looking for former 13inch owners who now switched to 15inch

[Arthur44]

No problem. For me I have an external monitor, mouse, and keyboard at home that I use with my eGPU setup and my Mac in clamshell mode. I love having the portability of the 13" when I'm away from my desk but then a powerful GPU when I'm home (which is most of the time). I was using the 15" with this setup, but the 15" was just big enough to be annoying (for me) so I bought a 12" rMB for traveling. After a while I found it cumbersome to manage two computers all the time, so when the new MBPs came out it was perfect for me. Just enough power to be my main machine.

Anyway, as for the CPU I didn't upgrade mine (I have the base 2GHz NTB MBP) but did upgrade the RAM to 16GB and SSD to 512GB. I compared the eGPU between my 15" 2012 rMBP and 13" 2016 MBP and there was no discernible difference for me in performance. That made the decision for me and I just sent off my 2012 15" rMBP to its new home this morning.

For an eGPU, I think the most important thing is the GPU and you can get by without upgrading the processor. I don't have any technical documentation to back this up, but it's just from my experience with running an eGPU on a 2014 mini, 2012 15" rMBP, and 2016 13" MBP. They all ran about the same. I'd put my money into other upgrades, like RAM and SSD.

I finally made up my mind and I'm going to buy the 13" w/TB with 16 GB and 512 GB, I'm still thinking for the CPU. I will do the eGPU thing. What changes my mind is that the Iris 550 seems to powerful enough for light gaming.
(Look at BF4 on it)

.
Though there isn't a lot of benchmark available.

Anyway thank you for your inputs, really appreciated.

 

[kwandrews]

Does the MBP support eGPU? I didn't think they did. If so, can you point us to some resources?

 

[jmebbk]

I had the 13" (non-touch) and now the 15", both 2016 models. With the 13", I really felt the need to connect to an external monitor to be my most productive. Granted, a second screen always helps with this, on the 13" it felt like a "need". With the 15", it would be nice to have but not a need.

For my daily work, I run Outlook 2016, Xcel, Skype for Business, multiple PDF's and multiple tabs in Safari. Frequent video conferencing, etc. as well with Skype. Since getting the 15", I've found it easier to get my work done and the screen is just big enough to have a Skype video meeting running and have Outlook or something else running next to it on the screen. With the 13", this was much tougher, but it could be done.

I mainly run the 15" at 1680x1050 (default res), but sometimes will bump it to 1920x1200. On the 13", the default res was 1440x900 which looks great. You can bump it to about 1680x1050 but then the default fonts get really too small for my eyes. I would do it sometimes and increase fonts in documents. On the 15", going to 1920x1200 also makes it smaller but I find it just a bit easier on the eyes. I use this less often on the 15" as well.

Travel: I still have my 12" 2016 MBr m5 that I'll be selling. I just had too many multi-tasking / power issues with it to be my main business Mac for daily use. For travel, it kicks butt! However, even on a plane, I took one flight where the seats were so narrow and the tray was half-sized, that I couldn't even use the 12"!! I just got back a week ago from a trip and took the 13" with me. It was a good travel companion. I certainly felt it more in my bag than the 2lb 12". I haven't traveled with the 15" yet. However, once in the bag, it seems to carry like the 13" did. You notice it, but it's not a problem. The 12" disappeared.

Overall, I chose power, productivity, screen space, and what is most likely a Mac that will see an extra year or two of use (with the quad core, GPU, etc.) vs. the 13". I figured that the mid-level 13" (no upgrades) would last about 3 years before I felt the need to upgrade to a more powerful machine, etc. For the 15", I figured the longevity to be about 4.5 years for me. The calculation below is my cost (with corp discount) and before tax and how much each machine would cost over the life of it for me out of the box (no accessories, screens, etc.). I also did the same for the m5 version of the 12" MBr. The 12", I figured that it would go for about 24 months before I felt the real need for more power, a second or third USB-C port, etc. Actually, I feel the need now , but could stick it out for a while I think. Overall, strictly on numbers, the 15" made sense to me. Plus, it's increased productivity so far.

12" MBr: $1503/24=$62.60 (2016, 1.2 m5, 8G, 512GB, Intel HD 515 iGPU)
13" MBP: $1691/36 = $46.9/mo. (2016, 2.9 i5 dual, 8G, 256G, Intel Iris 550 iGPU)
15" MBP: $2255/54 = $41.7/mo. (2016, 2.6 i7 quad, 16G, 256, Intel Iris 540 iGPU + AMD 450 2G dGPU)

YMMV on what you value most. IMO, the 13" has a lot of value for travel and can be very productive. When I looked at moving up from my base non-touch 13" (power was really lacking for what I needed), I look hard at the mid-level or even higher level 13". By the time I upgraded one to 16 RAM, etc. it was getting closer and closer to the 15" price. When that happened, the priceerformance ration didn't add up for me. I went with the 15" and can carry it around easier than the old 2010 MBP 13" or even my old 2012 MBA 13". The old Air was "a dream" to travel with for years. It's my wife's Mac now. Holding them both, in hand, they feel about the size weight. Thickness is negligible and the overall size is just slightly bigger for the 15"....it's amazing what has been done here.

EDIT: one last thought. I also have a 2012 Mac Mini (i7 quad, 16G and a 240G SSD/1TB HDD and integrated graphics) that I'm going to part with. It has served me VERY well for about 4+ years. It's kept up really well, mainly (I think) because of the quad core processor and 16G RAM. Even with the old CPU, it's still going strong. I can sell it for CLOSE to what I bought it for in 2012 (stock, not upgraded aftermarket). The quad core is a big thing for me in the longevity and also pushed me to the 15". I was REALLY hoping for a 13" quad core. If that ever happens, I may change my mind

Did you get the touchbar Mac or last years?
I'm thinking of getting last years but it's. It really future proof TBH

 

[skids929]

Going from 13 to 15 is a dream. The extra screen real estate is amazing. The new 15 feels to be the same weight as the old 13. And the extra inch or so of length isn't bad.

I agree on the screen part but the new 15 is not just an inch bigger..It's a large laptop and I returned the 15 for the 13. Like I said the screen is nice that I agree on but the 15 is still large, heavy and cumbersome to move around on your lap and around the house. To me it was more of a desk machine with occasional mobile use. The 13 is a dream to use and move around

 

[jmebbk]

Did you guys get the 15' touchbar or the 2015 15'.
[doublepost=1479934632][/doublepost]

I agree on the screen part but the new 15 is not just an inch bigger..It's a large laptop and I returned the 15 for the 13. Like I said the screen is nice that I agree on but the 15 is still large, heavy and cumbersome to move around on your lap and around the house. To me it was more of a desk machine with occasional mobile use. The 13 is a dream to use and move around

I'm torn what to do
Not sure if I should get the non touchbar 13' or the 2015 15'.
I don't really move around with my Mac and it sits on my desk. I know most people will say get an iMac then....but I just prefer to get the bigger screen.
People are saying get the 13' non touchbar with an external monitor but that is kinda pricey.
The 2015' 15 doesn't have the USB C ports which puts me off.

 

[skids929]

Did you guys get the 15' touchbar or the 2015 15'.
[doublepost=1479934632][/doublepost]
I'm torn what to do
Not sure if I should get the non touchbar 13' or the 2015 15'.
I don't really move around with my Mac and it sits on my desk. I know most people will say get an iMac then....but I just prefer to get the bigger screen.
People are saying get the 13' non touchbar with an external monitor but that is kinda pricey.
The 2015' 15 doesn't have the USB C ports which puts me off.

Do you have a monitor? Could always get the 13 and hook it to that, and dock it, then you have the versatility of desktop and mobility if you want it. If you need power then go with the 15, given your needs that makes more sense. But the 13 inch 2016 TB spec'd the right way is a mighty little machine.

btw, iQunix makes a nice cheap space saving dock for the MBP. I'd get that either way since the Henge docks aren't coming out until 2017 and overpriced.

 

[Arthur44]

Does the MBP support eGPU? I didn't think they did. If so, can you point us to some resources?

User Acronyc managed to make it work on his new mbp non TB. Other people report to have good result with Razer Core. (on Windows with Bootcamp).
We are still waiting for the new Akitio Node GPU enclosure which is way cheaper to see if it is compatible.
Here are some resources:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...arks-thunderbolt-3-rx-470-egpu.2010461/page-6
https://www.techinferno.com/index.php?/forums/topic/10718-2016-macbook-pros-and-egpus/&page=1
http://forum.netkas.org/index.php/topic,11654.0.html
eGPU are not straightforward and may require some tweaking. But in my case it is the best combination between performance and mobility.

 

[jmebbk]

Do you have a monitor? Could always get the 13 and hook it to that, then you have the versatility of desktop and mobility if you want it. If you need power then go with the 15, given your needs that makes more sense. But the 13 inch 2016 TB spec'd the right way is a mighty little machine.

I don't have a monitor. Would have to purchase one.
I don't think I need power because I'm a law student and most of the work I do in word processing...but I prefer bigger screens especially as my eye sight isn't the best!
What specs do you mean? 16gb ram?

 

[lewisd25]

I currently have the 13" TB MBP, but I'm considering going up to the 15". There is only a $155 cost difference for me to upgrade...really tough decision.

 

[aaron5566]

I was impressed with the sound from the 12"....but the 15"??? I'm blown away that these are laptop speakers. The display is also impressive. Go to a store and see them side by side with the old one...it's noticeable.

I can compare the display with my 13" Air. Oh boy.. Night and day difference to say the least.

 

[cdodge03]

I use a 15 inch Windows laptop and a 13 inch Macbook Pro.

The two are not comparable in terms of screen real estate. 15 inch is hands down better for a lot of tasks. If you need to multitask, 15 inch is just better. You can have a web page open and a spreadsheet or word open. You can swipe between apps, but it's nicer if you can swipe between two dual-screens, rather than four single-screens, depending on the kind of multitasking you're doing.

Only thing I am faulting Apple on is the way they handle split screen (a feature which really shines on 15 inch and above). With Windows, you can snap a window to take up half the screen, even if you only have 1 app running. With OS X, you can't snap a window to take up half the screen until you have two apps running on the same desktop.

In the end, I can get work done on either. I do prefer 15 inch for everything though. Even if you're just reading a webpage, it feels less constricting. I don't really care about a slight weight or size increase, because it really isn't a major difference. The price is the main deciding factor for me (unfortunately).

Get the "Magnent" app in the App Store for .99 and it will give you the snap feature. Best .99 I have spent. I also use a windows machine a lot and this is one big thing missing form macOS.

 

[Robbrag]

I returned my 13" TB MBP for the 15" TB MBP. Only had it a day but extremely happy so far. Obviously, the screen real estate is fantastic, but the big reason I prefer it might seem silly to some. Writing with the 13" on my lap, I found I had to keep my knees together to keep it balanced. And if I moved my legs, it would slip through them (size + slippery metal case). With the 15, I feel like I have a beautiful lightweight balanced desk on my lap -- easier and more comfortable to work on. And the weight difference is really not that great. Though I don't travel a lot so your mileage may vary. I'm coming from a dinosaur 13" MacBook Air from 2010. This new machine is amazing. And I think it would be fine to travel with.

 

[wheelhot]

Typing this from my new 15". Here are some pics of the difference in size from the 13" Air and the 15" Pro. View attachment 674321View attachment 674323 View attachment 674322

Thanks for the comparison, the new 15" size looks really nice!

 

[xxray]

I have a late 2011 13" MBP. I'm definitely going with the 15" for my next upgrade. I've been testing them out in stores a lot and the larger screen is so much better for everything. You have so much more room and everything is much less cramped. Not to mention, the new 15" MBPs are half a pound lighter and much thinner than my current 13" MBP. It may have a larger screen, but it's probably going to be more portable than my current MBP because of the difference in weight, thinness, and battery. I also want the quad-core processor.

 

[poorcody]

I returned my 13" TB MBP for the 15" TB MBP. Only had it a day but extremely happy so far. Obviously, the screen real estate is fantastic, but the big reason I prefer it might seem silly to some. Writing with the 13" on my lap, I found I had to keep my knees together to keep it balanced. And if I moved my legs, it would slip through them (size + slippery metal case). With the 15, I feel like I have a beautiful lightweight balanced desk on my lap -- easier and more comfortable to work on.

Ha! I thought I was a little nuts thinking that, but I totally agree!

 

[skids929]

I have a late 2011 13" MBP. I'm definitely going with the 15" for my next upgrade. I've been testing them out in stores a lot and the larger screen is so much better for everything. You have so much more room and everything is much less cramped. Not to mention, the new 15" MBPs are half a pound lighter and much thinner than my current 13" MBP. It may have a larger screen, but it's probably going to be more portable than my current MBP because of the difference in weight, thinness, and battery. I also want the quad-core processor.

Until you have it at home and use it the way you are using your current 13, don't be so sure. I am not saying you won't like it but the screen allure (and the power let's face it) is what sucked me in too. I ultimately returned the 15 finding I toss my laptop around a lot, and carry it around the house from place to place, upstairs downstairs, kitchen, family room. You can not confidently carry around the 15 like you can the 13, trust me. It also does't sit steadily on your lap like the 13, the 13 is easy to ground into your lap, the 15 wobbles a lot, harder to stabilize and is just much larger.

Don't get me wrong the 15 is nice, screen is great, but its not more portable than the previous gen 15. It may be lighter, and Apple can market it being lighter, but it's still too big. For me I guess I am just a 13 guy. My advice is, reserve judgement if you have't already try it at home and use it for a week or two then see what you think before you walk away from the 13.


PS- I was never able to get more than 7-8 hours battery life out of the 15 I had either.

 

[erichui84]

Until you have it at home and use it the way you are using your current 13, don't be so sure. I am not saying you won't like it but the screen allure (and the power let's face it) is what sucked me in too. I ultimately returned the 15 finding I toss my laptop around a lot, and carry it around the house from place to place, upstairs downstairs, kitchen, family room. You can not confidently carry around the 15 like you can the 13, trust me. It also does't sit steadily on your lap like the 13, the 13 is easy to ground into your lap, the 15 wobbles a lot, harder to stabilize and is just much larger.

Don't get me wrong the 15 is nice, screen is great, but its not more portable than the previous gen 15. It may be higher, and Apple can market it being higher, but it's still too big. For me I guess I am just a 13 guy. My advice is, reserve judgement if you have't already try it at home and use it for a week or two then see what you think before you walk away from the 13.


PS- I was never able to get more than 7-8 hours battery life out of the 15 I had either.

New account here (Been reading here for many years just never posted anything)

I am having the same dilemma as the 15 inch still too hard to carry around. Currently using a 2011 13" macbook air and it is the best laptop I have ever had (had a Samsung 13 inch, a Powerbook G4, and a Macbook Pro 15inch 07) and I never missed them after switching to the 13" Air.

I mainly use my laptop for doing Xcode and VM (I am limited with 4GB Ram so can only open 1 VM at a time) and is seriously considering switching back to 15 again but not sure sure about the weight/size.

Been waiting for long time to replace my laptop but didn't want the 2015 MBP 13" because it's too big/heavy for my use. Might head down to the Apple store to see 1 in person..

 

[kwandrews]

Been waiting for long time to replace my laptop but didn't want the 2015 MBP 13" because it's too big/heavy for my use. Might head down to the Apple store to see 1 in person..

This is why I got the 13" to start. I'd never gone larger than that. Once the 15's where available to see, it just felt right to me and I made the which. YES, go to the store and look. Where I was, they had the 2015 and 2016 15" next to each other. I did consider the 2015, but since USB-C will be the way it all goes, I'd rather jump with a new machine now vs. feeling way behind in 2-3 years. I plan on keeping this one for 4-5+ years.
[doublepost=1479964301][/doublepost]

Did you get the touchbar Mac or last years?
I'm thinking of getting last years but it's. It really future proof TBH

2016 15", base model, picked it up in the store. All 3 around me had it in stock in both colors

 

[Robbrag]

Until you have it at home and use it the way you are using your current 13, don't be so sure. I am not saying you won't like it but the screen allure (and the power let's face it) is what sucked me in too. I ultimately returned the 15 finding I toss my laptop around a lot, and carry it around the house from place to place, upstairs downstairs, kitchen, family room. You can not confidently carry around the 15 like you can the 13, trust me. It also does't sit steadily on your lap like the 13, the 13 is easy to ground into your lap, the 15 wobbles a lot, harder to stabilize and is just much larger.

Don't get me wrong the 15 is nice, screen is great, but its not more portable than the previous gen 15. It may be lighter, and Apple can market it being lighter, but it's still too big. For me I guess I am just a 13 guy. My advice is, reserve judgement if you have't already try it at home and use it for a week or two then see what you think before you walk away from the 13.


PS- I was never able to get more than 7-8 hours battery life out of the 15 I had either.

From my experience, I couldn't disagree more. The 15 feels perfectly stable in my lap while with the 13 I felt like I had to keep my knees together like a prim and proper school girl. If I moved them apart even a little, the laptop started to wobble and slide. With the 15 I can sit comfortably with the computer perfectly balanced. And I don't have any problem moving it from room to room. Doesn't feel much different in weight from my Air. I understand how many would prefer the 13, particularly if you're moving around with it all the time. I have a friend who absolutely loves his 12" MacBook because it's like a pad of paper that's with him always. If I were traveling a lot I can see how that or the 13 would be better. But for me, so far at least, the 15 is spectacular. (I can't really speak to the battery life yet because I haven't had it long enough. But after running the first charge all the way down and then charging it up again, mine shows 9 hours).

 

[aaron5566]

I'll lug my 15" around tomorrow while I do Black Friday shopping. That should give me a good idea on whether or not the increase in weight is noticeable.

 

[poorcody]

From my experience, I couldn't disagree more. The 15 feels perfectly stable in my lap while with the 13 I felt like I had to keep my knees together like a prim and proper school girl. If I moved them apart even a little, the laptop started to wobble and slide. With the 15 I can sit comfortably with the computer perfectly balanced. And I don't have any problem moving it from room to room. Doesn't feel much different in weight from my Air. I understand how many would prefer the 13, particularly if you're moving around with it all the time. I have a friend who absolutely loves his 12" MacBook because it's like a pad of paper that's with him always. If I were traveling a lot I can see how that or the 13 would be better. But for me, so far at least, the 15 is spectacular. (I can't really speak to the battery life yet because I haven't had it long enough. But after running the first charge all the way down and then charging it up again, mine shows 9 hours).

I'm in that camp too... I find the increased size of the 15" much less significant than the added benefit of screen real-estate. Also, I've gotten 10+ and 11+ hours of battery usage in the last two days.

 

[wheelhot]

But after running the first charge all the way down and then charging it up again, mine shows 9 hours).

Also, I've gotten 10+ and 11+ hours of battery usage in the last two days.

Interesting, what was your use case scenario?

 

[erichui84]

Went to the Apple store to look at the touch bar 13 and 15.

I am pretty sure I have decided on the 13 as the 15 still feels way too big for my liking.

 

[kwandrews]

Went to the Apple store to look at the touch bar 13 and 15.

I am pretty sure I have decided on the 13 as the 15 still feels way too big for my liking.

That's why they make both

 

[PaulWog]

That's why they make both

Wish they made a 15-inch with the internals & price of the 13-inch, and just add extra battery in the extra space!

Call it the "Macbook 15-inch Starbucks Edition".