Should I get 16" or wait for new 14"? i7 or i9?

[Maatsi]

Hi.

I can't decide whether to get the 16" or wait for the new 14"

I'm currently using a MBP 13" 2012 non-retina.
While I love the portability that comes with 13 " I kinda want a bigger screen.

- I use it mainly in the couch and bed.
- I work mostly with Logic Pro (music) and Photoshop

If choosing 16", should I go for i7 6-core or i9 8-core?
If waiting for 14", will the next gen Intel and Wifi 6 (if the rumors are true) deliver a notable boost in speed that's worth waiting for?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[iemcj]

Is your current one working fine? Do you like the portability?

If so then there's really no reason to jump onto the 16". First gen stuff with apple is always a risk and this new sized screen and keyboard and thermal design is certainly a risk and we will have to see over the next 6 months how well it's working.

I have the exact same 13" screen, 2 years ago I got the 2017 15" and returned it within a week. It's just too big to be easily portable for chilling on the bed one day and commuting with it the next. So to go to an even BIGGER case personally would be unwieldy. I already have an imac for actual serious work at a desk, the whole point of a laptop to me is portability and ease of use.

Personally I am going to be waiting for the 14" one this summer. Let any of these early issues be caught and corrected, then get a machine that's actually portable.

 

[baypharm]

Buy the 16" now. Fully loaded.

 

[psingh01]

I don’t think there is going to be a 14”. Just same size as there is now, 13.3”.

 

[interbear]

Isn’t the “new 14“ a bit of a pipe dream right now? May happen, may not? Really depends if you need to change now or are happy to wait and see if the 14 turns into a reality. I‘m going for a 16 inch instead of my current 13 inch because I definitely want the extra screen size and I want a more powerful MBP to cover me for the next few years. I ordered yesterday but only got to see one today at the local Apple Store and I was very impressed with the screen, the keyboard and the speakers, it was the base model they had in store and it was excellent. Not an issue portability wise, in my opinion, it’s still slim, sleek and light enough to carry about but everyone has a very subjective view on this, so my advice would be that you get to an Apple store, if possible, and try it out yourself.

 

[DubCity]

I came from a MacBook Pro 13 inch late 2013 model. I was hesitant on the added size of the 16 inch but it’s totally worth it.
The performance gains of the 16 are unreal, thanks to the onboard gpu. The 13 inch models feel like toys now.

 

[kp98077]

Buy the 16 now. A brilliant machine. i7 is good but with holiday sales or student discount the i9 is just $300 more so thinking better resale value and performance of course. If 14” comes out it maybe a while this one took forever !!!!

 

[triangletechie]

If it were me, I would wait until the new 13.3" model comes out next year with the new keyboard. Let others test it out for you.

 

[galactic orange]

Does anyone know what the max RAM capacity will be for whatever chipset is available when the 2020 13” or 14” MBP is released? I’d also like to use it for Logic Pro X but I use lots of sample libraries and need 32GB at least. If that’s not possible in the upcoming Intel chipsets then I’m going to order a 16” MBP.

 

[DanMan619]

Isn’t the “new 14“ a bit of a pipe dream right now? May happen, may not? Really depends if you need to change now or are happy to wait and see if the 14 turns into a reality. I‘m going for a 16 inch instead of my current 13 inch because I definitely want the extra screen size and I want a more powerful MBP to cover me for the next few years. I ordered yesterday but only got to see one today at the local Apple Store and I was very impressed with the screen, the keyboard and the speakers, it was the base model they had in store and it was excellent. Not an issue portability wise, in my opinion, it’s still slim, sleek and light enough to carry about but everyone has a very subjective view on this, so my advice would be that you get to an Apple store, if possible, and try it out yourself.

Yeah the "new 14 inch" model is mainly just speculated because it would make sense Apple would slim the bezels on the 13 inch to follow the 15 inch to 16 inch move. However, as far as i know off the top of my head, there's been no leaks from Kuo/others suggesting a 14 inch. We know there will be new Macbooks/Macbook Pros mid to late 2020, but a 14 inch specifically hasn't been leaked/rumored thus far. Everyone's kinda just assuming it will happen. Part of me wouldn't be surprised if they don't do a 14 inch. They keep it 13 inch but still slim the bezels and give it a Magic Keyboard with spec bumped internals. A 13 inch with slightly slimmer bezels would increase differentiation between the 13 inch and the 16 inch while also increasing the 13 inches portability since it would be a little smaller but retain the same screen size. That's just more speculation though.

 

[dgdosen]

I don’t think there is going to be a 14”. Just same size as there is now, 13.3”.

I wonder if they go that route - shrink the length x width of the chassis just a bit... And then increase the depth for bigger battery. That'd get my vote.
[automerge]1575697433[/automerge]

 

[Howard2k]

Yeah the "new 14 inch" model is mainly just speculated because it would make sense Apple would slim the bezels on the 13 inch to follow the 15 inch to 16 inch move. However, as far as i know off the top of my head, there's been no leaks from Kuo/others suggesting a 14 inch. We know there will be new Macbooks/Macbook Pros mid to late 2020, but a 14 inch specifically hasn't been leaked/rumored thus far. Everyone's kinda just assuming it will happen. Part of me wouldn't be surprised if they don't do a 14 inch. They keep it 13 inch but still slim the bezels and give it a Magic Keyboard with spec bumped internals. A 13 inch with slightly slimmer bezels would increase differentiation between the 13 inch and the 16 inch while also increasing the 13 inches portability since it would be a little smaller but retain the same screen size. That's just more speculation though.

Agreed.


Worth noting that Kuo did mention a 32GB 13” in Feb 2019:
https://www.macrumors.com/2019/02/17/16-inch-macbook-pro-2019-kuo/

 

[TheRealAlex]

As Long as the new 2020 MBP 14” HAS

Intel 10nm 10th Gen CPU
DDR4
WiFi 6

I‘m ALL In the new 2020 MBP should release in 2020 around February Just in time to waste my $2,000 Tax Refund on it.

 

[SuperSonic80]

Don't buy at all.
You don't need a new laptop. If you really required an upgrade you'd go and buy one instead of asking people for reasons to convince yourself to buy a new laptop.

 

[matram]

For me the 16" is not a laptop for "couch or bed" as the OP asked for. Seems like very much of a desktop machine to me.

On the road or in bed, for me its an iPad.

The 16" (or 15" before that) stays on a desk or in the backpack.