Probably not, but it is an opinion that strongly differs from my experience so far, and I would like to know why. I also think it may be useful for others contemplating this purchase, in sorting out radically differing opinions.
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Low Power Mode on MBP 14
- Thread starter flapflapflap
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The people criticizing the 14-inch are just trolling and are just putting up hot takes.
I have a 14-inch myself and I have been posting my experiences with the battery with the device here - https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ase-config-battery-life.2320295/post-30568575
Conclusion? The battery life is significantly better than any contemporary PC laptop. Sure, it doesn't beat the M1 MBA with double the efficiency cores, but would you expect the 14-inch to have a better life than a device that has half as many efficiency cores? No, of course not! So, stop trashing the 14-inch MBP as if its battery life only lasts 2-3 hours, because it doesn't.
I have a 14-inch myself and I have been posting my experiences with the battery with the device here - https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...ase-config-battery-life.2320295/post-30568575
Conclusion? The battery life is significantly better than any contemporary PC laptop. Sure, it doesn't beat the M1 MBA with double the efficiency cores, but would you expect the 14-inch to have a better life than a device that has half as many efficiency cores? No, of course not! So, stop trashing the 14-inch MBP as if its battery life only lasts 2-3 hours, because it doesn't.
I had the base model and got 7-9 hours on light use (multiple safari tabs, YouTube, Slack, Telegram, light FCP, Zoom, WebEx). How many hours do you get?
I just don’t understand why people won’t opt for the 16 when it’s only a few hundred more comparatively spec’d. unless you think it’s clunky and not portable at all…?
This is with Low Power Mode on. Roughly 8.5 hours later... I don't think the machine is going to die even 2 hours later. I've done everything I could: watched a ton of Youtube video with the speakers on full blast for hours, browsed a bunch of sites, Slack, Discord, etc... even threw in some Zoom as well, and I was coding the entire time and occasionally opened Fusion 360 to fix up some models. Also I played about 30 minutes of StarCraft 2 around 6PM.
I think there's something wrong with the machine you had. This is basically right on point with what Apple promised for "light use", but I wasn't even doing "light use" at all. This would have been my regular "work" use. Not even the 13" Pro M1 could last this long with this usage.
P.S.: there was a period of about 30 minutes where I turned the screen brightness all the way down to apply a screen protector. But I can assure you the machine was on the whole time. Also, in Low Power Mode, the fan basically never turns on at all!
If you buy a laptop to have a portable computer, it's quickly clear why the extra size and weight is at least somewhat inconvenient for many workflows. I'd imagine that for professionals in this price range, the extra few hundred for the 16" isn't the problem. The problem is that it's a downgrade from the 14" for their uses, and presumably mine as well.
It's not that the 16" is "not portable at all," but that it's notably less portable. If you don't value the battery life and display benefits, that's a serious concern if you end up questioning whether to bring your laptop with you, use it on a cramped table or train, etc.
An entry 16” is $500 more than the entry 14”. That’s not chump change.
And yes, I do move my machine around a lot as I am sure others do and we find the 16” too bulky for those use cases.
$500 saved can get you a nice external monitor and other goodies as well.
You may not be able to understand why some people opted for the 14” but can’t we just respect the choice and be happy Apple gives two great options to choose from?
I believe if you upgrade the 14 to ten cores, you will have the same specs as the base model 16 and the difference will be $200. Otherwise, I agree $500 is a lot and thought the difference was smaller - my apologies
Thanks for this. Perhaps my unit was defective. But I disagree with your opinion that the M1 13 cannot last that long.
I love my 14". I think it's the perfect size for a laptop, especially when paired with an external monitor while not on the go. You get the best of both worlds, highly portable on the go, huge screen when at home. My battery currently shows on battery for 1 hour 4 minutes and is still ast 95% charge. Uh, that's not a trash battery. Is it lower than what a 16" would get, yes but who cares? How many people work for 21 hours straight anyway? Plus, on the 14" you can fast charge using any port and in 30 minutes you'll be at 50% battery again which is probably good for another 5-6 hours. No biggie.
For what it’s worth, you’re correct that the difference for a comparable model is $200.
Eh, that's "technically" correct but not "realistically" correct. Why? Because, someone purely interested in getting into an entry config would either choose the 14" base or the 16" base which are still $500 difference in price although you do get a few extra goodies with the 16"
The extra USD 500 is worth it IMO. The 16 is just a hair thicker though it does weigh considerably more, however, you get better speakers, better thermals (more quiet, cooler, etc.), superior battery life, 2 more CPU cores though they will probably be underused for most, and the larger display which alone is worth upgrading given Apple's new screen tech.
It cannot last that long with this usage. At least without Low Power Mode. I know this for a fact because I still have the M1 13" Pro with me. Without Low Power Mode, launching StarCraft 2 will cause the fan to rev up slightly.
It's not. It's 1.2lbs more and the 16" is considerably thicker. If you have had both side by side, you'd know this.
Battery life on the 16" is superior but you will pay for that in the form of charging time, and the requirements for fast charging: 16" can't fast charge unless with the included 140W brick and MagSafe cable. Both of which are very clunky compared to after-market 100W chargers that are basically 1/3 the size of the 97W brick that ships with the 14". The brick alone is significant weight saving. That and the 14" can just use any USB-C 100W cable to fast charge as well. So I only need the one cable, whereas the 16" absolutely requires the MagSafe cable.
The extra weight associated with the 16" and its accessories stack up over time. It's not just the MacBook itself.
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I also have the M1 MBP and with light/moderate use it gives me 14-18 hours. No games like StarCraft 2.
Put a game or Fusion 360 on and that number drops significantly. Again, I know. I still have the M1 MBP here to directly compare. It lasts very long in light use but not that long if 3D is involved.
If you need proof, I can make a video as well. In fact, I can show you which games will cause the M1 MBP to drop to just 5 hours on battery.
If you don't mind, I think that will be helpful for me and for everyone else still on the fence and worried about the 14's sub-par battery life.
Again, the 14" doesn't have sub par battery life. We have reviews, and you have been told by many other 14" owners, including me, that the 14" doesn't have the battery life you kept quoting. It's much closer to the M1 13" Pro.
Even if I make the video, I doubt it will matter to you specifically since you already decided to return the 16" as well and just stick to the 13" Pro.
And that's fine. I'm not even saying you made a bad choice. You should stick to the M1 13" Pro with your use case. The 14" and 16" are clearly not for you. But I'm just saying: please stop quoting the wrong amount of battery life for the 14". We already have a ton of reviews, and I already have first-hand experience to prove you wrong.
Also, you can just test it yourself. StarCraft 2 is free to play now. Just install the game on your M1 MBP and test it out yourself. See if my claims are right. But here's a hint:
MacBook Pro M1 chip’s drained 50% in an h… - Apple Community
I would not bother - almost every single post of his is dedicated to complaining about the "inferiority" of the 14" model. Reminds me of someone who is trying desperately to validate their spending more money on a heavier and bulkier machine by attacking the categories that the 14" does better in for some users. Hopefully, he gets tired soon of using all 10-cores of his CPU to continue making posts bashing the 14" model and it's catastrophic and utterly repulsive battery life...Again, the 14" doesn't have sub par battery life. We have reviews, and you have been told by many other 14" owners, including me, that the 14" doesn't have the battery life you kept quoting. It's much closer to the M1 13" Pro.
Even if I make the video, I doubt it will matter to you specifically since you already decided to return the 16" as well and just stick to the 13" Pro.
And that's fine. I'm not even saying you made a bad choice. You should stick to the M1 13" Pro with your use case. The 14" and 16" are clearly not for you. But I'm just saying: please stop quoting the wrong amount of battery life for the 14". We already have a ton of reviews, and I already have first-hand experience to prove you wrong.
Also, you can just test it yourself. StarCraft 2 is free to play now. Just install the game on your M1 MBP and test it out yourself. See if my claims are right. But here's a hint:
MacBook Pro M1 chip’s drained 50% in an h… - Apple Community
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