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Macbook Pro 13 inch vs 15 inch


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tim1000

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 16, 2014
448
115
Which form factor do you prefer 13 inch or 15 inch. Money not being a factor. Screen size vs portability?
 
This is a silly question. The range of reasons for choosing a form factor are myriad. everyone chooses for a different set of factors based around a performance/screen size/portability trade off. Larger machines provide dGPU's and more powerful processors, if you need this then a small laptop is not for you no matter how much you want one.
 
I use mine for software development. I have Windows and Ubuntu running in VM. So bigger screen real estate and a more powerful processor is much better to work with.
 
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I use mine for software development. I have Windows and Ubuntu running in VM. So bigger screen real estate and a more powerful processor is much better to work with.

that makes sense
 
I think I prefer the 13" form factor for the mobility, but I bought the 15" this time around because I don't need the mobility often.
 
Honestly 15''. 13'' is bad on many fronts:
- crappy Intel Iris graphics in 2018
- ridiculously small battery capacity
- a non-base 13'' with good specs is almost the same price as 15'' with decent specs
 
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Honestly 15''. 13'' is bad on many fronts:
- crappy Intel Iris graphics in 2018
- ridiculously small battery capacity
- a non-base 13'' with good specs is almost the same price as 15'' with decent specs

1. I don't get why the 13 inch has so much smaller battery capacity; seems to get worst battery life than pervious 13 inches and current 15 inches.

2. The tb 13 is close in price to the 15 inch, so correct.
 
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Which form factor do you prefer 13 inch or 15 inch. Money not being a factor. Screen size vs portability?

For this iteration of MacBooks, I would go with the 15". Unless footprint is a problem, they are thin enough and light enough to be worth the larger screen, battery, and power. My wife has the 2016 13" and the battery life isn't great at all. I have the 2016 15" and it's decent, the screen in terms of colors and saturation is nicer on my 15" vs. her 13" (my personal preference of course).

Though I would say if you can wait, then definitely wait for the updates. The performance on a fully loaded 15" is a bit underwhelming for the price.
 
Software developer with ageing eyes so 15" is a must. I'd get a 17" if Apple reintroduced them.
 
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Software developer with ageing eyes so 15' is a must. I'd get a 17" if Apple reintroduced them.

I remember the 17 inch powerbook...I had one and loved it! I get the impression that larger MacBooks have fallen out of favor with the average Mac user maybe not this forum.
 
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Software Engineer - Used to have the 15" Retina, this time gone for a 13" 2017. Love the portability, and don't find the screen real estate so bad with the resolution cracked up. Most of the time it's in clamshell plugged into a 27" external though
 
Base model 13 MBP is powerful enough for me. But, I would like a 15 base model MBP if there is one. I don't care if it is the same spec as 13 base model. I would love a large screen.
 
Base model 13 MBP is powerful enough for me. But, I would like a 15 base model MBP if there is one. I don't care if it is the
same spec as 13 base model. I would love a large screen.

Larger screen comes with larger footprint
 
I would get a 15 inch if it I wasn't forced to get it with a touch bar.
Actually I'd love a 17...but that's a different story.
 
Larger screen comes with larger footprint
The only thing stop me from getting a 15 is the price. o_O
I love Mac OS, but I am not a power user at all. So, I have to settle with a base model 13, maybe save for a iMac later this year.
 
To me the 15" only makes sense as a "pro" machine. TB and keyboard aside, it's main distinction from the 13" is that it has discrete video. If you don't need that or a 15" screen then might as well go lighter with the MB. It's not like going with the MBP means fewer dongles to schlep around.
 
The only thing stop me from getting a 15 is the price. o_O
I love Mac OS, but I am not a power user at all. So, I have to settle with a base model 13, maybe save for a iMac later this year.

if price was the same you would choose 15 inch? the larger size doesn't bother your?
 
To me the 15" only makes sense as a "pro" machine. TB and keyboard aside, it's main distinction from the 13" is that it has discrete video. If you don't need that or a 15" screen then might as well go lighter with the MB. It's not like going with the MBP means fewer dongles to schlep around.

Quad core i7
 
15" for the perfect mobile travel companion. It's light enough to carry around, and screen real estate is just the right size where it's not too big and not too small.

However, if OP plans on not doing much work and just surfing, I think the 13" is more than sufficient.
 
15" for the perfect mobile travel companion. It's light enough to carry around, and screen real estate is just the right size where it's not too big and not too small.

However, if OP plans on not doing much work and just surfing, I think the 13" is more than sufficient.

What I don't understanding is evaluating 13 inch vs 15 inch based upon specs or what "do you use your computer for". For most people power isn't a concern...the screen size matters when doing anything, web surfing, documents, email, or watching movies. The issue is the the 13 inch the new sweet spot for general use. 10 years ago when the 17 inch was out, I would never consider a 13 inch, looked super small to me. If some one asked me do you want a 70 inch tv or 55 inch tv, I would pick the 70 every day.
 
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15" for the perfect mobile travel companion. It's light enough to carry around, and screen real estate is just the right size where it's not too big and not too small.

However, if OP plans on not doing much work and just surfing, I think the 13" is more than sufficient.

If being able to develop iOS apps without hiccups qualifies as being 'Pro' enough, then I think the debate that the 13" isn't sufficient for anything other than watching Netflix on Safari is a tad irrelevant.

As OP suggests it's more a debate of screen size and if you *really* think you need the quad core CPU.
 
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