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Is there anyone out there who actually prefers using their 15" MacBook Pro over the new 16" MacBook Pro?

Hieveryone

Hieveryone

macrumors 603
Original poster
Apr 11, 2014
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USA
I own both the 2019 15" base model as well as the 2019 16" base model.

I find the 15" to be the better user experience overall.

Anyone else prefer their 15" over the 16"?
 
I'm sure you'll find people who are into either. What about the user experience of the 15'' you like over the 16''? Surely it's not the keyboard.
 
Starfyre said:
I'm sure you'll find people who are into either. What about the user experience of the 15'' you like over the 16''? Surely it's not the keyboard.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you asked.

I actually find myself typing faster and my fingers less tired on the 15"

I also find the slightly smaller screen much better when sitting at my desk. The 16" felt too big for a laptop screen, almost like I needed to move it back further but couldn't because I couldn't reach the keyboard as easily.

I also like the design much better. The 15" never felt portable until I bought the 16". Now the 15" feels lightweight by comparison and easy to carry.

I also enjoy the smaller footprint, the thinness, and the weight reduction. A LOT. To me it's huge.

The 15" also looks more modern. It looks space age. The 16" looks like the previous generation to the 15"

I wish the speakers were like the 16" and the battery life, but I guess you can't have it all.
 
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Add me to your list. I have a 2019 15” and got the 16” but I am returning it and keeping the 15”. I thought the butterfly keyboard was horrible but actually prefer it now over the 16”.
Also not being able to use two 4K monitors w a dock also has helped push me to returning it.
 
I can also type faster on a butterfly keyboard than on the new 16". But, on the 16" my fingers don't start hurting like they do on the butterfly. The keyboard may be a tiny bit slower for me, but insanely more cushy and comfortable.
 
Hieveryone said:
The 15" also looks more modern. It looks space age. The 16" looks like the previous generation to the 15"
Click to expand...

I know what you mean, I was initially taken back by how much of a throwback the design felt. Reminded me of my 17" MBP, and also the 2012 MBP.

I also liked the butterfly keyboard, and didn't love this new old initially, but now I've gotten used to this one, it's not so bad.. so did like the lower profile of the older.

Overall I'm enjoying the 16" better just due to performance, battery, and screen size, but yeah, it's not perfect in a lot of areas.
 
-narcan- said:
I know what you mean, I was initially taken back by how much of a throwback the design felt. Reminded me of my 17" MBP, and also the 2012 MBP.

I also liked the butterfly keyboard, and didn't love this new old initially, but now I've gotten used to this one, it's not so bad.. so did like the lower profile of the older.

Overall I'm enjoying the 16" better just due to performance, battery, and screen size, but yeah, it's not perfect in a lot of areas.
Click to expand...

I feel like Apple said,

“People like the 2015 model eh? Let’s just spray paint it space gray and call it a day!”

haha I’m joking but it does feel like a throwback to me for sure
 
Very unpopular opinion but somehow I prefer the clickiness on my 2016 15" MBP keyboard better than the 16" MBP keyboard. Coming from a 17" MBP I have to say I'm a big laptop kinda guy tho.
 
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Hieveryone said:
I own both the 2019 15" base model as well as the 2019 16" base model.

I find the 15" to be the better user experience overall.

Anyone else prefer their 15" over the 16"?
Click to expand...
I had the 2019 MBP 15 2 weeks ago and refunded it and went for the MBP 16 thanks to Apple's awesome customer care.

I don't find it any different than the MBP 15 really, the increase in size is very marginal and if I didn't know I made this switch, I probably wouldn't know that I have a bigger laptop now. Feels exactly the same in terms of size/screen to me.
 
Hieveryone said:
I'm glad you asked.

I actually find myself typing faster and my fingers less tired on the 15"

I also find the slightly smaller screen much better when sitting at my desk. The 16" felt too big for a laptop screen, almost like I needed to move it back further but couldn't because I couldn't reach the keyboard as easily.

I also like the design much better. The 15" never felt portable until I bought the 16". Now the 15" feels lightweight by comparison and easy to carry.

I also enjoy the smaller footprint, the thinness, and the weight reduction. A LOT. To me it's huge.

The 15" also looks more modern. It looks space age. The 16" looks like the previous generation to the 15"

I wish the speakers were like the 16" and the battery life, but I guess you can't have it all.
Click to expand...

The keyboard is a matter of preference and also depends on what you are used to, so certainly I could see someone preferring one over the other. And I suppose the weight could be noticeable. But the difference in size, thickness and screen size are so minor! How can one look “space age” and one seem like a throwback when they are so close as to be almost identical without looking closely? You really enjoy the .07mm difference in thickness?
 
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cmhsam said:
Add me to your list. I have a 2019 15” and got the 16” but I am returning it and keeping the 15”. I thought the butterfly keyboard was horrible but actually prefer it now over the 16”.
Also not being able to use two 4K monitors w a dock also has helped push me to returning it.
Click to expand...
can you not use two 4k monitors with a 15"? just usb-c to display port or HDMI on the monitors.
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mouthster said:
Must be a lame party with those thick bezels and inferior sound. :cool:
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I had half my guests leave because they couldn't handle the bezels. free booze and they still left in disgust.
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mightyjabba said:
The keyboard is a matter of preference and also depends on what you are used to, so certainly I could see someone preferring one over the other. And I suppose the weight could be noticeable. But the difference in size, thickness and screen size are so minor! How can one look “space age” and one seem like a throwback when they are so close as to be almost identical without looking closely? You really enjoy the .07mm difference in thickness?
Click to expand...
Im assuming the higher key travel which sticks out further than the flush look of the butterfly is what he's talking about. I do think the butterfly looks better being flat. Also the no gaps in keyboard/Touch Bar space make it look cleaner. The gap with the escape key and Touch ID as well as the arrow keys don't make it look as "clean" as the butterfly design but that's really just nitpicking on symmetry.
 
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mightyjabba said:
The keyboard is a matter of preference and also depends on what you are used to, so certainly I could see someone preferring one over the other. And I suppose the weight could be noticeable. But the difference in size, thickness and screen size are so minor! How can one look “space age” and one seem like a throwback when they are so close as to be almost identical without looking closely? You really enjoy the .07mm difference in thickness?
Click to expand...

when you read the numbers it seems like nothing. Like it really seems like it’s barely different.

but in hand I can feel it
 
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