it is probably a bit more than month. Returning one and ordering another will probably take even longer.